APPENZELL, one of the twenty-two Swiss cantons, is worthy of our notice in respect to its industrial features.
Dr. Bowling's Report on the manufactures of Switzerland presents the industry of Ap penzel in an interesting point of view. He says that the cotton and linen manufactures form almost the entire wealth of the canton, pay for all the imposts, and keep the canton out of debt. Hand-spinning, both of linen and cotton, had been known for many genera tions ; but the first spinning-machine in Ap penzel was put up in 1783. For many years during a recent period England exported about a million lbs. of cotton yarn annually to Appenzel ; but the Swiss are now setting up efficient spinning machines for themselves. The factory system, however, is not much acted upon ; and it seems therefore probable that England will continue to be able to sup ply yarn cheaper than the manufacturers of Appenzel can spin it for themselves. The
persons chiefly employed are manufacturers, weavers, and embroiderers. The manufacturer or master undertakes the entire production of the woven goods—in some cases only so much as he and his family can weave; but in other cases as much as a hundred other persons can assist him in producing; they sell. their goods either unbleached to the traders at home, or bleached to foreigners. The weavers are employed at their own houses, receiving yarn from the manufacturers, and returning the finished goods. The embroiderers are women and young lads ; the merchants buy woven muslins, cause a pattern to be stamped upon them, and give them out to be embroi dered—an employment at which the embroi derers earn about eighteen kreutzers (Old.) per day.