At the same time the factories devoted to mixed goods declined from
25,200 to less than 16,350. From these figures we may gather how
rapidly the average size of mills and weaving-sheds enlarged in the
period. One cause, no doubt, was that improved economies in the new
businesses forced antiquated factories to shut down and make way for
still newer erections. There were recently about twice as many persons
engaged in weaving as in spinning, but the largest numbers of
all--slightly in excess of those in weaving-sheds--were the persons
occupied in the manufacture of cotton-lace, trimmings, &c. As we might
imagine, Germany's exports of cotton goods are not high. Including
yarns they amounted to L13.7 million per annum in 1899-1903. In order
of value their largest exports are (1) coloured goods, (2) hosiery,
(3) lace and embroidery, (4) yarns, and (5) trimmings, &c.

_France._--Into the industrial conditions of the two leading rivals of
England we have entered in some detail; the state of affairs in the
rest of the world must be dealt with more briefly. Of France more
ought to be said than we can find place for, though in respect of the
magnitude of her cotton industry, as measured by the quantity of
spindles, she stands now not fourth, but fifth, Russia taking
precedence. But the work of the French is incomparably superior to
anything that is turned out from Russia. France suffered a severe blow
when the industry of Alsace and Lorraine was lost to Germany, but the
inexhaustible originality of French _design_ will always secure for
her goods a place in the first rank. As regards _artistic_ results
France leads, but the real cost of her spinning and weaving cannot
approach in lowness that of Lancashire. After costly strikes the
French workmen have succeeded in shortening their hours to ten and a
half a day; and here it may be remarked that the International
Association of Textile Operatives tends to equate continental
industrial conditions to those of England. The French industry has
been fostered by tariffs. When the Board of Trade calculation was
made, French tariffs were found to bear upon British cotton goods with
about the same severity as those of Germany, except that the former
treated more hardly yarns and cotton thread for sewing. French
protectionism has kept down her exports; such as they are the majority
proceed now to her colonies. Normandy, th