ABSTRACT
India’s second textile industry, jute manufacturing, employs nearly as many workers as her cotton mills. The Province of Bengal practically monopolizes the world’s production of raw jute and much over half of the total crop is turned into cloth in India’s 99 factories. Nearly all these factories are in Bengal and generally are located on the low banks of the Hooghly River for 35 miles above and 25 miles below Calcutta. The large degree of manufacturing monopoly which Bengal possesses depends upon the combination of a good start, able and industrious Scottish managers and mill assistants, and the abundant supply of cheap and relatively efficient Indian labor. Jute manufacturing has been managed almost entirely by British business men, though lately its ownership is passing more and more to Indians. It is estimated that from 50 to 60 per cent of the jute mill shares are now owned by Indians, 1 and at least two large mills are under Indian managing agents. The managers and their assistants, however, are still Scotsmen.
