64 



MANUFACTURES OF RUSSIA. 



By comparing the prices of Italiau silk at Moscow and Lyons it is evident 

 that the French silk-weaving trade is able to procure tlie necessary material at a 

 tar lower price. 



As regards qualit}^ the Russian mills have of late years been manufacturing 

 great varieties of pure silk and half-silk goods, such as faille, satinet, surat, satin, 

 i»nrsa, taffetas, moire, matelasse, damasse, plain and figured velvet, plush, broclie, 

 uandkerchiefs, coverlets, furniture stuffs, umbrella silks, ribbons, and brocades in va- 

 iious qualities from the cheapest to the most expensive, and in no way inferior to 

 French i:-oods. The smaller mills generally confine themselves to the medium and low 

 quality, cheap goods. In conclusion it may be observed that the quantity of silk pro- 

 hiced in Eussia is not by any means as large as could be desired. Its farther de- 

 velopment was much hindered by the necessity of using high price foreign material. 



The tTOvernment has now raised the duty on twisted silk and taken measures 

 for establishing the silkworm industiw, the unwinding of cocoons and silk-throwing 

 business on a more rational basis, so that every hope may be entertained that the 

 Russian silk-weaving trade will, in all its branches, soon attain the same degree of 

 independence, enjoyed by the other native manufacturing industries. If the quantity 

 produced is not at present adequate there is at all events nothing to be said against 

 the quality, as many native silk stuffs are quite equal to those of Lyons and 

 compete successfully with them in the Russian market, and in addition to this, there 

 is one branch of the trade in whicli Russia is unrivalled, namely the manufacture 

 of brocades, wliich have attracted great attention at the foreign exhibitions on 

 Hcouut of their high artistic meiit. 



Tlie following table shows the cost of manufacturing certain kinds of silk 

 liuods: 



