Gabriel 150 years - Flipbook - Page 13
the Lim Fjord crosses the main road running
to start the textile factory itself, while dyeing
north from the German border through East
and printing were defined as crafts that could
Jutland, providing good access to both nation-
only be practised with the permission of guilds
al and international markets.
that held the monopolies for such work.
The most important conditions for ensuring that the enterprise would succeed were in
On ≥ June ±π∂±, Dinesen, Rodskjer and Jesper-
place when Dinesen, Rodskjer and Jespersen
sen applied to the Home Ministry for permis-
decided to build their new factory near the
sion to establish a textile factory, a dye-works
Kjærs Mølle mill on the outskirts of Aalborg.
and a printing works at Kjærs Mølle. The application for permission to start the textile factory
For generations, Kjærs Mølle had been a water-
was sent to the Aalborg town council where it
powered mill for grinding grain, and in ±π∂∞, it
was approved.
was owned by the wealthy landowner, L.H. Ing-
Greater difficulty was encountered in obtain-
strup. Ingstrup was interested in selling for two
ing the rights to dye and print. The founders
reasons: the mill’s licensed monopoly would
had probably anticipated this, as the applica-
expire in ±π∂±, and he was in the process of
tion stressed that Dinesen already had permis-
building a brick-works south of the mill.
sion to carry out these activities in the town of
Unfortunately, the mill was heavily in debt,
Århus and should, therefore, be allowed to
and, therefore, the three new owners formed a
practise them in Aalborg. It was also pointed
partnership company that took over the mill in
out that textile factories throughout the coun-
copyhold. By agreeing to an annual rent in the
try were ordinarily permitted to dye and print.
amount of ±,≥∞∞ rix-dollars, they secured the
There were immediate protests. A.P. Wibroe,
right to rebuild, sell and mortgage the mill. In
who employed no fewer than ≤∂ of Aalborg’s ≥∏
addition, when the actual change of ownership
dyers, and the town’s other dyers accepted the
was made, they were to compensate the owners
right of Kjærs Mølle to dye the cloth manufac-
of the manorial right.
tured by the factory. But they strongly protested Kjærs Mølle’s application for permission to
As ±π∂∞ drew to a close, the copyhold contract
dye the cloth made by farmers in the region.
for Kjærs Mølle, which would become valid on
Even though the factory was to be situated
± May ±π∂±, was signed, and that date has since
in the countryside, it would “have a ruinous in-
been celebrated as the date when Kjærs Mølle,
fluence on the dyers here in town as a conse-
now Gabriel, was founded.
quence, and make it impossible for this trade
It was probably the intention of the foun-
to survive in the town.”
ders that the copyhold contract would be commuted to full ownership, but financial difficul-
Freedom of competition had not yet become a
ties made this impossible.
valid argument. For several years to come, the
business community would be controlled by
guild monopolies, and dyers could claim that it
Protests
was in the interests of society “that disturbing
A number of hurdles had to be overcome before
disarrangement of the citizenry’s licence to
manufacturing could begin. The right to free
trade did not occur.” In addition, labour was
trade was not introduced until ±π∂∏, making it
cheaper in the country than in the town, thus
necessary to obtain various permits. The per-
creating an additional threat to the power of
mission of the king had to be granted in order
the town guilds.
1850-1855
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