St. Landry democrat., 1889-07-06
st. gaudrg 9etltofrat
RUSSIA AS A COMPETITOR.

The Petroleum Trade Reyoiutionized-A
Cotton Raising Region.
Till recently Russia has constituted
little world of its 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. 1t has not been
competitor in the great commercial
marts Of the world. 1t 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 1t has bought our cotton, tobacco
and petroleum.
But within the past four years Russia
has revolutionized the petroleum trade Of
the world. It has established lines for
conveying oil from near the Caspian to
the Black sea, and has constructed iron
vessels for carrying 1t 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
engagements 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 ana eggs will soon he
brought at all seasons of the year. II
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 IL not
the best grain territory in the world. 1t
Is capable Of supplying all western
Europe with breadstrrffs. The central
and, southern portions Of it are well
adapted for raising wool.
The building OF the Transcaspian rail
road has opened up one 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
elan mills last year was produced in
central Asia, and efforts will be made to
produce the entire amount needed within
the next four years. Attic end of that
time Russia expects to export raw cotton.
The profits Of raising IL in region where
blowing may be done during most of the
year and where no fertilizers arc re-
quired are enormous. With cars and
steamers run by petroleum cotton raised
in central Asia may within five years be
laid down in Liverpool to compete with
that produced In the United States.
The region traversed by this same sys-
tenn Of railroads is also said to be won
derfully adapted to the production of fine
wool and tobacco. For centuries large
hocks Of sheep and 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
hocks viii be 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-
cage Times