The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-10-02
TIE NEW RUSSIA.
(From tie Boston Her0ld.)

Within the last ten years great
economic changes have taken place
in Southern Russia. The grain bear
ing section is in the extreme western
. part its centers of political activity
are in the north and west, and in
the opinion of most persons, the
rest of Russia has been given over
to unprogressive peasants or rowing
tribes of Cossacks. Up to rela-
lively recent date there was con-
siderable amount of truth in this
geographical allotment, but. in the
last few wears. marvellous change
has taken place.
This industrial revolution has been
due to two or three natural causes.
In the first place, it has been found
that the soil of the provinces of Kief,
Poltava and Kharkof is peculiarly
adapted to the culture of beet root.
In consequence of this discovery.
not only have the farmers converted
their fields into beet plantations, but
the vast forests have been cut away,
partly for the purpose of providing
more open land, and partly for fuel.
In consequence of this demand for
land, its value has greatly appre-
ciated. Twenty years ago, the
average valuation placed upon the
farms in this district was the equi-
valent of SIS per hectare (nearly
two and half English acres).
To-day no trouble is found in sell
ing this same land at the rate of SO
per hectare. There has grown up
IN these provinces new class of
wealthy men, who have made their
fortunes wholly Independent of the
government. They are solely
manufacturers having their interests
bound up in the business welfare of
the country, and must, therefore,
in time, exercise a potent influence
on the destinies of Russia.
Now in the province of Ekateri-
noslaf have been discovered exceed
ingly valuable salt deposits. These
are worked at very small expense,
and produce salt equal to the best
that can be found in any other salt
producing district. In consequence,
one or two little towns in this pro-
vince have suddenly developed into
cities of from 20, 900 to 80, 900 inhab
itants, and the salt production of
Russia has increased from 500, 900
or 100000 tons, in 1881, to more
than 1900, 900 tons during the last
year.
Farther toward the south east, in
the valley of the Donetz River, vast
coal and iron fields have been found.
1t is only recently that any indus
trial effort has been applied to the
development of these natural re-
sources, though when work was
once begun it was rapidly carried
forward. The first mining COM
PAW established itself in the valley
of the Donetz in 1873, but to-day
there are 1872 mines in active opera
ton, already turning out coal at the
rate of 1000, 900 tons year. What
the owners of these coal and iron
mines expect to see is the building
up in their midst of great factories,
in consequence of the opportunities
for work which the immediate pre-
sence of raw material, fuel, and a
wonderfully salubrious climate will
offer.
Already large numbers of people
have left the central districts OF
Russia, and have migrated to these
southern provinces, where the chan
ces of profitable work are open to
them. Even the natives of the
region, the veritable Cossacks OF
the Don, men of race which from
time immemorial has passed its days
in the freedom of the open air, have
now, by the attraction of additional
pay. been converted into miners,
and work early and late in the pits
and subterrancan galleries. On one
hand are to be found the skin tents
of the nomads, representatives OF q
state of civilization as old rs the
days of Abraham, and in immediate
juXtaposition are seen the workshops
and mines, the creation almost OF
yesterday.
That these industrial develop
ments will exercise an enormous in
tluence on the Russian mind goes
without the saying, particularly as
well-informed travellers assert thai
those who are foremost in these
industries are men who take keeI
interest in the social development
of the people, and are apparently
as progressive in their politica
views as in their industrial opinions
More than this, the building up o
great industries in Southern Russi'
must have the effect of weakening
the political Importance of the north
ern part of the country. For al