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capacity is less. In the latter respect it is to be borne in mind that in England doffing and filling with bobbins take place in a shorter time, breakages of ends occur more seldom, and the piecing of broken threads requires less time. From these it results that the cost of labour per lb. of yarn—especially if the overlooking is included—is in England decidedly less than in Germany . The wages of the English spinner are, as well, nearly twice as high as in Germany , and the hours of labour a little over !) hours (32), compared with 11 to 114 in Germain’.
Similar to the progress of spinning was that of weaving. Cotton manufacturers, before the Committee on Manufactures (1), in 1834, advanced the theory that hand-weaving was increasing, and must increase as long as British commerce expanded. Especially had the manufacturers of Bolton—which at that time was the centre of weaving—thus expressed themselves.
In spite of all prophecies to the contrary, hand-weaving, at least in cotton, has, as a matter of fact, died out in England . Not without much difficulty—because in Manchester even the largest merchants in cotton goods knew nothing more of them—I have still found hand-weavers in Lancashire . Let me here dedicate a word to the last of the race. If the death-struggles of hand- weaving often extend themselves in a sad manner throughout decades, its death itself is a comparatively easy one.
A great portion of the operatives’ outlying districts of Bolton comprise, even to-day, those houses which at the beginning of the century were built for hand-weavers—cellars for weaving, lighted from both sides by an unbroken row of windows, over which are dwelling-rooms accessible by steps fixed outside the house, now small houses for single weavers, then larger ones with space for about 20 to 30 looms, where cottage weaving had developed into division of labour establishments. Most of these houses have at the present time lost their original object, and have become dwelling-houses for the operatives under the rule of
32. Spinning machinery in England generally runs 55 hours per week ; the Factory Act grants 564, of which hours are devoted to cleaning the machinery. The clause for regulation of German trades shortens the hours to G5, because, out of the 66 hours allowed, one is necessary for cleaning.
1 . ( 1 , 212 ).