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Switzerland , and the centre of the manufacture of sills-stuffs, and Bale, that of ribbons. In both cantons, silksof the most elaborate kind, and beautifully finished, aremanufactured; but they generally confine themselves tothe more co mm on and ordinary qualities. The Cantonof Argovie, after Zurich and Bale, is next in importancein this manufacture. The purity of the water in thiscanton appears to be instrumental in giving brilliancy ofcolour.
The silk manufactories of Zurich occupy part of theinhabitants of the adjacent Cantons of St. Gall, Zug ,Schwitz, and Lucerne . There arc about 150,000 looms,of which 95 per cent, work at home on plain and commonstuffs, and 5 per cent, on figured silks and shawls. From20,000 to 25,000 workmen are dependent on this branchof industry. The average returns are from 25 to 30millions of francs per annum, varying according to theprice of the raw material; 75 to 80 per cent, is about thecost; 20 to 25 per cent, is consumed in the process ofdyeing.
The greater proportion of the weavers, men, women,and children, are occupied during the summer in thecultivation of their grounds, and take to the loom inwinter and leisure hours.
The principal articles are the Florence and Marcelines,which are nowhere made to greater perfection. Theweavers also excel in the manufacture of plain silk dressesfor costumes, striped and watered silks. The glace silksare considered to be of a very superior quality, beingwoven by first-rate workmen, who are paid high wages,and who, in other districts, apply themselves to the fancystuffs.
The weaver, by the above system, is enabled during theslack season to maintain himself on his own piece ofground. Necessity makes him diligent and content, andluxuries are unknown to him.
The merchants and manufacturers are satisfied withsmall profits, and by a well-regulated system, economy,diligence, and business habits overcome the prejudicialeffects of high duties, so injurious to the export trade.Since 1830, the exports have considerably increased,which is partially to be attributed to the superiority oftheir goods, and their rapidity in the execution of orders.
The improved machinery in the cotton manufactorieshas caused a great reduction in the number of hands, andhas, no doubt, materially contributed to the increase ofthe silk trade.
There are some silk-stuff factories in the Canton ofBale, but the staple trade of this town lays in the manu-facture of silk ribbons. In this and the neighbouringCanton of Bale-Campagne, there are about 4,000 looms,which give employment to 16,000 workmen, as weavers,dyers, &c. Manual labour is extremely cheap, enablingthe manufacturer to sell at a very low rate. The prin-cipal part of the manufacturers of this canton employtheir own capital, and have not to surmount those diffi-culties and disadvantages inseparable from the employ-ment of borrowed capital. The medium annual produceof the manufactures of Bale is about twenty millions offrancs, part of which is imported into most European countries, America, and the Colonies . The principalarticles of manufacture are plain taffeta ribbons, plainsatin and figured ribbons : in all these articles, Balemaintains an incontestable superiority.
The most cordial understanding exists between em-ployers and employed, and the strikes and coalitions soinjurious to other manufacturing countries are unknown
in Switzerland . There is no fixed tariff for the price ofmanual labour.
The silk trade in this country has grown and prosperedwithout the aid of protective duties, and it is a remarkablefact that the difficulties occasioned by the high prohibitivecustoms of other States, instead of being prejudicial, havebeen of advantage, by increasing the active genius andemulation of the manufacturers, and inducing them toseek mo-re distant and more favourable outlets for tlieirgoods. The morality, activity, and commercial knowledgeof the Swiss may be considered the basis of their successin this most important branch of trade.—D. C.]
153 Fortt-two Manufacturers of Sile Stuffs,Canton of Zurich ,
Two hundred and eighty-four pieces of silk, in glasscases, consisting of Mifiorences, Florences, Marcelinettes,Marcelines, Taffetas, Lustrines, Gros de Florence, duRhin, Lustre, de Suisse, Yarie, d’ Orleans, Favori,Poultz de Soie, Gros brillant, Serges, Grosses Cotes,Satins de Chine, de Prusse, Satins legers, forts, for waist-coats, armures, ottomanes, imperiales, velvets, unis, rayeset faconnes, fischus, brooches, cravates, in all qualitiesfrom the following forty-two manufacturers of the Cantonof Zurich :—
Annum & Egli, Thaltceil.
Jean Amann, Thahveil.
Baumann & Streuli, Morgen.
Huber-Rordorf.
Hoelm & Baumann, Morgen.
Naef & Scliwarzenbach,Thaluieil.
Freres Staub, Morgen.
Les Eils de J. Stapfer, Mor-gen.
Auguste Gessner, Waeden-schiveil.
J. J. Scliwarzenbach, Kilch-berg.
Jacob Zurrer, Mausen.
Felix Zeller & Fils, Mirslan-den.
Zeller & Cie., Balgrist.
Burkhard & Naegeli, Mor-gen.
G. Forrer - Biedermami,Winterthour .
Hoehn & Staeubli, Morgen .
Stunzi & Fils, Morgen.
Rod. Klaus, lister.
Freres Scliwarzenbach, Rus-chlilcon.
J. J. Widmcr-Huni, Morgen.
R. Zuppinger & Fils, Maene-dorf.
J. Widmer au Kreutz, Zu-rich .
Brupbacher & Bleuler, Zol-licTcon.
Stapfer, Huni, & Cie., Mor-gen.
Hy. Brunner, Zm'ich.
Freres Scultliess, Goldbach.
Hy. Honegger, Wollishofen.
J. J. Burgi, Zm'ich.
These silks are not sent to the exhibition as productionsof art, but to show that plain silk goods can be made inSwitzerland at a cheap rate, and that, with regard toquality and finish, they are equal in every respect to thoseof other countries.
154 Aliotu, T. S., & Co., Basle —Inventors.
Samples of spun silk, called “scliappe sublime,” firstquality, in warp and woof, for foulards, damask silk andwool, &c.
The materials employed are silk wastes, called “ strain ”in Italy , moresques in Piedmont, and “ frisons ” inFrance .
155 Lotz, Frederic ; Wegner, T. R.; Muller,Hauser, ; Romain, jun., Hale —Silk-dyers.Specimens of different shades of silk.
156 Baenziger, Kolp, & Co., Mnat, Si. Gall—Producers.
Madras handkerchiefs. Saxonies. Checks and stripes.Ginghams.