St. Paul daily globe., 1892-06-26

eral thousand ldbOrerS who had been
previously engaged upon the Canadian
Pacific railroad Ia Siberia for work
upon the Russian line. The agents of
this syndicate have made an eXamina-
ton of the route of the railway, and are
now engaged III making estimates of
the contract for finishing it. With the
progress OF the Trans-Sjberian railway
toward completion, Russia has begun
anew her scheme of fOrtifying anu
rendering impregnable the city of
NladivoStock, the eastern term
mus of the line. NladivoStock is
the rendezvous of the Russian
naval squadron in tho Pacific and
the best known port of Siberia.
Formerly NikOlSeVSk, at the mouth of
the AmoOr river, WAS the naval station
and chief commercial port, on account
of the facilities for communication with
the interior by the great river which
forms part of the direct highway OF
travel through Siberia. After great eX-
penditure had been incurred in found
ing the naval esta blShment there, ii be-
came apparent that. owing to the high
latitude (5S deg north, and the severity
of the winter climate, as compared
with that Of places in the same latitude
on the American and European coasts,
NikOlaevSk was unsuitable for the pur-
poses for which 1t had been selected.
ana the naval establishment was moved
to VladivoStock. ten degrees further
south, near the southern limit of the
Russian possessions on the Pacific coast.
Even in the latitude of Vladivostock
the harbOr is blocked with ice yearly
from November to February, and fOgS
Obstrrct navigation in the summer: yet,
Notwithstanding these disadvantages.
the Russians think the natural advan-
tageS of the situation of NladivOStOck
from a military point of view far out
weigh them, and render IFS position as
we'll suited for base for maintaining a
powerful fleet in the Pacific or pro-
longed warlike operations in the East.
VladiVOStock is built upon an l.
shaped harbor which. extends north
from the entrance, then east, terminal
ing abruptly at distance of about two
miles from the angle. The harbOr is
nearly uniform III wldth-about Ole
miie-unIformly deep, and free from
distractions, af0rding excellent hold
ing ground, and is well protected by
Sloping hills.
At ViadiyOStOck is the headquarters
of the Siberian flOtilla, of which the Off
GERS and men form 4 detachment of two
divisions of the imperial Russian navy.
The cruising division consists of three
parts, which man the vessels for cruiS-
ing along the coast and for general
ships duty i'll port; the harbor division,
of two companies, mount guard and do
general duty in the navy establishment,
lighthouses ana harbOrs along the
coast.
On the hills overlooking the harbor
are several large forts, recently con-
structed and mounting cannon of the
4
tiOns are being constantly extended and
added to. until the harbor is now con-
Sidered impregnable TO any hostile at
tack. These forts are garriS0ned by
soldiers yf the fortress artillery of the
imperial army. whose strength is never
allowed to fall belonw 5000 effective
men. Besides these. the infantry. sap
perS, cavalry and engineers bring the to-
tai number Of troops at present with the
cOlOrS at NladiVOStOc1 to about p, ,000,
The permanent garrison is put down at
Il, 600 men of all arms. The military
St0rehOuSeS contain 250.000 timed ra-
tiOnS ready for Instant issue to the
troops whenever hostile advance may
be decided upon.
The supplies kept on hand for the
feet are greater than those for the
army, and are always in readiness for
issue 1T the shortest notice. The docks,
building slips. machine shops, fOrgeS
and other works necessary to make tins
place a perfect naval establishment for
the construction and reftting Of modern
war vessels are being steadily carried
forward, and everything bids fair that
VIadiYOStOck will before many years be
the most perfect and most impregnable
naval station east of Ire Mediterranean
sea.
This steady growth in extent and i'm
portance OF RuSSirn power in the far
East has been anXiouSly watched by
Great Britain. and 10 move has been
made by Russian cruiser that aBritiSh
man-of-war was not detailed TO spy her
out.
The stakes both countries are playing
for are high-the Indian empire and the
trade of the EaSt-and the incen tiveS to
success are cOrreSpOndingly great. 1t
has nearly lost the clements of chance,
and both powers see that the cZar has
almost obtained his objective, and the
prizes are almost ready to be seized.
Russia has advancec steadily and Sc
cured each step as she progressed, until
now her outpoStS, instead OF being sim
ply places of observation, are really the
fortified bases established in anticipa-
ton of the next advance. Everything
seems in readiness, with the Russian
forces only awaiting the signal to begin
the next move, which means the crush
ing Of Englapd'S power in Asia.
Immigrants were brought from Rus
sia by the ships OF the Russian YOlun-
teer feet, and were originally composed
to a great extent of loaferS and trampS,
and became a public burden, hardly
ever ceaSing from claiming state as
SlStance. Now, however, this policy
has been changed, and the reforms are
peOpling Eastern Siberia with a most
desirable class of inhabitants. By this
| change each immigrant is required to
deposit several hundred rOubles before
| leaving his home in Russia. and, upon
arrival at Nladiyostock, this amount is
refunded, thus enabling him, with what
| the government grants, to take new
! departure in life under favorable cOndi-
tons; and the fact that he has earned
| and saved money in Russia is a guaran-
tee that his good habits will be retained
| in Siberia.
Upon arriving at Vladivostock each
| lot of immigrants selects delegates from
among their own number, who so ahead
and inspect the rich land rendered by
the imperial government 10 all bona
| fide Russian settlers, selecting such
tracts as they may prefer. and then es-
tablishing their friends upon the newly
organized and laid-out cOmmuneS. The
valleys and steppeS of Siberia are as
much, if not more, fertile than the
! plains of our own great West, and, as
| the population becomes greater and