Gabriel 150 years - Flipbook - Page 17
On the left: Kjærs Mølle finished the coarse
When war came in ±π∑µ, however, Kjærs Mølle
woollen fabric made by farmers in the area.
saw its market shrink, as little by little the Prus-
On the right: Soldiers from the garrison in Aalborg
sian-Austrian troops conquered most of Jut-
in ±π∫∏. Their fine uniforms may have been made
land. The factory manufactured less and less,
of material woven at Kjærs Mølle.
and production finally came to a halt as the
enemy approached and occupied Aalborg.
Turnover continued to increase until ±π∂∏,
Peace was declared, and Denmark lost both
when an economic crisis in Denmark and poor
Schleswig and Holstein. For Kjærs Mølle this
management in the company almost closed
national tragedy proved fortuitous, however,
Kjærs Mølle. Throughout that winter, work
because the large textile manufacturers in Hol-
could only be done in daylight to save the ex-
stein now no longer had free access to the Dan-
pense of lighting the factory.
ish market. Under the terms of the peace trea-
Within the company, where influence could
ty, Holstein lay outside the Danish tariff
be exercised, more competent managers were
barrier, giving Kjærs Mølle an advantage in
hired. Denmark’s financial situation improved
competing with the Holsteiners.
quickly, and soon both turnover and the
amount of cloth manufactured once again in-
Wool and frieze
creased.
As previously mentioned, the two strong
In the first half of the ±π∑∞s, Denmark’s foreign
“threads” that were to ensure the success of
policy played a significant role for Kjærs Møl-
Kjærs Mølle were the manufacture of woollen
le’s business. In ±π∑± and ±π∑≤, the company
cloth and the finishing of articles made by
benefited when the War Ministry, anticipating
local cottage industries.
war with Prussia and Austria over the duchies
of Schleswig and Holstein, paid a good price
Although the finishing of home made articles
for any fabric that could be used for uniforms.
included the carding and spinning of wool, it
1855-1898
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