46 



MANUFACTUEES OF RUSSIA. 



As lias been shown above, the given figures principally characterize the im- 

 port of combed yarns. On examination of these statistics one must be convinced of 

 the gradual decrease in the use of foreign manufactures. Such a state of affairs 

 cmnot be accounted for solely as the result of the customs tariff measures; it depends 

 principally upon the considerable measure of the development of the home industry. 

 During the last ten years combing spinneries have been founded in quick succession, 

 and woollen spinners, after considerable stagnation, have made visible and rapid prog- 

 ress. It is true that the neAvly opened mills use foreign raw material extensively, 

 and that the import of combed wool for the period 1887 to 1890 increased two and 

 one-half times, in comparison with the four previous years. At the same time, such 

 an increase in the import did not have any effect on the interests of Russian sheep 

 farming, which suffered equally from the import of raw, semi-prepared and finished 

 wool. Nevertheless, the substitution of imported raw material for imported fabrics 

 has without doubt tremendous significance in favour of the industry itself. Certainly if 

 the periods of 1882 to 1886 and of 1887 to 1890 be compared it will not be difficult to 

 arrive at the conclusions that the value of imported yarns and wool for the latter 

 period decreased 1,600,000 roubles; that the import of yarns diminished 65,000 

 pouds; that of wool increased 100,000 pouds ; and that the greater part of the latter 

 amount (97,000 pouds) fell to the lot of combed wool in the sliver. 



Taking 95 per cent as the issue of yarn from a unit of wool, it is found that 

 Russian spinneries, having used 97,000 pouds of foreign combings, deliver to the 

 weavers about 92,000 pouds of yarn, which at the average cost of 65 roubles per 

 pond for .Y2 56 yarn, forms a value of about 6,000,000 roubles. Thus, owing to 

 the import of combed wool in the sliver, which was necessary on account of the 

 development of spinning, the import of yarn decreased, in consequence of which 

 7,600,000 roubles remained in the Empire. This sum under other circumstances 

 namely the prohibiting the import of foreign combed wool, would have been paid to 

 foreigners for prepared yarn, as all those spinneries which did not possess com- 

 bings would have been unable to work. Out of the total of 150,000 spindles for 

 spinning combed j'arn from 50,000 to 75,000 of these up to the present time are 

 not supplied with their own combing departments, as may be judged from the amount 

 of imported combed wool. 



The import of woven (felted and napless) and knitted goods for the years 

 from 1877 to 1891 is shown in the following table: 



