Bohemian Section at the Austrian Exhibition, Earl's Court London 1906/The Trade of Bohemia
THE TRADE OF BOHEMIA.
GENERAL DATA
Of the seventeen divisions of the Austrian Empire, the kingdom of Bohemia ranks second in area, and population, but first in industry and commerce.
The kingdom of Bohemia contains about 20.061 square miles, being 17·32 per cent. of the total area of Austria, and has a population of 6,318.697, or 24·2 per cent. of the total Austrian population (26,150.708).
The number of industrial or commercial firms in Austria in the year 1902 amounted to 1,051.172, of which number 322,261 were established in Bohemia. The industry and mining of Bohemia represents 37·2 per cent. of that in the whole of Austria (1,166.020 persons being employed in it), 26·4 per cent. of the whole commerce of Austria (1,166.020 persons being employed in it) and 16·4 per cent. of its agriculture (with 2,255.273 persons employed)AGRICULTURE.
Owing to its fertile soil, watered by many streams, and its propitius climatic conditions, agriculture takes a prominent position in Bohemia.
Of the total area of Bohemia there are under
| Area | ||
| Acres | per cent. | |
agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
6,476.068·3 | 50·5 |
meadow land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
1,286.363·77 | 10·0 |
gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
171.326·61 | 1·3 |
vineyards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
1.980·94 | 0·0 |
pasturage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
642.553·45 | 5·0 |
forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
3,723.438·69 | 29·0 |
lakes, bogs and ponds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
762.498·88 | 0·8 |
In the year 1903 the gross agricultural production was valued at ₤ 29,594.319 as follows
wheat, rye, barley, oats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
₤ | 15,062.527 |
potatoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
3,083.333 | |
sugar-beet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
2,125.000 | |
cabbage, peas, lentils, flax & c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
4,028.541 | |
hay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
2,458.333 | |
wine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
50.000 | |
hops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
161.583 | |
forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
2,625.000 | |
| ₤ | 29,594.319 | |
In the year 1904 there was under cultivation in Bohemia
| Area | Harvested | Total Austrian harvest | |
| Acres | Tons | Tons | |
barley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
956.986 | 539.980 | 1,434.389 |
wheat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
1,255.476 | 321.712 | 1,439.380 |
rye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
557.232 | 636.220 | 2,291.830 |
oats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
1,183.871 | 446.850 | 1,565.944 |
The area of vineyards in Bohemia in the year 1904 was 2148 acres, mostly in the districts of Litoměřice (Leitmeritz) and Mělník. The wine produce (350.960 gallons) was, with the exception of a very small export to Germany, consumed in the country.
FRUIT CULTURE.
Fruits are aboundant in Bohemia, the crop in the year 1904 being 80.519 tons.
Apples and pears embrace nearly all well known British varieties. The chief export is to Germany, plums and other stone-fruits are sent by rail and water to large German towns, dessert fruits are packed in baskets and exported in large quantities to Russia, Norway and Sweden. The United Kingdom imports dried plums. The centre of the fruit export trade in Bohemia is the market of Lovosice (Lobositz).
LIVE STOCK.
Cattle rearing has reached considerable importance in Bohemia and much care and attention is bestowed on the subject. Cattle of good stock are imported from foreign countries (especially from Switzerland and Baden, pigs from England) for breeding purposes.
In the year 1904, there were in Bohemia
| horses | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
229.864 |
| cattle | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
2,258.328 |
| (total Austria 9,506.526) | ||
| sheep | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
228.304 |
| swine | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
686.822 |
The export of cattle from Bohemia is chiefly to the German states on its frontier and consists principally of milk-cows, young oxen and cattle for slaughter. Germany is also a large importer of eggs from Bohemia, the United Kingdom ranking next.
GAME.
Game of all sorts is very plentiful in Bohemia, and fish culture is extensively carried on by great landowners. Game is exported to Germany, Belgium and Great Britain.
BEE KEEPING HIVES.
