Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-08-11
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS
FACTS AND OPINIONS GATHERED
FROM CONTEMPORARIES.
THE NEW SIBERIA.


In his proposition to disarm the ma
ions of the earth, Nicholas of Russia
Gems now to have called attention
ather to a hopeful theory than to a
tangible practice, but in his project to
nd the historical transportation of
Russian prisoners to Siberia the Gar
demands consideration for work that
will earn remarkable distinction for his
eign.
On May Is, 1891, DimtrI, the juve-
lille brother of the Emperor Feodor, the
ldest son and successor of Ivan w.,
Falled the Terrible, was assassinated at
Jzlch, at the instigation, if not by the
hands, of the emperor's ambitious and
Inscriptions brother-in-law, Boris God
inoff. The death of the little prince re-
ulted in riot, and Godcnoff, assuming
imperial authority, banished many in.
labitants of the town to Siberia, In the
apital of which he also caused the
Hhurch bell of Uzlich to be hung. That
was the beginning of the most celebrated
cries of banishments of which history
has any record.
In the three hundred and eight years
hat have elapsed since then the Russian
government has sent more than 1,500,-
2)00 rebels, anarchists, common male
factors and political and religious dis
Fenters, many guilty and many indubita-
ply innocent, over the famous barren
Ind blood-stained trans-Siberian road,
whose terminus grew more distant as
Russian power moved eastward toward
he Japan Sea and the sea of Okhotsk.
These three centuries have marked the
growth of Siberia from penal colony
pure and simple to country of whose
Inhabitants the government prisoners
hre now relatively small and absolute
~ undesirable part. In the last three
years 100000 persons have settled in
Siberia, making a total population of
more than six millions. Indeed in
recent years the development of Siberia
has been tremendous.
Most of the settlers in Siberia are
Russian peasants, who are not only glad
enough to be free from the industrial
competition in their native land, but also
hre steadily encouraged toward industry
hnd perseverance by the government.
1t should not be forgotten, indeed, that
he present Gar, in his endeavor to
turn the convict tide from the rich soil
and mines of Siberia, is only pursuing a
plan considered both by his father and
his grandfather, but found in their
lines impracticable to operate.
Now, however, the time is ripe for
he reclamation of Siberia from a sort
bf national prison, much as Australia
twas years ago, to self-dependent settle
ment, as Australia is today. The vast
resources of the country are undergoing
rapid development, and in this develop
nent the great trans-Siberian railway,
with its American equipment, is an ele.
ment of ever-increasing importance.
Siberian agriculture is already attracting
the notice of the world, and new in
|iustries are springing up in every cor
Iner. Last year, In the Tomsk district
Plone, $4,000 men were employed in the
manufacture of thirty-nine kinds of
commodities. 1t would be very sim
pie matter to extend this gratifying and
phenomenal record.
There can hardly be any doubt that
the commission lately appointed by the
Gear will soon adopt plans whereby the
proposal will be put into practice, and
that before many months more have
passed the new Siberia will have begun
Its history.-Boston Journal.