Cloth and Stuff Manufactories s. 333-334 (View of the Russian Empire. Improving Industry.)

View of the Russian Empire, During the Reign of Catharine the Second, and to the Close of the Eighteenth Century.
By William Tooke, F. R. S.
Member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences and the Free Economical Society at St. Petersburg. In three volumes. Vol. III.
The Third Edition.
Dublin: Printed by P. Wogan, No. 23, Old-Bridge.
1801

In Russia are 56 of them, but making only coarse cloths for the army and others all of home spun wool. It is several centuries ago that the cloth-manufacture has been introduced into Russia, since the old year books say expressly, that on the incursion of the Tartars they pillaged in 1382 the manufactories of cloth at Mosco. Nevertheless there is still annually imported to the value of upwards of two millions of rubles in fine cloths and stuffs.

The cloth-manufactory at Yamburg was instituted by Catharine II. presently after her accession to the throne, throne, under the direction of a M. de Valier, on account of the crown. It contains 36 looms, and lias above 600 work people. By means of a machine annexed to every loom, only one man works at each. The cloths are fold at St. Petersburg at a proportionately low price.

In the territory of Orenburg and in Kazan some cloth is made also of goat's wool; for in March, when the goats begin to change their winter hair, it is the practice to comb them with large wooden combs, by which a wool is obtained, which has served them for a winter-garment, and which is so fine that it yields in no respect to the finest fur of the beaver. But the hair must be carefully picked. It is then combed on spinning-combs and the fine wool drawn out with the fingers; but which with a great store may be more advantageously done with good combs contrived for that purpose. The wool thus drawn out is laid layer-wise in flocks, is loosely wound up, and then spun like other fine wools on spindles. The heedes are particularly spun, of which night-caps, stockings, &c. may be made. But the spun-yarn of the fine wools is wove into cloth, which to feel is as soft and fine as that made of vigogna wool; and may be employed in making hats, which turn out as fine as those of real castor. The natural colour of this wool is more or less white and bay; but takes all dyes. Only the collecting of it is somewhat difficult, as from too goats not much above 20 pounds of wool are obtained.

The crown-manufactory at Yamburg, and another on the estates of prince Potemkin, make also fine cloths, mostly of Spanish wool.

¹ More circumstantial accounts of it are given by professor Georgi in his travels, tom. ii. p. 817.The private manufactory at Kazan likewise makes a fine strong half-cloth of camel's-wool, which is left of its natural colour ¹.