Kursk

Kursk, the chief town of the Russian government of Kursk, 312 miles by rail S. by W. of Moscow and 274 NNE. of Kieff. The chief industry is tanning; but soap, tobacco, candles, and spirits are also manufactured. Kursk is celebrated for its orchards, and has an observatory. Pop. (1871) 31,754; (1897) 52,908. Near the town a fair is held after Easter, when more than £1,250,000 worth of commodities are disposed of, the chief being cotton, silk, and woollen fabrics, sugar, tea, leather, horses, &c.—The government of Kursk, in the middle of south Russia, contains 17,931 sq. m., three-fourths fertile arable land (black earth). Pop. (1897) 2,394,893. The province is watered by numerous feeders of the Dnieper and the Don.