Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-27
CHINESE RUG MAKING.
Development Of the Industry in Lead
ing Cities-coneuIar Report on
Manufacture.

Consul General James w. Ragsdale,
writing from Tientsin. SAYS that tns
American people are scarceE aM va
the wealth of China in all sorts OF woven
cloths, and more especially as to mana
manufactured rugs and carpets chieiy
made in Tientsn and Pekin, where on.
thousand persons or more are employed
in the production of rugs of all kinds oI
material l. e., silk. sleeps wool Gamers
wool. iute. hemp. felt, yak hair and even
the halr Of the COW ,o.
beams above and below, from which t4e
warp is stretched, is USED. In front y
these several men and boys IRON one 10
ten. according to the size OF the rug are
seatcd knctting into the warp tufts from
balls of yarn hanging overhead, the De
sign in color being SO placed Ihan eac !
WorkInen are paid at the rate of nom
20 to Al cents Mexican day taDout ~
to u cents gold) One square loot is anu anu
average days work The lnd snnayo, ha az
the industrial schools for the employment
of the poor. The silk carpets are very
like those produced in India. Turkey or
Persia in colcrs and quality of material,
but vastly different in design if left to
Chinese $. lection Foreign designs, If
furnished. are faithfully copied.
These rugs differ greatly in quality IN IN
some the warp is cotton. while IN others
the warp. rs we'll as the nap OF WOOL
is silk. Some are made of even surface
while in others the figures, are raised:
warp threads used to the inch. which
varies from twelve to twenty, as well as
the quality of the silk warn The cheap
est are sold ut from $1.3 to $l.5O Mexican
n square foot. while The better qualities
regularly bring from 81 to s. square
foot. the quality most in demand now
ever range in rh price arc IRON nas in TO a., sizes
and are made for floor, table and piano
covers and wall drapeiies
nd lar thfOlgnOuC
CHINA Iapar and the East. Many are
exported to Europe, and lately to Ener-
lea. They are made on the sane ia s,,i.
and in the same manner as are the silk
rugs. Those Of all Sleeps wool. with
cotton warp, range in price from 40 cents
to $50 Mexican per square loot. the SIC re
purchaser. The wearing qualities OF
these carpets make very ecan3micsl
floor covering, and age softens and blends
the colors which are In AL rename G,n p'aces
The carpets especially favored by the
local residents and tourists are made
from camel's wool, the prices ranging
from 25 cents to 81 square foot These
rugs are heavy and frequently IRE fully
one-half inch in thickness. They are
fashioned in all kinds of designs-ilofdi
geometrical and dragon.
The rugs made from the other mater
ials mentioned (the yak excepted are
used only bv the natives and range IN
prices from to p cents per f sSu" rs f9ot
very rare ard expensive. comparing in
style and beauty with the finest silk rugs.
They are made only in the In terror
provinces of China.
It is interesting to note the origin of
the carpet industry in China. The
method of manufacture was first used
in making saddleclothes and trappings
for horses used in professions and by
Chinese of high rank. developing into the
rug and carpet industry on the advent OF
the foreigner. The saddle blankets are
sill used. and often are highly finished
in the most elaborate designs and pat
| terms.