The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-06

again is expended on the necessary az
ricultural implements. machinery and
supplies. The principal occupation OF
the settlers is fishing. but the govern
ment does ali in its power to promote
the agricultural interests of the colony.
and with this object in view has started
two model farms. 1t also supplies set
tiers with seed free Of cost, and sells
them cattle ut a Very low figure in or
der to encourage stocllraising. The de-
vclopmc:it of the colony has been par
ticularly rapid since 1870, when IL great
many innovations were introduced.
might mention the establishment OF "A
meteorological station at korsakova.
the construction Of highways and pest
houses and the opening of several
schools, SO that at the present day
these number ten. with an attendance
of five hundred children. a telegraph
line has recently been projected, and
there is some question of spanning the
island with Il railroad.
Saghalicn, it will thus bc seen, is suf
ficicntly developed from an Industrial
and administrative point of view to re-
ceivc almost any addition to her convict
population. a few words may now bc
said regarding her physical aspect, eli
matte conditions and natural resources.
The surface of the country is ragged
and broken, there being no less than
five chains of mountains. The northern
half of the island is crossed by the larg-
est chain, which extends further down
in two MINOR ridges along the western
and eastern shores. Along the eastern
coast on the south we find the silva 500
soonay ridge, and on the southeastern
promontory another one ending in the
rocky cliffs of Sarstollo. The separate
peaks of these various chains do not cx-
cced three thousand feet; the average
height is perhaps but two thousand
The interior of the island is compara-
lively fiat land and is intersected in the
center by the rivers Tccmy and Porou,
which have their sources in the noun
tains bordering the scashore. Sand
banks arc only to be found at the
northern extremity of the island.
Elsewhere the mariner is greeted by
frowning cliffs.
The question may now be asked:
How is the Russian convict to be benc.
fitted by undergoing his sentence in ia,
off Saghalien instead of at home or in
Siberia? In other words, will the
cause of humanity be served by the
proposed change? think | can safely
answer in the affirmative. Even if the
signs were wanting that the Russian
government has finally hardened to the
voice Of the critics of its penal system
and is entering upon an era of reform,
the very fact that the loathsome dun.
gcons and fctid mines of Siberia are to
be replaced by open air labor is of it.
self an immense stride forward.
The hard lot of Russian prisoners
hitherto, and more particularly their
confined condition, has been due to the
necessity of providing against escapes
No such necessity exists in Saghalicn
thanks to her isolation. The stormy
seas that wash her shores form an eff.
fcctual barrier to all attempts at flight.
The convict there must feel that nc
personal effort OF his could carry him
thence, and in accepting his lot he seeks
comfort in the thought that good be-
havior will eventually secure him full
liberty within the confines of his island
home and afford him chance to re.
habilitate himself. AS to the future OF
the colony, one need only point to Aus
tralia an6 Tasmania as an evidence OF
the possibility of forming the nucleus
Of substantial community from the
class of humanity constituting q pena
settlement. V. GRIBAYEDoFF.
Tho Evidence