The number of bee-hives in Bohemia in the year 1900 was 199,604, and the production of honey in the year 1905 about 1322 tons.
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES.
The agricultural wealth of Bohemia forms the basis for the following important industries: sugar-manufacture, beer brewing and malting, and spirit industry.
The sugar industry is the most important: It brought the Bohemian agriculture in the nineteenth century from the extensive to the mixed farming, and helped to change the agricultural country into an industrial one.
In the 1902–03 sugar-campaign there were in Austria 208 mills with a production of 913.749 tons, in which Bohemia leads with its 136 mills (raw sugar manufacturies and refineries) using 2,355.145 tons of beet, which produced 606.852 tons of refined sugar. The total area of sugar beet under cultivation in Bohemia in the year 1904 was 340.834 acres, against total for Austria of 538.259 acres.
The perfection attained by the Bohemian sugar refineries is shown by the enormous quantity of refined sugar exported.
In the year 1903 the export of refined sugar from Austria-Hungary was valued at 6,958.333, in the year 1904 at ₤ 6,329.166.
The bulk of the sugar exported from Bohemia goes to the United Kingdom, Canada, the Levant via Trieste, British India etc.
BREWING AND MALTING.
The cultivation of hops and barley in Bohemia taking a prominent position in its agriculture, brewing and malting is very prosperous.
Of the total area of 500.040 acres under hop cultivation in Austria in 1904, with a total harvest of 8749 tons, 34.555 acres with a harvest of 6.373 tons represented the production of Bohemia, and increased in 1905 to 37.534 acres with a harvest of 14.419 tons.
The value of hops exported from Austria-Hungary in the year 1903 was ₤ 523.291, in the year 1904 ₤1,126.500. Hops grown in the district of Žatec (Saaz are of the finest quality and have a world-wide reputation.
There are 617 breweries in Bohemia, which, in the year 1903 produced 192,501.078 gallons of beer, the total production of 1341 breweries of Austria being 422,993.120 gallons.
The brewing of Bohemian beer for export has reached to greatest perfection and the products of the breweries in the Pilsen (Plzeň) district are world-famous. The export trade is chiefly with Germany, which takes the light-coloured Pilsen beers. In return the heavy black beers of Bavaria are extensively imported by Austria and principally consumed by the well-to-do classes. Other customers of Bohemian beer are America, Switzerland, Italy and Egypt.
The brewing industry is extensively carried on in Prague and vicinity, the Smíchov brewery being one of the largest in Austria and rankes next in point of production to the celebrated Měšťanský pivovar (Bürgerliche Brewery) in Pilsen. The Prague breweries do not brew for export, but for the local trade only.
The total export of beer from Austria-Hungary in the year 1904 was I04.547 tons, the bulk of which is brewed at Pilsen in Bohemia.
The Bohemian malting industry is very much developed and largely depends on export, as the home brewers produce a greater quantity than required by local consumption.
The total export of Austrian malt in 1904, in which Bohemia takes the prominent part, was 185.693 tons, valued at ₤ 2,114.274, the best European customers being Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark; besides large quantities for export to Brasil and Argentine.
SPIRIT INDUSTRY
The distillation of spirit is extensively carried on in Austria-Hungary. Spirits are produced out of grain, molasses and potatoes. The largest distilleries using molasses are in Bohemia, Silesia and Moravia.
The distilling industry is an important source of revenue to the State and also contributes largely to the local revenues of the several provinces and communities.
Not only is this industry of great fiscal value, but it is also of vast importance to agriculture, consuming as it does large quantities of the produce and also providing food for the cattle.
With the increasing areas of beet and potatoes under cultivation during the latter part of the last century, many distilleries were erected on farmes and agricultural estates, as well as on purely industrial basis, and to-day they form a mighty industry equipped with the most modern technical appliancies and methods of producing spirit.
There were in the year 1901 220 agricultural and 14 industrial distilleries working in Bohemia, and 1180 agricultural and 36 industrial in the whole of Austria.
