The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-04
A GREAT EMPIRE.
Reports From United states Consuls in
Russia.

Russia.
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
always interesting. Especially at the
present moment. when the Philippine
and Chinese questions are pending and
this country's relations with Russia
and other great powers of Europe are
not as yet absolutely determined, II is
therefore thoughtful observation by the
overn of the this country of the
conditions in the great S%lavoni nation,
which has always shown a friendly in
terest i'm the United States some recent
reports by American cOnsuls are per-
tinent in this place. Two of the re-
ports referred to consist entirely OF
TRANSACTIONS.
Consul General Holloway. writing
from st. Petersburg, transmits a long
extract from the Russian newspaper,
the Novoe Nermya. 1t alludes to the
frequent failures of the cereal crop in
the same localities in Russia and eX-
plains IL on the necessary theory that
the soil is impoverished. 1t states that
the famine Of 1891. as well as the pres
ent one, was caused by impoverish-
ment. In the Central Chervoism region
all the forests haVe been cut down.
Changes in the tariff on grain and the
low price of cereals. owing to the con-
ditions of the international market,
are referred To as destroying the agri-
culture of that region. The whole of
IL governments in Russia and parts
of other are reported to be famine
stricken.
The substance of the Russian civil
engineers recent lecture on the scar
city of grain and measures to avoid dis
tress is stated by Consul Smith from
Moscow. He gges the prohibition
nC in 1901 nf the RNnprf nf pTpin hAN
and straw and the extension, by the
government, of pecuniary aid to the dis
tressed districts.
Consul General Holloway cites the
steps taken by the agricultural ASSOC
Citations TO influence the reduction on
agricultural implements. The govern
ment has granted the requests and a
portion of the new regulations has gone
into effect. The rest will do SO In Sep
TENDER.
These matters are properly supple
mented, though not formally inserted
as "A supplement by a translation from
the Journal des Dehats of Paris sent
by Consul Morris of Client. II is a long
and interesting article. friendly to Rus
STA and somewhat speculative i'm char
acter. However, IL is worth restate-
ment in few sentences. Without any
Importance on the frontiers, the inhabi-
tants, i'm 1Si7. numbered 81 900. 900. in
iNtNs tfs'VNtNN's III 1880 lNNs WV NNs III
1897, 1873. 900. 900. The Russian people
have more than s%extupled since Chap
pie predicted it's approaching end.
There Is no reason to believe this prog
ress will slacken. The nineteenth cen
fury has seen the colonization of
Southern Russia; the twentieth cen
fury will see that of Central Asia and
Siberia.
But the curious thing i'm this article
is the fact stated. that while the popu-
lation Of central or old Russia is grow
ing 20 per cent, the other regions are in
| Creasing at the rate of 40 to so per cent
IL is held hat all this does not mean
that the Russian race is I'm decay. Its
population is gradually getting into the
new regions conquered during the past
centuries. The center of gravity is
moving toward the south and east
1t is argued that this does not mean
that a general distribution will fol.
low. 1t probably means the return ot
the government to Moscow and later
when Siberia shall be in turn colonized
II may be necessary to remove the CAPT.
tai to the east. toward the Legendary
centers of Tamerlane and Ghenghis
Khan, whose heritage Russia is now
reaching.
The notices of facts do not seem t.
show that n famine whatever or any
possible Crowding of the vast tracts oi
Russia will avail within the limits OF
a conceivable future to stay the prog
ress of the nation. The connection be.
tween the two sets Of reports shown
above is temporary and local. Cor a
short time in certain districts greal
distress happens, but they even ther
avoid a calamity. II seems that tn,
Russian ministers have taken some OF
these steps.