G68
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.
