Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-08

@ Resources Of Russia.
The magnificent system Of railways about to
be commenced by the Russian government
naturally draws attention TO the natural re-
sources Of the country which these new facili-
ties of communication viii assist to develope.
The utility of the roads which Russia has plan-
ned on so vast scale, requires no demonstra-
ton; but clearer perception of their advan
tages may result from few observations on the
situation of the empire.
In Europe aloue Russia possesses territory
of more than two millions OF square miles 10
extent. 1t is easy to comprehend that great
diversities of climate, of soil, and of population
are found lie the different provinces comprised
in this immense surface. While in the province
Tor government as it is called Of Archangel
winter reigns the greater part of the year, in
the southern part Of the empire, under a sky as
pure as that of Italy, nature, even in winter, is
vivified by genial sun.
Ii in the northern provinces, and even IN
those of the centre, the harvest, in the best
years, only returns from twice to four times the
seed, ia the provinces of the south, where the
soil is composed of a rich black mould, good
harvest is almost calamity for the cultiyators,
because the prices of agricultural products de-
sce Cs to prices fabulously low, and the laborer
sees his wheat, the fruit of his toll, rot on his
hands for the want of a market.
Ii has frequently been said by writers on
Russian subjects, that general averages, often
so available in economical reasonings, teach
nothing respecting the condition of that coun-
try. For example, the average population of
European Russia is $40 inhabitants to a SQUARE
mile; but the province of Archangel has only
three, while that of Moscow has $500 per
square mile. How utterly devoid of instruc.
ton is the average when the details from which
it is made mp differ so widely. Take another
example: There is annually extracted from the
mines of Russia nearly quarter of a million
tons iron; but the province of Perm alone pro-
duces more than 60 per cent of this.
There exist in Russia immense natural de-
posts of salt, like lake Elton, for example,
which alone is sufficient to supply the entire
globe for centuries; and yet Russia imports
from foreign countries her supply of salt for
the northern and the Baltic provinces. The
rich coal mines, those of the Don especially,
are so distant from the manufacturing centres
that industry does not profit by them; and in
some parts of the empire the working of pro
ductiVe coal mines has been abandoned for
want of a market. Examples couid be multi
piled to almost any extent, illustrating the ad
vantages which that country will derive from
the completion of her system of railways.
Manufacturing industry, which has naturally
taken for its seat the most pOpulous provinces
those of the centre-has to cross immense
distances, as well to procure raw materials as to
find a market for its products.
In view of such state of things, it is easy
to see that the Gar is pursuing judicious
policy in opening avenues Of inter communi-
cation between the various parts of his empire,
which contains in its bosom all the desirable
elements of prosperity. The war, as well as
the example Of other countries, has taught him
bis necessities; and it is not surprising that on
the re-establshment of peace, his first care is
to diminish the distance, so to speak, between
the various classes of producers and consumers
in his vast empire, and so stimulate production
by the creation of markets. Today it is much
easier to transport any article of consumption
from America TO England, than it is to send
sack of barley from Saratov to st. Petersburg.
The rivers of Russia, it is true, offer great
conveniences for commerce. The plateau in
the middle of the empire forms the centre of
vast photographic network. From it, as will
be seen by glance at the map, issue the Volga,
the Don, the Dnieper, the two Dumas and
multitude of secondary streams that extend
their ramifcations in all directions, and run
sufficiently near each other to render it easy to
connect their waters. Thus merchandise pass
SEES regularly from the mouth Of the Volga to
that of the Neya, and from the Black Sea to
the Baltic. But in spring foundations render
navigation impossible; in summer the small
rivers nearly dry up; and in winter they are
locked up with ice.
This ice which some rather poetic writer's
have called a natural railroad, answers very
well in book or picture; but it is none the
less true that it completely arrests Transports
ton. 1t is stated on good authority that cons
modities shipped from certain points in Russia
are sometimes two years in reaching their des>
tination. Add to this, that never, not even
Immediately after the breaking up Of the ice.
can large boats enter the small rivers or the
canals, that the WesteIH-lpna and the Dnieper
serve only for descent, aud that all the rivers
spread farther apart as they aPSoach the cir
conference Of the empire, leavings.lnmeuse
intervening plains over which wheels furnish
the only means of transportation, and it.%ill
be evident that the great need of Russia is the
system of railways she is projecting. If she is
a great and formidable power in the present
condition of her empire. what will she be when
the opening of new markets shall have touched
the nerves of her industry, and dffused wealth
and civilization throughout her bordersi-
puyff,yLo Gam Abr