Danmarks Handel og Industri

XXIII these figures represent the low prices ruling before the War; with the high prices now ruling a corresponding export would double the value several times. The activity displayed by the firm of F. L. Smidth A Co. constitutes the best proof to show to what pitch the industry of a small country can be carried; this firm has created a business extending over the whole globe for the manufacture of special machines for the production of cement and the construction of cement works in all parts of the world. Another instance is afforded by the construction of Diesel motor-ships, in which the Danish shipbuilders Burmeister and Wain have taken the lead, and by which means they, in a splendid manner, have constructed an entirely new type of ship, which was immediately taken up and introduced by the great Danish commercial company The East Asiatic Company, which company have substituted the whole of their extensive steam fleet with motor-ships. The latter company have also created extensive industrial undertakings in other fields, especially the large soya cake factory and oil mills in the Port of Copenhagen. The raw materials are brought home from the far East by the company’s ships, and products thereof are partly used in the home consume, and partly re-exported. The Danish industrial articles of exportation embrace a series of different products. The excellent Danish cement contributes to the export with the largest figure. The increasing export of machines occupies the position of number two. In addition to the above mentioned cement ma- chines, Danish machine tools have found a good market, besides an ever increasing number of oil-motors (especially boat motors) cranes, elevators, refrigerators, brewery machines, vacuum cleaners, agricultural and dairy machines etc. Within the metal industry, there is furthermore a considerable manufacture of milk transport cans, which have also found a ready market in foreign countries. Among other industrial articles of export, the Danish galvanic elements occupy a prominent position; the same holds good of various chemical products, such as rennet and the like. But all this gives only an incomplete impression of Danish industry, which in reality extends over very wide fields. According to the last indu- strial census — in May 1914 — there were in Denmark about 82.500 con- cerns occupying altogether 350.000 individuals. It is true that these statistic figures comprise both handicraft and industry, but a closer investigation