The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-31

charge the English with malice in trying
to throw off from their own territory into
the adjacent alien regions of Central Asia
,he incubus of an impending plague. The
British resident, however, it is only fair to
say. mad plain duty to perform toward
MS country, and was obliged to perform it
without gauging the possible results to
o'ners Besides. Russian jingoism is akin
~ It's unreasonableness to the British
variety. Each side sees in the other the
perpetual vision of a menacing bugbear,
anu There Is an equal prejudice and sus-
p'cioh between them as to reciprocal de-
sgns.
ih seeking to trace the origin of the
trouble 1t must fairly be admitted that tho
arahscasplan railway, Notwithstanding
~ manifest advantages, has from the start
favored the dissemination of disease. 1t
usverses desert region, which before its
destruction acted as a barrier between
nassis and Asia. etiectually shutting OFT
e possibility of transmitting disease.
~ s,oN mat the railroad is an accomplished
Eep connecting the Central Asian and
EHufopean provinces of Russia, it is per-
eSay easy Tor infection TO he carried to
snu iro. Baku, the great port on the
10 ~. side OF the Caspian sea. has proved
a. ~ 'he present instance the first etape of
Va, ms eohtagion. Being the western ter
.a nus OF the Transcaspian railroad sys-
VEN. It Is the entrepot of commerce be-
T.; .seen Asiatic ana European Russia. and
-. - haiign influences as center of infec-
g ~. Gan scarcely be underestimate.
nc writer's knowledge of the town sug-
ssss some interesting details, which are
.peeiaiy timely. 1t Is populous city,
,a'Aihing distinctly floating" popula-
s suh, They come and go, successfully
r.eng' hndng and abandoning the. en-
rt which il there obtainable in con-
seaoh with the great petroleum springs
a't Tue railroad freight sheds. They are
Te.ny composed of Persians, Bokharites,
Evans, Iurcomans and the most repul-
tn inscription of low class Hebrews.
i prevailing racial characteristic there
H.. astlc, and II IS superiiuous TO say
soN carries with 1t the inevitable ac-
~, pahlment Of uncleanliness. There is
Us confronting the observer OF social
as4ohs IN Baku a state of affairs " hich,
NJ Fom It's individual interest. sup
acrs general Key TO The position Russia
,pes toward other nations in the
e. VI the present cholera crisis. Here We
hss,ss congregation OF human souls which
,s,e' ahild alIaost indlscribably horrible
n@,;ey surroundings and menaces other
err by reason OF Its migratory tend
ns,s. The petroleum industry subordi-
nr.sa al other commercial interests 10 its
psc-oinlnant claims. Even the common
i IN = OF sanitation are disregarded
nIa sne pursuit Of gain, and the largest en-
ssets OF labor. the Nobel brothers. who
wv paliy control the output OF the
60 are comparatively indifferent To the
tS'aoh OF their employees. Perhaps
,S ey cannot be criticised very sharply Tor
d ~ oeesase they are dealing With a class
er.,-s practically unamenabie 10 consid =
Ans Oh deeency as understood by
il peoples. The town of Bak u
49,. aalost destitute of drainage. and
h1lS;n nom the few government
eoIls~.ss 1t contains. ferns a
''on OF poor aud squalid dwellings