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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 015 870 902 8 
 
T'O THE 
 
 ^-^miniraii Hronleij^lannfiidnrcrs 
 
 AWn TO Till': niFFKKKKT 
 
 INSTITUTES OF INDUSTRY. 
 
 [..mi 31 
 
1 
 
Tc the American Woolen Manufacturers, and to the 
 different Institutes of Industry. 
 
 ^Philadelphia, October 4th, iSyu. 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 Tlie Belgian Royal Government having charged me with 
 tlie making of an extended report on the Woolen Industry in 
 general, and that of America in special, and wishing to make 
 tlie same as complete and detailed as possible, I herewith take 
 the liberty of requesting your highly appreciated help. 
 
 For that purpose allow me to lay before your kind consid- 
 eration some questions, going into the details of the woolen 
 manufacture. 
 
 You will greatly oblige me by giving as circumstantial 
 answers as possible to those (juestions which relate to your par- 
 ticular branch of business. 
 
 To make this report as authentic as possible, when you re- 
 turn me this information, please sign your name in full, give 
 residence, date, etc , etc., and return me as soon as possible. 
 
 Respectfully, Yours, 
 
 / 
 
 A LP H . j>itj i^ LE .X r> k: K , 
 
 Delegate of the Belgian Governnient,and I\ef>*-esent<.itive of the District of Verviers 
 
1 — A. What is the opinion of the manufiicturers of Cloths, 
 and other woven woolen goods, exhibiting at Philadelphia, 
 about the Exhibition itself? 
 
 Answer : 
 
 B. Wliat is tlie general opinion about the enf^evihle of our ex- 
 hibition, and about its principal features of manufacture'? 
 Answer : 
 
 2. Are the woolen manutacturers of other countries better rep- 
 resented than ours ? Estimate of each of them, and 
 comparison with ours. 
 
 Answer : 
 
 3. Are there, among the products of foreign manufacturers, any 
 that could be manufactured, ad\antageously (with success) 
 in our district of Verviers ? Samples. 
 
 Answer : 
 
4 — A. Wliy does England find such a large trade lor her niaiiu- 
 
 Ihetures in America ! 
 Answer : 
 
 B What are these i)riidiicts and under what conditions are 
 th(>y ottered '. 
 Answer: 
 
 5 — A. l)i) the United States tnauufecture goods of carded wool, 
 
 filled or not filled, made ol' yarn called "Sayette?" 
 Answer : 
 
 h. Are those yarns called •' Sayette " the same that are made 
 at \'erviers for export to Scotland, (jermany, France, etc. '. 
 Answer : 
 
C. Do they import these yarns, or do they make them 
 themselves f 
 Answer : 
 
 6. Can the Sayette yarns of Verviers be imported in tlie United 
 
 States of America in competition with others? 
 Answer : 
 
 7. Wliat are tlie principal numbers and kinds that are used ? 
 
 1st plain ! 
 
 2d mixed I 
 
 3d twilled or mor(> threads I 
 Answer : 
 
 8. Would there be means of feeding certain woolen treaded 
 
 cloths and fancy goods with yarns from Verviers '? 
 Answer : 
 
y. What are the duties on woolen yarns on entering the United 
 
 States ? 
 Answer : 
 
 10. Give tlie names of the principal places for the sale of yarns. 
 Answer : 
 
 n. Are the yarns sold oiled or washed ? If they are sold oiled, 
 
 with what kind of oil are they saturated^ 
 Answer : 
 
 12. What advantage does the woolen industry of the United 
 
 States expect to draw from this Exposition^ 
 Answer : 
 
18. What opinion have the American manuractun'rs of the 
 
 woolen fabrics of Belgian manufacture ? 
 Answer ; 
 
 14 — A. How do tliey appn'ciate in particular the products of 
 
 Verviers as regards new styles, quality, prices, etc., etcj 
 Answer : 
 
 B. What opinion have the American dealers and consumers 
 on the same kind of i^oods '? 
 
 Answer 
 
 15. What is the approximate price at which the Belgian and 
 French cloths and fancy goods are delivered to the con- 
 sumer? 
 
 Answer : 
 
16. AVliat is the cause for tlie higlier prices at wliich the Bel- 
 Answer : 
 
 gian woolen goods are sold in tlie United States '? 
 
