INDIA KU15BKK TliAKK. 105 



;i broad, in spite of the immense internal consumption. In 1883 Kirstein's mannfactory 

 was consolidated witli the Russian-American Company, which became so powerful 

 tliat all smaller mills which sprung up from time to time were soon obliged to sus- 

 pend operations. Thus in 1870 there were four mills, in 1871 there were only throe, 

 in 1872 three new mills were started and one of them, the Mackintosh, was bought 

 up by the Company in 1880, whilst the others were closed. The success of this con- 

 cern may be easily gauged by observing the increasing production of India rubber 

 galoches; in 1860 to 1861 it amounted to 220,223 pairs, in 1870 and 1871 it rose to 

 1,804,634 pairs, and in 1880 and 1881 it was as high as 2,313,378 pairs. The demand 

 for these goods abroad is a sufficient proof of their good quality; in 1870 and 1871, 

 57,207 pairs were sold in Germany and Sweden and in 1880 and 1881 the export 

 rose to 269,437 pairs. The production in 1886 and 1887 amounted to 3,300,000 pairs 

 of which 2,750,000 were sold in Eussia, 400,000 Avere exported to Sweden and Nor- 

 way, and 150,000 to Germany, Denmark and other countries. 



During the struggle between this manufactory and its competitors the most 

 formidable resistance was encountered from a manufactory in Livonia, the production 

 of which was, however, greatly inferior to that of the Eussian-American Company. 

 Besides regular india rubber works which manufacture their goods from the raw 

 caoutchouc and gutta-percha, there are many small mills which purchase ready 

 made rubber and india rubber coated cloth from abroad or from Eussian rubber 

 works and manufacture elastic fabrics, and waterproof clothing. 



The development of the india rubber trade during the second half of the decade, 

 after 1880, is shown by the fact that in 1885 there were 2 mills with 1,750 hands 

 and a production of nearly 7 million roubles, or, more exactl}^, 6,976,000 roubles, and 

 in 1889 there were 9 mills with 3,273 hands and a production amounting to 

 10,300,000 roubles; besides this there are 2 mills in Finland, and their production 

 in 1888 was oflicially returned at only 13,000 roubles. The following statistics prove 

 i^hat the trade is rapidly progressing in spite of the drawback of importing all the 

 I aw material. 



In the government of St. Petersburg there is one large india rubber manufactory 

 belonging to the Eussian-American Company. It was established in 1860 with a capital of 

 500,000 roubles. In 1878 the working capital was increased to 2,000,000 roubles and 

 a reserve fund of 1 ,400,000 roubles was added; the production amounted to 5,000,000 

 roubles and consisted of galoches and all kinds of rubber goods. In 1892 the working 

 and reserve capitals were raised to 6,000,000 roubles. At present the capacity of this 

 mill is sufficient for a production of 10,000.000 roubles. The plant includes 22 steam 

 boilers, 25 steam engines of 2,120 aggregate horse power, and 380 rolling, washing 

 and auxilliary machines ; there are 2,873 hands of which 1,387 are women. Galoches 

 and all kinds of india rubber articles are manufactured at this mill; the galoches 

 are sold over all Eussia and sent abroad in large quantities, the export being as high 

 as 1,000,000 pairs. 



There are two mills in the government of Livonia, possessing 9 steam boilers 

 and 13 steam engines yielding 650 horse power. Their yearly production amounts to 

 645,000 roubles and they employ 510 men. Miindel's works in Eiga were founded in 

 1864; they have survived a prolonged competition with the Eussian-American Company; 

 they manufacture galoches, surgical appliances, et cetera, to the value of 200,000 



