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vii. manufacturing industries.
London. It was not long, however, before he conceived it to be his life’s work
to make his native land a participant in the flourishing industry that formed
the basis of the wealth of England, and he laboured incessantly during the
remainder of his life to accomplish this end, displaying those qualities of strength
of will, unselfishness, and unpretentiousness, that are often to be met with in
Swedes when a man has found an object in life to which to devote his entire
energy.
Alströmer began this project by sending over to Sweden workmen and
machinery for the weaving of woollen and cotton goods, but he soon determined
to move to Sweden himself. In Alingsås he erected all kinds of factories for
textile goods, and, under his guiding hand, Alingsås became the chief seat of
this species of industry, and engineers, artisans, and foremen came in large
numbers to study the methods in use there. One of the leading principles
that Alströmer held, was, as far as possible, to make use of Swedish raw
materials. He was, therefore, specially active in furthering an improved
sheep-breeding, the culture of dyeing-plants, tobacco etc.
Jonas Alströmer.
In his efforts Alströmer enjoyed generous support and encouragement from
the Government and the Riksdag. The mercantile system — at that time
already losing ground in most other countries — now first began to flourish in
Sweden in form of an extremely comprehensive system of subventions and
protection. Beside the textile industry, which was chief favourite at that time,
and attained a not insignificant development, although, as far as concerns
quality and cheapness, it could only with difficulty compete with that of other
countries, a great number of other industrial branches were begun which were
also liberally supported by grants and protected by high duties or by
import-prohibitions for foreign manufactured articles.
It is, however, a deplorable truth, that much of the youthful enthusiasm
which had been so promising in the beginning, died away unproductively. Clever
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