Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 10.djvu/849

* IKELAND. 753 IRELAND. country could only export woolens to the Eng- lish markets under heavy dut}% thus limiting it practically to the local home market. When the ^American Colonies revolted, these restrictions were removed. But by this time the indu.stry had secured so great a lead in England that with the additional advantage given to the latter country through the abundance of coal which now began to supply power for the industry. Ire- land was not able to regain its former promi- nence. The best known of the Irish woolens ani the tweeds. They are noted for their durability. In 1899 there were 3323 persons employed in the manufacture of woolen, worsted, and shoddy goods. The manufacture of linen by the Irish was not at first so detrimental to English interests as ■(vas the manufacture of woolens, and it fared much better at the hands of the Government. In- deed, for a period, the linen industry became prominent as the woolen industry decreased. The I.ord Deputy StratTord and his successor, Or- mond, did all within their power to encourage the industry, as did both the Irish and the Eng- lish Parliaments — the latter allowing the prod- ucts to enter England free of duty. The superior methods of manufacture in vogue in France and the Netherlands were studied, and attempts were made to induce skilled workmen from these coun- tries to migrate to Ireland. With these and other advantages, the industry increased, but only at last to excite the ill will of England, which closed its markets to many varieties of the Irish products, and thus seriously hampered the in- dustry in spite of the generous aid it continued to receive from the Irish Government. The 'wet spinning' process of linen manufacture was in- troduced between 1S25 and 1830. and the factory system grew rapidly. The extreme moisture in the atmosphere gives to Irish linen that delicate ■whiteness which is unobtainable in any other country. The number of spindles used in its manufacture increased from 390.338 in 18.50 to 826,743 in 1879, since which time they have not greatly increased, having been 83.5.100 in 1900. The power-looms, however, increased from 21.177 in 1880 to 32.245 in 1900. In 1899 there were 67,957 persons employed in the flax, hemp, and jute industries. The manufacturing establishments are almost holly centred in Ulster. The shirt-manufactur- ing industry has become very important in Lon- donderry County. Huguenots immigrating to Ireland after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes introduced the manufacture of silk, and for a time it enjoyed considerable prosperity, but it almost died out before the middle of the nine- teenth century. In the early part of the nine- teenth century a large number of factories changed from linen to cotton manufacture, and over lon.noo spindles were at one time used in the latter industry. But with the introduction of flax-spinning machinery the manufacture of cotton practically ceased. Ship-building is a long-established industry. and became especially prominent during the last three or four decades of the nineteenth centurj-. Belfast is the centre of the industry ; the principal yard at this place employed 9000 men at the close of the century, and produced a larger an- nual tonnage than any other yard in the world. The whole fleet of the Miite Star Line, including the Oceanic, the Celtic, and the Cedric, were built at this yard. Ship-building on a small scale is carried en at Haulbuwline, and has been recently revived at Londonderry and Dublin. In 1900,21 steam vessels were built in Ireland, with a net tonnage of 94,060. The milling industry is steadily declining. The number of mills de- creased from 1482 in 1891 to 1351 in 1901, and their average output also diminished. Importa- tions of flour increased in amount during this time, and importations of wlieat decreased. Prior to 1870 there was a thriving leather industry, but machine methods were not adopted, and it has become insignificant. The home industries are still widely spread through Ireland, and, in the aggregate, contribute largely to the well-being of the people. Impor- tant among these home industries are hand knit- tmg, hand embroider^', and lace-making. The brewing and distilling branches have be- come the most important of the Irish industries, whether estimated with respect to the number of persons employed or the value of the product. The output of the distilleries increased from 4,801,000 gallons in 1861 to 14.221, .520 in 1901. It has for a number of years exceeded in amount the output of English distilleries and equaled nearly one-half that of Scotland. The produc- tion of beer increased from 1.437.703 barrels in 1861 to 3,149.142 in 1901. the latter figure Ijcing less than one-tenth the total output of tlic L'nited Kingdom for the same year, though greater than the amount consumed in Irelaml. Irish beer is remarkable for its purity, being made almost ex- clusively from malt. The largest part of it con- sists of porter, which first became the popular drink between 1850 and 1860. Tr.>-spobt.tiox. The railway system has been constructed, owned, and controlled by pri- vate capital. The system is peculiar on account of its large number of small lines, controlled by separate companies. In 1900 there were 17 prin- cipal railway companies and 32 subordinate com- panies. Since 1849 the main lines have had a uniform gause. The total mileage increased from 1988 in 1871 to 3183 in 1900: The principal lines are the Great Southern and Western, the Midland Great Western, the Great Northern, and the Belfast and Northern Counties. The number of passengers carried increased from 15.547.934 in 1S7I to 22,202.2.58 in 1891. and 27.640.815 in 1900. The tourist traffic is comparatively large, and receives special attention. Since 1889 a number of narrow-gauge railways, with a total of about 300 miles, have been constructed, most of which are in the western part of the island. Ireland has a number of canals and canalized rivers. Commerce. Irish commerce is mainly with Great Britain, and consists of the exportation of raw products and the importation of manu- factured articles. The exportation of live stock leads, and constantly increases as the pastoral industry grows in importance. In 1090 there were 745.519 head of cattle. 862,263 sheep, and 715.202 hogs shipped to Great Britain, as against 571.557 cattle. 577.626 sheep, and 382.995 hogs in 1881. Exports of fish are also important. The leading manufactured article exported is linen. It amounts to over £6.000.000 in value annually. Whiskies and beers are also shipped in consider- able quantities. The exports to foreign coun- tries and British possessions are quite small, having amounted, in 1000. to only £1,302.048. The