To estimate correctly the exact position of the Lancashire industry is a task of some complexity, which need not be attempted here ; but a few figures will give some idea of its general char acter. On an average of the three years 1908-10, Great Britain had 40 per cent. of the cotton-spinning spindles of the world, and of these over nine-tenths were in the region under consideration. On the other hand, only about 20 per cent. of the raw cotton consumed in the world's mills is consumed in Great Britain. This indicates that the finer qualities of cotton goods are more extensively manufactured in this country than in any other. In 1912 the average consumption of cotton per spindle in Great Britain was estimated at 35'2 lbs., in Germany at lbs., and in the United States at lbs.
The progress of the Lancashire cotton industry has been so great that there is a tendency to overlook the dangers which lie ahead. The coalfields from which the mills obtain their power are not inexhaustible, and even at the present rate of production will probably be worked out within the next two centuries. Long before this takes place, however, the greater cost of obtaining the coal will certainly have checked its output. Humidifiers, again, as they become more perfect, may reduce the value of the climatic advantage possessed by Lancashire. The world's supply of raw cotton, moreover, is not keeping pace with the increased demand of the chief manufacturing countries, and it is questionable whether this tendency may not become more marked in the future. Lastly,
the progress of manufacturing industry in other parts of the world will ultimately reduce the demand for goods from this country. It is not intended, by what has been said, to convey the impression that Lancashire is about to lose its pre-eminence, but it is necessary to indicate that changes in the relativity of geographical advantage will ultimately prevent the present rate of progress being maintained, and may even bring about a retrograde movement.
Around the cotton industry various others have grown up. Bleaching and calico-printing are naturally important. Engineer ing and the manufacture of textile machinery, favoured by the presence of coal, the facilities for obtaining iron, and the large market at hand, are carried on in many towns of the region. Wigan, which produces some iron ore and imports more, is the centre of the iron-smelting industry and coal export trade. The manufacture of glass and chemicals is carried on at St. Helens, Runcorn, Widnes, and other towns where coal can be obtained from Lancashire and salt from Cheshire. Warrington has large soap works. Liverpool is the great port of the whole region, though Manchester, connected with the Mersey by the Ship Canal, has a large and growing trade.