(■()TTON' (lOODS. 21 



with the 6,000.000 spiiulles existing' in K'ussia. it would be difticult to expect any 

 considerable home demand for spinning machinery, at the present time, and consequently 

 it is not to be supposed that any special works can be established for its construction. 

 Machinery of Russian make would be very expensive at first, and the industry itself 

 would require a considerable protective tariff to defend it from English competition, 

 which of course would make the farther development of cotton spinning very difticult. 

 Nevertheless the fact that at the present time Russian works engaged in the con- 

 struction of looms and preparatory weaving machinery have gained a firm footing, 

 shows that little by little there will be sufficient employment found in Russia fur 

 similar works for the construction of spinning machinery, whicli in time will form 

 an independent industry. The initiators of this work should be the owners of cotton 

 spinning mills, as persons mostly interested in the progress of spinning. 



By reducing the price of machinery it would be possible to obtain a cheaper 

 product of an improved quality. The erection of a cotton spinning mill of 40,000 

 spindles in England costs from 12 to 15 roubles paper per spindle, whereas in Russia 

 the erection of a similar mill would cost double that amount, namely 25 to 30 roubles 

 per spindle. In this manner the depreciation in machinery falls considei-ably heavier 

 per poud of yarn in Russia than in Englaml. but any attempt to reduce this cost is 

 in the highest degree injurious to the industry. Thus in order to increase the yearly 

 production per spindle, and to distribute the cost of depreciation per spindle over 

 a larger amount of yarn, cotton manufacturers are obliged to have recourse to night 

 as well as day work. N^iglit work is in the highest degree unsatisfactory in respect 

 to quality of production and presents great difficulties to the workmen, as well 

 as to the manufacturer. If besides this it be taken into consideration that cottoii 

 spinning machinery is being constantly improved, and that machines made ten or 

 fifteen years ago are 10 per cent less productive than at the present time, the 

 nature of the advantages possessed by English cotton spinning manufactories is easily 

 understood, especially when it is remembered that they have first class works for the 

 construction of machinery. The expense of spinning machinery is one of the chief 

 drawbacks to the successful development of the spinning of fine counts. Owing to the 

 small amount of fine yarn that can be produced the cost of depreciation on such 

 yarn falls very heavily. Naturally the more a machine produces the more area there 

 is over which to distribute the costs; consequently, the manufacture of medium 

 counts of yarn in Russia is essential, particularly as the principal demand is for 

 these numbers. 



