Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-11-09
RUSSIA AS A COMPETITOR.
Tbe Petroleum Trade Revolutionized-A
Cotton Raising Region.

Cotton Raising Region.
Til recently Russia has constituted a
little world OF it, own and its immense
population has not disturbed the people
living in other countries. In seeking TO
enlarge its borders it has had troubles
with other nations, but otherwise It has
not crossed their track. II has not been
q competitor in the great commercial
marts of the world. Ii has produced
some superior leather and iron that have
been used for certain purposes, but lately
it has been held that articles equally good
have been made in other countries. 1t
has exported considerable wheat, but
there has been little fear that the amount
would be increased. 1t has not seriously
injured our market for grain and meat,
while it has bought our cotton, tobacco
and petroleum.
But within the past four years Russia
has revolutionized the petroleum trade Of
the world. Ii has established lines for
conveying oil from near the Caspian to
the Black sea, and has constructed iron
vessels for carrying il in bulk not only TO
all the leading ports of western Europe,
but to Africa, India and Australia. The
Russians were the first to use crude pc.
troleum for fuel on locomotive and
stationary steam boilers, for making
Illuminating gas for burning brick and
earthenware.
Recent English papers state that ar
rangements have been made for bringing
frozen beef, pork, mutton and poultry
from Russia to British ports during the
coming winter, and the belief is expressed
that live animals and eggs will soon be
brought at all seasons Of the year. IL
desirable they can be brought most OF the
distance by rail or sent all the way by
water from ports on the Baltic sea. 1t is
now believed that immense quantities OF
grain raised in Siberia will be sent TO
England, France and Germany from the
same ports. Siberia is the largest if not
the best grain territory in the world II
is capable of supplying all western
Europe with breadstutfs. The central
and southern portions Of it are well
adapted for raising wool.
The building of the Transcaspian rail-
road has opened up n of the finest cot
ton raising regions in the world. The
soil is rich and the climate delightful.
Labor there is cheaper than in Egypt or
India. One-half the cotton used in Rus
sian mills last year was produced in
central Asia, and efforts will he made to
produce the entire amount needed within
the next four years. At the end Of that
time Russia expects 20 export raw cotton.
The profits of raising it in a region where
blowing may be done during most Of the
year and where no fertilizers are re-
quired are enormous. With cars and
steamer run by petroleum cotton raised
in central Asia may within five years he
laid down in Liverpool TO compete with
that produced in the United States.
The region traversed by this same sys.
TEN Of railroads is also said 70 he won.
derfully adapted to the production Of fine
wool and tobacco. For centuries large
nocks Of SHEEP aud goats have been kept
there and have been the chief sources Of
wealth. With good facilities for trans.
porting their feeces it is likely that these
tlocks will he largely increased. Some
state that the tobacco raised in central
Asia is superior TO that produced in
Turkey, which is preferred for making
cigarettes and smoking in pipes.-Chi.
cago Times.