Lodz

LODZ, a province in the west of Poland, bounded on the north-east by the province of Warsaw, on the north-west by Poznan, and on the south by the province of Kielce. Area 19,034 sq.km. ; pop. (1931) 2,632,434. In 1921 83.1% were Poles, 12% Jews and 4.6% Germans. The southern part of the province is a continuation of the plateau of Kielce, the northern part consists of lowlands washed by the Warta and its tributary, the Prosna. It was formerly covered by forests and lakes and formed the lesser principalities of Kalisz, Sieradz and Leczyca. The forests have been mostly destroyed and agriculture and cattle-breeding are extensively carried on, the crops principally raised being rye, wheat, oats, barley and potatoes. But the importance of the area has been increased in the last century by the rapid rise of the textile industry in Lodz, Pabjanice, Tomaszow, Zgierz and other towns. Cotton spinning and weaving is the most important industry, but woollens, linens, silks and other fabrics are also manufactured, while the embroideries of Kalisz are of impor tance. The whole area suffered almost complete destruction dur ing the World War, and had to face new economic problems after the restoration of the factories. Formerly designed to supply the Russian and oriental markets, the industry specialized in thick materials and neglected finer fabrics. Now the greatly en larged home market and Western Europe demand finer materials, and great changes have been made to meet the new situation. The number of workmen employed in the textile industries reached 43,500 in 1920, but has risen to 146,300 in 1923. The financial

position is better since 1924, but capital is still needed. There vival of the industry, under such conditions, has been amazing. A feature of the Lodz textile industry is concentration, each fac tory having its spinning, weaving, dyeing and finishing department. Most of the raw material is imported from abroad, but Poland has coal and highly skilled workmen. The chief towns isn the province, which is the most thickly populated area of Poland after Silesia, are Lodz (pop. 605,467) ; Kalisz ; Piotrkow (51,281) ; Pabjanice (45,614) ; TomaszOw (38,065) ; Zgierz; Leczyca and Sieradz.

LODZ

(Lodz; also pronounced Lodsh), a town of Poland, in the province of Lodz, 82 m. by rail S.W. of Warsaw. It is situated on the Lodz plateau, which at the beginning of the 19th century was covered with impenetrable forests. Now it is the centre of a group of industrial towns—Zgierz, Leczyca and Pabjanice. Chiefly owing to a considerable immigration of Ger man capitalists and workers, Lodz has grown with American-like rapidity. The city is built about one main street, 7 m. long, and is a sort of Polish Manchester, manufacturing cottons, wool lens and mixed stuffs, with chemicals, beer, machinery and silk. The population, which was only 5o,000 in 1872, reached 605,467 by 1931. In 1921 6o% were Poles and some 18o,000 Jews. It is the seat of a Roman Catholic bishop. It has an exchange and a school of social and economic studies.