Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-01-08
FROM ST. pETERsBURGH.
Correspondence of the Statesman1
ST, PETERsBURGH. Dec. ID 1S6

/
Since the conquest of Tashkeut and sew
eral other cities of Central Asia is an ac-
complished fact, Western China begins to
be of the greatest interest to our COM
merce. Previous to the insurrection of the
Doonganes caravans of go, thirty thou
sand carts year loaded with tea found
their way from China into Western Sibe-
ria and Russia, and it Is calculated that
the interruption of commercial relations
loss of more than twenty five millions
roubles to Russia. This loss amounts to
fifty millions, If the export to that region
Is taken in consideration, which would
otherwise have been effected. Persons who
have lately been in the premises inform us
that all business connections between the
Chinese and Doonganes is discontinued,
and that consequently the necessaries of
life command fabulous prices in the dis
tricts of the insurgents. 1t is invariably
the custom Of the Pekin Government to
cut off all communications in such cases,
and not to use force of arms before the in
surgents are completely exhausted by hum
ger and privations. 1t is true that this
policy requires time, but the result is in
fallible. The recent insurrection Of the
Taipings has been quelled, not by the An
glo-French bayonets, but by this policy,
which has been practiced for centuries,
and to which the Chinese Government takes
recourse in every instance Of rebellion.
1t is therefore the interest of Russia that
the insurrection ofthe Doonganes be made
an early end to. When the Chinese Gov
ernment will have reassumed its authority
on the Western frontier, our possessions in
Central Asia, such as Tashkea, etc., will
rapidly gain in commercial and industrial
Importance. The tea trade will then take
its course direct through Torkestan, and
caravans of camels can make the trip In
sixty-five to seventy days without any
effort, while we would find market for
our manufactured goods, such as cotton
and woolstuffs. Chinese tea will not only
sell in Central Asia, but all over Russia.
in preference to the tiresome journey
through Eastern Siberia, as they do
at present on their way from Hi
akhba. It is useless to state that
this important movement can be
much accelerated and facilitated by the
railroad which is about to be constructed
between Tumene and the post of Gero-
hoesky, near Sarapoul. Nobody doubts
but that Chinese tea will create formid-
aole opposition to the teas imported from
England, even as far East as Moscow. Prior
to the conquest of Central Asia it was i'm
po sible for the commerce with West
ern China to take any large pro
p )rtions. The Tartars, Tartes, and few
Siberian merchants who had no sufficient
capital, were the only traders. Communi
9 ,tion between Simipalatinsk and Kouldia,
and uice uersa, was exceedingly difficult
and dangerous, on account of the Kirg-
heses attacking the caravans. killing the
employers and drivers, and running away
with their booty. At present, however
matters have taken another turn. Sine,
the commercial routes are guarded by
military posts aud the pickets of the Cos
sarks, the Kirgheses and Mussulmans O.
the country do not venture to attack the
caravans and travellers any longer. A
any time small caravans of ten to fifteen
c.mels can be seen walking quietly along
guided by not more than two or three con-
ductors, who run no risk whatever, fol
the greatest order prevails all over the
country in regard to the safety Of commu.
-nication c, - --.