COTTON GOODS. 



CHAPTER I. 

 Cotton goods. 



' I 'HE manufacture of cotton according to its state of development should occupy the 

 I first place among other branches of Russian industry. Forming a subject of 

 constant and special consideration by the Government, this industry has developed in 

 m ignitude and quality very rapidly, and at the present time has acquired such dimen- 

 sions that it not only suffices for home consumption, but exports its products to foreign 

 markets in annually increasing quantities. 



Historical review of the industry. 



The origin of tlie cotton manufacturing industry in Eussia, although on a very 

 small scale, must be dated back to the sixteenth century. The import of Eastern produc- 

 tions, namely, fustian, cotton flannel, domestic, shirting, turkey red, damask, figured coun- 

 terpanes and tablecloths commenced much earlier. These textures pleased the Rus- 

 sians very much and their aim was to establish the industry in their own country. 



Cotton manufacture on au enlara^ed scale commenced by using foreign imported 

 yarns for textures in the first half of the eighteenth century. The yarn was distributed 

 in the villages to the peasants to be worked up on hand looms into textures in general 

 use among the people, namely, into nankeen, tricot, camlet, Chinese cotton cloth, coarse 

 muslin sailcloth, domestic, shirting, calico, fustian and others. In a short time they began to 

 establish small weaving mills, in appearance like roomy huts with large windows, where 

 they erected from twenty to thirty looms and produced, by hired and piece work, cotton 

 and linen textures. In the middle of the eighteenth century, in the Moscow and Vladimir 

 governments, there was a considerable number of these establishments, and the man- 

 ufacture of cotton goods began quickly to spread among the villages, displacing 

 the weaving of linen cloths. At this period dyeing and calico printing made its ap- 

 pearance. The foundation of the industry was laid in the village of Ivanova in the 



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