 17. What means should be used to develop in the United States 
 
 a liking for the products of our manufacturing district ■? 
 Answer : 
 
 IS. What must be done at Verviers to conform to the taste and 
 wants of the Americans in order to procure a larger sale 
 in tlieir country "? 
 
 Answer : 
 
 19 — A. AVhat are the difterences in the means of nuiiiufactur- 
 
 ii 
 Answer 
 
 ing in America and those in use at Verviers ? 
 
B. In what respect is the woolen industry oi' the United 
 States superior to ours I 
 Answer : 
 
 20 — A. What is the opinion of the Americans about the pro- 
 ducts of each of the following nations : United States of 
 America, England, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, etc. 
 Go into the details as much as possible. 
 
 Answer : 
 
 B. Are the woolen industries of these different countries 
 better represented in Philadelphia than ours ? 
 Answer : 
 
 21. In what respect are the woven goods of these nations 
 superior to those of our district ] 
 
 Answer : 
 
22. To what is it attributable that tlie Ibreignev often produces 
 
 better, cheaper, and generally faster { 
 Answer : 
 
 23. What do the delegates think of the imitation and counter- 
 
 feiting of Belgian goods by foreign manufacturers ^ 
 
 Answer 
 
 24 — A. Do the ^"erviers styles differ remarkably from re- 
 
 nc 
 Answer : 
 
 nowned foreign ones ] 
 
 B. On which side is the advantage and what does it consist 
 of? 
 Answer : 
 
"i-^ — A. Could America try successfully the exportation of its 
 
 woolens into Europe ? 
 Answer ; 
 
 B. What are the clauses to hinder her from doing so 1 
 Answer : 
 
 26. What do tlie American cloth dealers think of the Exposi- 
 tion to be held at Paris in 1878 ] 
 
 Answer: 
 
 21. What rank does the Belgian machinery department hold at 
 
 the Philadelphia Exhibition ? 
 Answer : 
 
"iJS. ^^'lli^t niacliiiies eniployoHl in Aiucrica, and exhibited, could 
 be introduced in the manufactories of our city ? Please 
 
 ii^ive the details, desiii;ns and descriptions. 
 
 Answer: 
 
 29. ^\ liat kind of wools are generally employed by the manu- 
 facturers of the different States '. 
 Answer : 
 
 30. How is the wool cleansed of the grease 1 
 Answer ; 
 
 31. Is the grease used for anything^ 
 Answer : 
 
32. What are the improvements in washing and dyeing wool on 
 
 exhibition ? 
 Answer : 
 
 33. How are the chemicals applied in America I 
 Answer : 
 
 34. Is the mechanical bnrriiig still in use I 
 Answer: 
 
 35. What are the machines on exhibition for the chemical 
 
 process 1 
 Answer : 
 
;^6. Are tlic American carding and spinning interior, equal, or 
 superior to those of the district oi Verviers ? 
 
 Answer : 
 
 37. Wliat are the machines on exhibition for carding and 
 spinning { Designs and descriptions. 
 
 Answer : 
 
 38 — A. A\"hich cities are superior to \'erviers lor spinning 
 
 carded wool ( 
 Answer : 
 
 B, \Miat does the superiority consist oi'i 
 Answer : 
 
39. What are the twisting niacliines exhil)it('(l f Designs 
 
 and descriptions. 
 Answer : 
 
 4(1. ^^ hat reel and eliain winding machines are exliibited ? 
 
 Designs mid descriptions. 
 Answer : 
 
 41. What are the meclianical liarnesses (looms) exliilnted ! 
 
 Designs and descriptions. 
 Answer : 
 
 4'2. AN'hat mechanical spinning machines are (^xhil)it('d f De- 
 signs and descriptidiis. 
 
 Answer : 
 
43. Wliat advaiilajics do tlu> dift'erent systcni.s ol looms present '. 
 Answer : 
 
 44. In wliat does the suiieviovity oi' the Aiiievican niacliines- 
 
 consist i 
 Answer : 
 
 45. What new machines are there in tlie I nited States of 
 America which conhl he intnxhiced in our industry ? 
 Designs and desfuiptions. 
 
