Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/790

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BELGIUM

II. Mining and Metals and other Industries.

There is a special department of Industry and Labour. There are a Superior Council of Industry, a Council of Mines, and a Council of specialists for advising the State as to the interests of various industries.

Of the more important industries the following may be mentioned : artificial silk, motor cars, glass, iron and steel, lace (particularly hand-made lace), Imen, and gloves.

1,522 quarries in 1910, workmen 35,711, value of products 66,418,720 francs ; workmen engaged in metallic mines 364 ; iron ore produced in 1900 247,890 tons, valued at 1,320,100 francs ; in 1910, 122,960 tons, valued at 566,950 francs. Coal mines in 1910, 217, of which 133 were worked ; work- people, 1910, 143,701 ; 1911, 142,580. Production of coal :—

190G

1907

1908

1909

1910

Tons (1000). Value in 1000 frs. I 353

23,569 ; 23,705 23,558 23,517 2.3,916
 * 5.3,472 I 399,657 308,579 337,906 ' 348,877

1911

2.3,125

Iron ore, from Luxemburg, was imported to the value of 9,043,809 francs in 1909 ; 9,224,891 francs in 1910 ; 8,231,724 francs in 1911. Pig and manufactured iron produced : —

1900

1,363,075 97,409

1907

1908

1909

1910

Pig iron Tons Value (1,000 fr.)

1,378,290 104,116

1,270,050 85,883

1,616,370 100,582

1,852,090 120,761

Manufactured iron Tons 1,000 fr..

358,250 5.3,303

358,500 57,708

306,650

41,584

316,990 45,653

299,500 39,494

Steel ingots Tons 1,000 fr..

1,395,140 133,110

1,466,715 150,562

1,198,000 107,095

1,580,350 128,950

1,892,160 161,606

Steel rails, &c. Tons 1,000 fr..

1,164,745 169,046

1,216,690 989,400

192,964! 137,835

1

1,264,650 157,457

1,334,550 192,220

In 1911, 2,106,120 metric tons of pig-iron were produced, and in 1912, 2,344,910 tons.

In 1910 there were 16 pig-iron works in activity and 2 unemployed ; 40 blast furnaces active and 6 inactive; number of workmen, 4,214. For manufacture of iron, 1910, 36 works active ; 135 puddling furnaces ; workmen, 10,155; steel works, 25 active, 3 inactive; Martin and other furnaces, 27; Bessemer converters, 70; workmen, 16,877; zinc produced, 1911, 198,230 tons, value 119,668,000 francs; workmen, 7,999; lead, 13,464,000 francs; silver from lead, 27,754,000 francs ; workmen, 1,818.

In 1910 there were 92 sugar manufactories, produce 271,282 tons of raw sugar; 22 refineries, output 114,538 tons; 125 distilleries, output 71,087 kilolitres of alcohol at 50° G.-L.

In 1910 690 fishing vessels caught fish to the value of 6,541,199 francs.