The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-15
FROM OLD RUSSIA.
Visitors From the Land
of the Gar.
ADMIRATION OF AMERICA
The Travellers Speak of the Re-
sources and PrOductiveness of
Their Native Land.


high encomiums of praise as were ex-
pressed last evening TO CALL reporter
who visited the Baldwin ascertaining the
impressions which voyage across the
continent had made on the minds of
Messrs. w. Veshniokof and Frank P.
Roberts, Nine. A. Maximovitch and Miss
l.. Mettershead, all Of st. Petersburg,
Russia.
NJ. Veshniokof is Commissioner from
Russia to the Columbian Exposition and Is
a specialist in horticulture, agriculture,
forestry and all branches Of science per-
tanning to products of the soil. Mr.. Rob-
erts, although of English parentage, has
lived almost his entire life in Russi a.
where he has attained distinction as a
civil engineer on public works of much
Importance.
Nine. Maximovitch is the wife of an emil
nent civil engineer who has had charge OF
the construction OF some Of the most i'm
portant Government works that have
been executed in Russia during the last
quarter of century. Notable among
these are the ship canal from
Cronstadt, the leading naval sta
ton Of Russia, to st. Petersburg, which
has resulted in making the latter
city virtually seaport. the Syste In OF
docks at Nikolieff on the Black Sea and
Maropol on the Sea of AZof. He is now
constructing harbor at Libau-a work of
magnitude. Nine. Maximovitch visits
America for the purpose of studying
view of producing work on this subject
upon her return to her home, in which
she hopes to render her compatrl0ts better
information regarding this country, its
people and its condition as viewed from a
Russian standpoint. Miss Mettershead
accompanies Nine. Maximovitch as "a
looker-On in Vienna"
Nine. MaXimovitch is most enthusiastic
in her praises of America and the Amer
leans. She is charmed with the women of
this country. and finds many who attract
her attention and admiration by their fine
physique, ruddy healthfulness aud ex-
quislte taste in dress, but nowhere has
she been so forciby impressed with these
facts as since she has been in San Fran
cisco.
Her admiration of American manhood,
acquired in her travels across the CONT
nent, bears tribute to her keen observation
and fine appreciation of what is good.
Nine. MaXimovitch has not yet found
words adequate to express her ad-
miration OF all that she has seen
Of scenic grandeur. The party trav-
eIed west from New York via Niagara
Falls. Chicago. Denver. Mahitou, Pixies
Peak and Salt Lake City. and at
each point saw very much to impress
them, and. while by no means expecting
to find our people crude, yet the general
appearance OF elegance aStOunded them.
San Francisco they pronounce an ideal
city, beautiful in every feature.
The gentlemen, as men of affairs, regard
the cities which they have visited from a
practical standpoint and estimate them by
the standard OF comparison, and they ex-
press much admiration Tor the finished ap-
pearance-the air of completeness hat is
manifest in the many beautiful structures
Of this city.
The reporter asked these gentlemen
what was the status of the negotiations
alleged by MonSlgn0r SatOll to De in prog
ress tending to the union Of the Russo
Greek church and the Catholic church, but
they dISclalmed any knowledge of such
negotiations and said that they viewed the
two churches as antagoniStic, the Greek
church being more In sympathy with the
Church of England. While the Gar IS the
official head of the church. yet its actual
government Is IN the hands of a synod
which consists of the three metropolitans,
who are stationed at ST. Petersburg, Mos
cow and at Kef. and the bishops of the
church. Up to the time of Peter the Great
the patriarch was the head of the Greek
church. but upon his accession to power
that monarch abolished the office of
patriarch and constituted himself the Of
fetal head, and since his time the church
and state in Russia have had one head.
The resources of Russia. from her im-
mense stretch of area, are limitless. and
under ordinarily favorable circumstances
seasons Of famine and epidemic except
ed-RusSia could live independently of the
world. being able to produce everything
she needs for her home con sumption within
her own borders. At present she produces
her own wines, and has no need to import
them. She >manufactures all her own iron,
both cast and wrought. makes her own
steel, enormous mines of iron and coal
being now in active operation in the Mral
district and in Southern Russia. She man
features her own cotton and wooden fab
RIGS, and her manufactures embrace, in
fact, everything that is needed to sustain
life and develop her commercial pros
perity.
Mr.. Veshniokof and Nine. Maximovitch
are typical Russians, possessing the in
genuous and pleasing address so peculiar
to tn at nation.
While in California the party will visit
many points OF interest, starting to-day for
the Yosemite, and returning again to San
Francisco within about week. They will
then resume their journeyings. directing
Z l.