In the campaign of 1902–3 the number of distilleries in Bohemia increased to 245, with a production of 8,822.000 gallons, the total number of distilleries in Austria being 1257 and the production of spirit 30,435.812 gallons.
MACHINE INDUSTRY
The machine industry is one of the most developed in Bohemia, for, owing to local conditions, agricultural machinery and implements, also machinery for the sugar-industry, breweries, manufacture of spirits etc. are in great demand.
MACHINERIES FOR SUGARWORKS.
The erection of a large number of sugar works in Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia at the end of the sixth decade of the last century caused a large demand for machinery, which could not be met by the existing machine factories, in consequence of which new factories arose, the founders of which hoped to find ample employment and prosperity greatly aided by the flourishing condition of the sugar-industry. Aided by local experiences an export-business was created, which led to important contracts for delivery of complete sugar works for Italy, Sweden, Russia, South America, Canada and British India. In fitting up sugar works the Bohemian machine industry achieved brillant results, enjoys the best reputation and has given the world a great number of most valuable inventions.
OTHERS.
Besides the fitting of sugar works the Bohemian machine industry is actively employed in manufacturing machines for spirit-distilleries, refrigerating machines and cooling plantes for breweries and abattoirs, fittings and machinery for mining and smelting, complete steam-and-gas-motor plants for central electric establishments, water-motors, turbines, waterwork plants for town supply etc. Bohemian machinery enjoys the most enviable reputation not only in Austria-Hungary, but also beyond the frontiers of the Monarchy.
The Bohemian agricultural machine industry is prosperous both in local and foreign trade. There is a large export especially to the Balkan countries and to Russia. Light agricultural machinery are imported mainly from the United States and Canada, and threshing-machines and steam-ploughs from Great Britain.
Spinning and textile machinery is imported from Germany and the United Kingdom.
RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK.
Prague is the seat of a large locomotive building establishment, one of the five greatest locomotive works in Austria. Erected in 1900 169 locomotives were since delivered, 27 reconstructed, and 23 reserve boilers and 10 tenders made. It is fitted up for the yearly production of 60 locomotives and tenders, which quantity was delivered in 1901. It is chiefly occupied by government orders for the Austrian State railways.
The most important of the seven railway-carriage-works in the Austro-Hungarian Empire is in Prague, and is able to turn out 400 passenger carriages and 4000 good trucks or nearly one third of the total production of the Empire. The international Sleeping Car Company is its best customer.
Centered in Prague are the largest and most renowned bridge-building establishments of Austria-Hungary.
In Plzeň (Pilsen) there are famous works constructing guns and armaments for battle-ships. In Kladno near Prague large steel works produce gun barells, steel for cannons, and rank first in the manufacturing the springs for railway and motor-carriages.
ELECTROMACHINES.
The electro-machine industry is well represented in Bohemia by two large works in the vicinity of Prague. They receive orders for giant electric dynamos for centrals, for electric-trams and the lighting of cities in United Kingdom and dependencies (British India, Australia).
MOTOR-CARS
A large factory for the manufacture of bicycles and motorcars was erected lately in Bohemia; its trade-mark in motor-cycles (Slavia) is famous since the year 1905.
TEXTILE INDUSTRY.
In Austria, during the last 25 years, there has been a very great progress in the textile industry; the number of mechanical looms during this period increasing more than threefold, and the technical equipment and manufactures of those industries (cotton industry, spinning, weaving, cotton printing, woolen industry, cloth industry) are quite on a par with those of other countries.
In the year 1902 there were in Austria about 3,054.000 spindels at work, of which 1,750.000 were in Bohemia. The number of looms in Austria was in the same year about 120.000, of which about 70.000 were in Bohemia.
In the textile printing industry there were in Austria about 150 machines, of which more than half were in Bohemia.
In 1902 there were 21.837 textile factories in Austria, with 337.514 workmen; of which 7446 factories and 178.927 employees were in Bohemia.
