New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-06
DO YOU WANT TO GO TO SIBERIA'
RUSSIA WANTS IMMIGRANTS AND is BUlLplSI
RAILROAD FOR THEM.

RUSSIA WANTS lMMlOhhNlS NM ~
RAILROAD FOR THEM.
The railroad which the Russian Government IS ooio-
ing through south Siberia from the Ural TO the Pacific
Ocean will open an immense country hitherto aiihos'
unknown to the world for foreign culture ana IL may
he NJ interest TO see what the condition OIL the iahd
f. Generally 10 may be said, Siberia, by the mana oil
nature has been endowed not less than other co"h-
tries It produces almost every KIND OF european
grain and fruits, grapes, and has an aouhuanoo
of all metals iron, gold silver, copper eao zhc' e'o
coal graphite porphyry and precious stones ana IL Is
or has been the home OF all kinds OF mammalian
animals. The rivers and lakes are crowded win all
kinds ~ fish and the Arctic Sea abounds with whaie
and seal. oo ooo Ill
The area OF Siberia is about 100000 kilo-
metres. but the northern and greater part OF II
Is almost waste, Inhabited only by lew
thousands Of samojedes and Esqulmanx snow anu lco
cover the earth in the north almost all the year
round only melting I'm two three months I'D the
summer when the sun never sets. This country Is
then visited by large herds Of wild reindeer, coming
from the south and returning there as soon as "or
SETS in. The polar bear and the black fox live mere
constantly, and hunting these and the seals anu
fishing are the only occupation OF the northern peope
The Samoiedes and Esquimaux seem to be relatea 10
each other Their languages are not so dlHereht tna
they cannot understand each other. Their manner OF
living and culture II 1t be named so, Is almost ie
same They are all nomads, going north III inc
summer and south I'm the winter. Their clothlhg IL
made of sealsin and both wear the same style
OF dress In the summer they live In tents maze Oh
skin and their only furniture is OF skin They cover
themselves with skins and sleep on skins The tents
are heated with open fires in the middle OF the tent
and. as the pine never here becomes a tree, only
shrub the natives use the blubber of the whale
and the oil OF the seal for fuel.
The people are chiefly small filthy and indolent.
They do not provide for the morrow, ana IL seems
incredible that single man Is able to eat from SIX
teen to twenty pounds OF raw salmon In day. Inc
samoed can count only to seven. A larger NUMBER
IS ga many.o They are very fond OF Intoxicating
drinks but fortunately these are rare In their regions
and the importation of them is forbidden
In Winter they live in huts, made OF turf and moss
and covered with SNOW. The entrances TO these huS
are long and low. and one has to crawl through the
Three and four families live In one hut, where the
heat is intense. Their food is fish and seal meat,
which they wash down with brain OIL and
they do not leave the huts in cold weather
except when they have nothing to eat They
have neither preachers nor authorities. The
strongest man is the most respected and he decides
all quanels. The men have only one wife, but wed
ding ceremonies are unknown. Wives are commonly
gained by bargain and often exchanges are made IN
a cood.natured way. Dogs the only domesticated
animals Each party has at least six or eight OF
them and treats them well, keeping them in the gen.
eral living room.
In the long Winter the weatherbeseged people
make or repair their Implements and weapons They
sleep great deal and tell legends these varying only
slightly The Samojed, however, has good common
sense and almost mother wit and often entertans his
company extremely with his tales.
Money is unknown among the people, all trade
being carried on by barter. Accordingly there are no
poor people they say, and the samoledes consider
themselves happy folk. They love their cold homes
and in other countries always homesick and take
the first opportunity to return to their native land.
Central Siberia has sterile land and cold winters,
which make it unfit for agriculture. In this part
OF the country found mines Of coal and metals and
there are small settlements where merchants drive
bargains with the natives. intoxicating drinks are
not allowed TO be sold credit Taxes TO the Govern
ment are paid In skin, fur other natural products
Here Immense forests OF pine larch. fir and birch
of large growth, among which live several kinds Of
animals with costly fur Hunting these and llerdlng
the greater part, like the samojedes are nomads;
they are mostly OF Russian origin and have the Russian
orthodox religion. They live In tents and have in
every tent an altar. In winter they 20 south
South Siberia from 80 degrees to 40 degrees
latitude. however, produces European crops OF
al kinds pns. has greater 1t s afsn than ian
great distances. The railway, however. is
pected to open the country to settlers as in America,
the tracks. There Will be great number Of stations
1t is the Governments purpose to make the rates
terms and conditions. All building materials
found in more than sufficient quantity and Of
cent asty Horses S nS te ss CHEAP heap and of
telgent, industrious population to become prosperous
The cities on the caravan way from Kiachta to
are comfortable places in which TO live. Houses,
ordinary food, etc. are cheap but all imported lux
south Siberia can export products which 1t now must
import.