The herald., 1898-08-04
ABOUT RUSSIA'SFUTURf
SIBERIA AND CENTRAL ASIA'S
DEVELOPMENT
A Consensus of the Reports of United
States Consuls Shows Wonderful
Possibilities for Empire

| NEW YORK, Aug. "A special to the
Tribune from Washington says:
| To the United States the growth and de-
| velopment of the empire of Russia are al
ways interesting, and therefore some re-
cent reports by American Consuls will
be of value.
Two of the reports consist entirely OF
| TRANSACTIONS.
Consu-General Holloway, writing from
ST. Petersburg, transmits a long extract
from the Russian newspaper, the Novoe
Vremya. 1t alludes to the frequent failure
of the cereal crops in the same localities in
Russia, and explains it on the theory that
the soil is impoverished. 1t states that the
famine of 1891. as we'll as the present one,
was caused by impoverishment. In the
Central Chervos!en region ALL the forests
have been cut down. Changes in the tariff
on grain and the low price of cereals, owing
to the conditions of the international mar
ket, are referred to as destroying the as
riculture Of that region. The whole twelve
governments in Russia and parts of 9TH
ers are reported ADMINISTRATOR.
The substance of the Russian civil engi-
neer's recent lecture on the scarcity of
grain and measures to avoid distress is
stated by Consul Smith from Moscow. He
suggested the prohibition, as in 1891, of the
export of grain, hay and straw and the
extension by the government Of pecuniary
aid TO the distressed districts.
Consul-General Holloway cites the steps
taken by the agricultural associations 10
influence the introduction of agricultural
implements. The government has granted
the requests and a portion of the new regu-
lations have gone into effect. The rest will
do 80 In September.
These matters are properly supplemented,
though not formally inserted as supple
ment by translation from the Journal Des
Debats of Paris. sent by Consul Morris
of Client 1t is a long and interesting arti-
Gle, friendly TO Russia and somewhat spec
uative in character. However, 1t is worth
restatement in a few sentences. Without
any important changes on the frontiers, the
Inhabitants, In 1857. numbered 67,O0O,00 In
1862 a. 900 OO0 In 1855, 10S 900 900; In 1897 1884,
900 900. The Russian people have more than
sextupled since Chappe predicted its APP
preaching end. There is no reason to be-
lieve this progress will sacken.
The nineteenth century has seen the coll
onization of Southern Russia, the twenti-
9th will see that of Central Asia and ST.
IBERIA. But the curious thing in this arti-
Gle is the fact stated that while the popu-
lation OF Central and old Russia is growing
20 per cent, the other regions are increas-
ing at the rate of 40 to GO per cent? IT. is
held that all this does not mean that the
great Russian race Is In decay. Its popua-
ton is gradually getting into new regions
conquered during the past centuries. The
center of gravity is moving toward the
south and east. 1t Is argued that it does not
mean that a general distribution Will fol-
low. 1t probably means the return of the
government to Moscow and later, when ST.
her,a shall be in turn colonized, 1t may be
necessary to remove the capital to the east
toward the legendary centers of Tamerlane
and Ghengis- Khang, whose heritage Rus
STA is now reaching. The notices of facts
and the more or less speculative differences
therefrom, do not seem to show that any
famine whatever or any possible crowding
of the vast tracts of Russia will avail with
IN the limits Of conceivable future to stay
the progress of the nation. The connection
between the two sets of reports shown
above Is temporary and local. For short
time In certain districts great distress hap
pens, but the government by timely atten-
ton may even then avert a calamity. II
seems that the Russian Ministry have talk
en- some Of these steps.