The seat of the textile industry is in the North Eastern part of Bohemia.
Bohemia takes the lead in textile exports, the total value of the exports of the Austrian textile industry in the year 1904 being
in cotton and cotton goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
₤ 3,722.166 |
flax, hemp and jute goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
₤„ 2,365.208 |
wool and woolen goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
₤„ 3,782.875 |
clothing etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
₤„ 2,546.916 |
Besides the above foreign trade the largest quantities of Austrian textile manufactures are sent to Hungary, in 1903 this being 47.4 per cent of the total Austrian trade with Hungary.
PAPER INDUSTRY
Nearly one third of Austrian paper industry is in Bohemia. In the year 1904 there was produced 685.574 tons of paper in Austria-Hungary, of which 147.720 tons, valued at 2,185.666, were exported. In that 175.836 tons represented the production of Bohemia.
Bohemia art-printing is at the highest degree of perfection. The three-and more coloured print, heliogravure etc. are of great skill, and orders are received from abroad for printing view-cards, reproduction of famous pictures etc.
GLASS INDUSTRY.
In the year 1902, there were in Bohemia 91 glass works and 77 refineries of mirror-glass, besides 2612 small factories, where glass was polished, annealed, engraved, painted and cut, or glass fancy-goods manufactured. The number of employees was 26.104. The most beautiful glass, for which Bohemia is famous, is manufactured at Nový Svět (Neuwelt), and mirror-glass, as much renowned as that of Venice, in the districts of Šumava (Böhmerwald). The value of glass and glassware exported from Austria in the year 1904 was 237.125, the best customers being Germany, United Kingdom and America.
The Austrian production of china and porcelain ware is entirely confined to Bohemia. In 1902 there were in Bohemia 62 china and porcelain factories employing 10.044 people, besides 1450 employed in getting the kaolin clay, and 37 factories producing fayence, majolica, terracotta etc., employing about 3000 people. In 1904, there were produced 2907 tons of white porcelain and 10.898 tons of painted porcelain. The best foreign customers were Great Britain and America.
Very famous is the manufacture of so called „Gablonz goods“, i. e beads, battons, ornaments, which are manufactured in the Gablonz district in Bohemia, besides mother of-pearl goods, jewellery manufactured of garnets and imitations of precious stones.
OTHER ARTICLES OF EXPORT TRADE.
As items, important in the foreign trade, are to be mentioned Bohemian kid-gloves, largely exported to the United Kingdom and America, articles of clothing (especially shirts, collars, neckties), musical instruments, matches; basket, or wicker work of all kinds. The Soudan and Egyptian armies are provided with helmets manufactured in Bohemia, and all the countries of the Levante are supplied with fez-caps, „fez“ made here.
Prague ham, much renowned, is exported to Germany, France and Belgium.
MINING.
Bohemia is also one of the principal mining provinces in Austria.
Extensive coal areas are in the North West and West of Bohemia and near to the North Eastern frontier and supply the home consumption, besides large quantities sent to Germany by the river Labe (Elbe).
In black coal, Bohemia represents 34·1 per cent. and in brown coal 81·6 per cent. of the total Austrian production.
In the year 1903 the Bohemian coal fields produced 18,073.296 tons of brown coal (the whole of Austria 21,808.583 tons) and 4,049.681 tons of black coal, this production being valued at 5,500.000.
IRON.
The iron deposits of Bohemia are fortunately situated near the coal-deposits, thus permitting economical smelting.
The iron ore production of Bohemia in the year 1903 amounted to 682.514 tons (total Austrian production 1,688.960 tons), the production of pig iron to 282.089 tons (total Austrian production 955.543 tons). The large iron companies in Bohemia belong to the Austrian trust of iron works.
SILVER.
Bohemia is the only part of the Austrian Empire producing silver, silver-ore and many minor metals (tin, bismuthum, antimon etc.). In the middle ages Bohemian silver mines supplied Central Europe for many centuries. The total value of silver and silver ore produced in 1903 was ₤ 257.795.
