AND ON THE CONTINENT.

87

strongest competitor of the English —only successfully spinscounts up to 20's (7).

Less apparently does the same development arise in weaving.For in this respect the buying power—as yet only slightly de-veloped—of Oriental nations enters tew much into account, andnecessitates the coarse nature of the staple woven-goods of Lanca-shire . Excellence in art, design, and dyeing have, on the otherhand, in fine goods for the European and American markets toogreat an influence to allow of England being able in this branch toform a monopoly. For just in these directions lies, up to thepresent, the advantage of Continental nations.

Technical progress further develops itself in the replacement oflabour by capital, by the increase of production with closely-allieddiminution of labour power. Both results are at once to boverified by mule-spinning, which in Lancashire has always up tonow played the chief part alongside the throstle. Whilst bothkinds of spinning have in common the drawing-out of the yarn byrollers, the peculiarity of the mule consists, as is well-known—asin its forerunner, the jenny—in the spindles first twisting thethread and then winding it on. The spindles are on a carriage,which goes backwards and forwards from and to the portion ofthe machine which is fixed and contains the rollers. During thefirst movement the thread receives the twist, as well as a slightstretching, during which the rollers that deliver the thread to thespindles are revolving. During the back traverse the rollers are,however, out of operation, so that no more yarn is produced, butthat which is twisted is alone wound on. The inward traverseof the carriage (as also the necessary regulation of the fullers)was originally accomplished by human power (hand-mule) : withthe seif-actor both of these are attained mechanically.

.Since the “ thirties ” the capacity of the single spindle has beenextraordinarily raised, partly through improving, partly by speed-ing, the machine. Even so early as the middle of the century theself-actor had attained the upper hand in England , whilst inGermany this revolution first appeared in the “seventies” (8).In England at the present time the hand-mule is only used in

7. Compare “ Bombay and Lancashire ” (Manchester Chamber of Commerce.1888).

8. Report of the “ Enquctekoinmission ” for the Cotton aud Linen Industry,p. 14. In 1877 about 70'90 per cent, of German spindles were self-actors.