82 



MANUFACTURES OF RUSSIA. 



the increased wants of the Coniniissai-y Department which was the largest orderer of 

 shoe leather and other leather goods, and also the growing demand for imported 

 straps, combined to give an impetus to the various processes of the tanning trade 

 in Eussia. More large tanneries were established ; the dressing of thick boot sole 

 leather and belting began to develop and improve, and at the same time created a 

 demand for thick American raw hides. Most of the largest tanneries were estab- 

 lished at about this time, namely, Brousnytzen's in 1847, Ossipov's in 1857, the 

 Vladimir Tanning Co. in St. Petersburg in 1862, Shlenker's in 1846, and Pfeiffer's in 

 1854, the two latter, in Warsaw. Some of the old tanneries were enlarged and improved: 

 Zverkov's of St. Petersbiu'g in 1832, Shouvalov's in 1830, and Bakhroushin's in 1884, 

 both in Moscow. Temler and Schwede's in 1819 in Warsaw, and many others. Although 

 improvements in the trade proceed very slowly, compared with those made in other 

 branches of industry, still a great deal of progress was made manifest at the Rus- 

 sian Exhibitions of 1861 and 1870, at the former there were 48 exhibitors and a 

 very complete and various collection of leather goods was shown, some exhibits being 

 of very high class goods. There were 60 exhibits at the Exhibition of 1870, 

 besides half-tanned hides, Eussia leather, calf leather, dressed calfskins, and morocco ; 

 some excellent samples of heavy shoe leather and belting were shown. The mechan- 

 ical tanning processes and other improvements have however spread very slowly, 

 and have only been adopted at comparatively few tanneries. The leather trade greatly 

 extended during the period last mentioned and its production is shown by the follow- 

 ing figures: 



At that time the duty on imported leather was 10 roubles per large dressed 

 hide and 4 roubles per small; the import, although, continued to increase, the mean 

 being as folloAVs: 