Lead ore is found in the vicinity of silver, and lead is also produced as a by-product of silver. The total quantity produced in Bohemia in 1903 was 4.168 tons.
Gold was also discovered in Bohemia in the Middle ages and the sand of some rivers have yielded gold. In 1903 the production of gold ore was valued at ₤ 3829. only 2053 tons,
HEALTH RESORTS.
Bohemia has a large mineral water trade (Bilin, Giesshübel, Krondorfer etc.). There are 33 health resorts in Bohemia, the most frequented being Carlsbad (about 50.000 patients in one year, besides other visitors), Marienbad (20.000 patients), Teplitz.
RAILWAYS AND CANALS.
The first Bohemian railway was built in the years 1825—1828 of the length of 39·5 miles. Locomotive railways were built in Bohemia since the year 1842.
The total length of railways in Austria, exclusive of Hungary, at the end of 1903 was 12.657·18 miles, of which 30·99 per cent. are in Bohemia. Austria's railways length pro 100.000 heads of population is 48.38 miles, Bohemia's 62·08 miles.
The natural commercial roads of Bohemia are the rivers Labe (Elbe) and Vltava (Moldau) forming a line of 354·62 navigable miles.
There are in Bohemia 499·90 miles of rivers navigable by rafts, 220.6 miles navigable by rafts and vessels, and 119·92 miles by steamers.
On the river Elbe, brown coal, sugar, timber, barley, fruit, flour are exported to Germany. Export goods for transatlantic countries are transported on the Elbe, as far as Hamburg, where they are laden on the ocean steamers. Up the stream of the Elbe, iron, rice, cotton etc. are imported into Bohemia.
There is under construction an elaborately detailed technical scheme for the connection of the rivers Vltava and Labe with the Danube.
When this has been carried out, Bohemia will be traversed by a magnificient navigable waterway connecting it with the German ocean and the Black Sea.
GENERAL ON EXPORT TRADE.
In the export and import trade of Austria-Hungary no separate statistical data are available showing the magnitude of the trade of Bohemia, or any other district, apart from the rest of the Monarchy. But the proportion taken in some export branches by Bohemia can be estimated, as Bohemian industry represents 48 per cent. in stone, glass and earthen ware, 35 per cent. in machinery, 35 per cent. in paper, 34 per cent. in metals, 31 per cent. in leather, 31 per cent. in wood and bone, 30 per cent. in textiles, 20 per cent. in chemicals, of the whole Empire of Austria.
Only in one case can the predominating position of Bohemia in the export trade be given in exact numbers.
In the year 1904, the value of exports from Austria-Hungary to the United States, as per declarations made at American consulates, were as follows:
Bohemia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
5,446.812 | |
The rest of Austria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
5,784.173 | |
Hungary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
703.262 | |
Total Austria-Hungary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
11,934.247 | |
The statement showing the value of total imports and exports of Austria-Hungary is as follows:
| Year | Imports | Exports |
| 1899 | ₤ 69,731.541 | ₤ 81,562.791 |
| 1900 | ₤„ 72,873.666 | ₤„ 85,904.375 |
| 1901 | ₤„ 70,594.208 | ₤„ 82,542.833 |
| 1902 | ₤„ 73,761.708 | ₤„ 83,308.166 |
| 1903 | ₤„ 80,682.500 | ₤„ 93,186.208 |
| 1904 | ₤„ 87,961.458 | ₤„ 90,916.083 |
TRADE WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM.
Of the exports 48·11 per cent. were to Germany, and of the imports 37·03 per cent. were also to Germany.
Great Britain takes 9·50 per cent. of the total Austro-Hungrian exports (sugar, corn, flour, leather and leathern ware, instruments) and in return 8·54 per cent. of Austrian imports come from Britain (wool, cotton, leather, machines).
