TRADE.
tition is as yet much easier for us, and keeping its production to those articles which are more accessible. Our manufacturers lowered the prices on their goods and thus contributed to the extension of their consumption; while the sugar refiners are unable to stand the existing prices for sugar, although these prices, after deducting excise, are much higher with us than in the London, and other European markets, partly in consequence of which the consumption of sugar in, Russia per inhabitant is 2—3 less than in the other continental countries of Europe and 10 times less than in England. The course of the cotton goods industry affords a well founded hope for its further regular development. Until now, it is true, this industry has the support of a powerful customs tariff, but such protection obliges Russian manufacturers to use all their efforts to develop the technical side of the matter, and then they will have no need to fear foreign competition.
Trade. The characterization of the different branches of industry we have made above is, it would seem, sufficiently convincing of the value created in the country by the application of the national labour to industrial productions. But this is far from all. In order to participate in the fullest degree in the world's market it is necessary to duly organize the passage of the productions from the producers to the consumers, i. e. the home and foreign trade. It is most profitable of all for the producer, if he is able to sell his goods immediately to the consumer and not to a middleman, because the middleman of course retains a certain part of the profit
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