 Answer : 
 
 46. Are the looms liv hand power oC any extended use in tiie 
 
 United States i 
 Answer : 
 
47. What opinion have the delegates of the dift'erent States of 
 tlie mechanical looms in general, as regards the kind in 
 use at Verviers { 
 
 Answer : 
 
 48. Is there among those exhibited at Philadelphia, one espe- 
 cially suitable for the ftincy cassimeres of Verviers ^ 
 Answer : 
 
 49. What are the accessory contrivances for weaving on cxliibi- 
 
 tion ! Designs and descriptions. 
 
 Answer : 
 
 oil. AVliicli are those tliat could be usefully employed at 
 
 Verviers '. 
 Answer : 
 
51. How and on wliat basis arc the American weavers paid >. 
 Answer : 
 
 52. Wliat are the treading machines on exhibition I De- 
 
 signs and descriptions. 
 Answer • 
 
 53. What are the gig mills and shearing machines on exiiibition I 
 
 Designs and descriptions. 
 Answer : 
 
 54. What role does the metallic teasels play in the finishing of 
 
 cloth ( 
 Answer : 
 
55. What is the opinion of the American manufacturers as 
 regards tlie industry of woolen yarns and woven goods 
 exhibited at Philadelphia "? 
 
 Answer : 
 
 56. What use is made in America of the waste and offal of the 
 
 manufactories 1 
 Answer : 
 
 57. Is it possible to receive a general statistic of the payment of 
 
 the workmen ? 
 Answer : 
 
 58. Are the fine wools (for knitting) extensively used in the 
 
 United States^ 
 Answer : 
 
59. Whence are the rags and other poor stock procured from { 
 Answer : 
 
 60. What kind of work is particularly attended to on the piece 
 Answer 
 
 goods in the American woolen cloth manufactories "? 
 
 61. Are there many foreign workmen employed in the American 
 
 factories ? 
 Answer : 
 
 62. Which are the best paid workmen in the spinning and cloth 
 
 manufactories ? Table of wages. 
 
 Answer : 
 
63. What are the conditions of the workmen employed in the 
 woolen manufactories of the United States "? 
 
 Answer : 
 
 (!4. What advanta<>(> liave they over those of our factories ■? 
 Answer : 
 
 (if). On what terms do the American workmen stand with their 
 
 employers ? 
 Answer : 
 
 66 — A. Are theie frequent strikes'? 
 Answer : 
 
B. What are the causes I 
 Answer : 
 
 67. How are the differences between employers and workmen 
 
 adjusted ? 
 Answer : 
 
 68. Wliat are the morals and habits of the American workmen 1 
 Answer : 
 
 69. What are their particular qualities and their faults in a 
 
 moral and industrial view ? 
 Answer : 
 
70. Are there in America popular banks of credit? It" so, 
 
 please report their statutes. 
 Answer : 
 
 71 — A. What is the nature and the importance of the working- 
 men's association in the United States ? 
 
 Answer : 
 
 B What have the industrial and professional schools of 
 America particular about them ? 
 
 Answer : 
 
 72. What is the condition of the women and children employed 
 
 in the factories ■? 
 Answer : 
 
73. Does there exist a liigher tccling (spirit) lor the family 
 
 among the American workmen than among ours 1 
 Answer : 
 
 74. How do the different workingmen's institutions work, and 
 what are the advantages that the workmen derive from 
 them ^ Report documents. 
 
 Answer : 
 
 75. Which of these institutions could be introduced with us? 
 Answer : 
 
 76. How is the instruction distributed among the working class 
 
 of the United States ] 
 Answer : 
 
77. What are the periodical publications, that treat on the 
 manufacture of woolen yarns and cloth, which have the 
 
 greatest circulation in the United States 1 
 
 Answer : 
 
 78. What sanitary measures have been adopted in the work 
 
 shops ? 
 Answer : 
 
 79 — A. Information about the different kinds of show cases tor 
 
 cloths and fancy goods. 
 Answer : 
 
 B. Which one is the most practical ^ Designs. 
 
 Answer : 
 
Oatohe,\ 1876. 
 
 Mr. Alph. iMiiUender, 
 
 1014 North oth Street, 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 Dfiar Sir : 
 
 I herewith return you, etc. 
 
 (Name in full.)