The statement showing the total value of Austrian trade with the United Kingdom is as follows:
| Year | Imports from the United Kingdom |
Exports to the United Kingdom |
| 1900 | ₤ 6,376.916 | ₤ 8,385.416 |
| 1901 | ₤„ 5,689.125 | ₤„ 7,787.083 |
| 1902 | ₤„ 5,946.791 | ₤„ 7,190.625 |
| 1903 | ₤„ 6,458.666 | ₤„ 9,461.791 |
| 1904 | ₤„ 6,433.000 | ₤„ 7,563.500 |
Being the most advanced among Austrian countries, the kingdom of Bohemia contributes most to the budget of State.
In the year 1904 the net produce of direct and indirect taxes in Bohemia amounted to ₤ 9,990.610, i. e. 25·5 per cent. of the total amount of state taxes received in Austria (₤ 39,123.955).
In the taxes levied on real property (land, houses and other) the proportion is 22·1 per cent. and in personal income taxes 23·6 per cent.
In indirect taxes levied on beer, alcohol, sugar, wine, tobacco, mineral oil, the total amount of state income in Austria in 1904 was ₤ 26,706.854, to which Bohemia contributes £ 7,153.079 i. e 26.79 per cent
The foregoing brief economical sketch is sufficient to show the importance of the position of the kingdom of Bohemia in the Austrian Empire.
SUPPLEMENT.
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY in Prague, Reichenberg (Liberec), Plzeň (Pilsen), Eger (Cheb), Budějovice (Budweis).
CONSULATES IN PRAGUE: English Consulate (Palackého nábřeží, 2000-II); Consulate of the United States of Amerika (II., Bolzanova, I); German Consulate, II. (Senovážná ulice, 2); French Consulate (II., Ferdinandova tř., 58); Swiss Consulate (Král. Vinohrady, Škrétova ul., 15).
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE of the Kingdom of Bohemia (Zemědělská rada, Landesculturrat), Prague, 799-II., St. Wenzelaus' place.
STATISTICAL OFFICE of the kingdom of Bohemia (Zemská statistická kancelář), Prague-III., Dražického square, 10.
PRODUCE-EXCHANGE, Prague-II., Havlíčkovo square 31.
STOCK-EXCHANGE, at Nekazanka 1.
EXPORT ASSOCIATION for Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia (Vývozní spolek), Prague-II., Spálená ul. 24.
THE SOCIETY FOR AWAKING AND SUPPORTING OF INDUSTRIES (Trades-union) (Jednota k povzbuzení průmyslu), Prague-II., Rytířská ul. 31.
BOHEMIAN COMMERCIAL MUSEUM (České obchodní museum), Prague-II., Senovážná ul. 1.
MERKUR, Society of Bohemian Merchants, Prague-I., 812.
UNION OF AUSTRIAN MANUFACTURERS, SECTION PRAGUE (Bund österreichischer Industrieller), Prague-II., Dlážděná ul. 2.
UNION OF THE MACHINE- AND IRONWARE-FACTORIES AND FOUNDRIES OF BOHEMIA (Zemský spolek strojíren), Prague-II-874.
UNION OF THE BOHEMIAN TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS (Spolek Českých průmyslníků textilních), Král. Vinohrady, Manesova, 34.
SOCIETY FOR THE SUGAR-INDUSTRY (Spolek pro průmysl cukrovarnický) Prague-II., Jindřišská, 27.
SOCIETY FOR THE BREWING-INDUSTRY (Spolek pro průmysl pivovarský), Prague-II-61.
SOCIETY FOR THE SPIRIT-INDUSTRY (Lihovarnický spolek), Prague-II.-557.
CLUB OF KIDGLOVES-MANUFACTURERS (Klub rukavičkářský), Prague-VII.-231.
UNION OF BOHEMIAN GUILDS OF MERCHANTS (Jednota obchodních gremií), Prague-I.-660.
UNION OF BOHEMIAN GUILDS OF TRADES (Zemská jednota živnostenských a řemeslných společenstev), Prague, Franzensquai, Bellevue.
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