The record-union., 1899-07-11
Their Relations Never on a Moe
Cordial Basis Than Now.
4 Most Sincere Friendship In the Cars
Realm for the American People.
A Great Opportunity offered for
American Capital and the In-
PRODUCTION Of Our Machinery
and Methods Of Doing Business
lis an Immense Field, Far Be-
yond Anything Realized by the
People Of This Country.

yond Anything Realized by the
People Of This Country.
WASHINGTON, July 10.-Herbert d.
Pierce. first Secretary of the United
States Embassy to Russia, has been
In Washington several days on leave
OF absence from his post. 1t has af-
forded him opportunity for talks with
the President and State Department
oficials of the Russian affairs, both
political and commercial, and the inn
parting of much interesting informa-
ton which could not be brought by the
channels of official reports. Speaking
TO representative of the press Mr..
Pierce said:
The relations between the United
states and Russia were never on q
more cordial basis than they are at
present, and the Friendship which is
traditional between the two countries
finds constant expression in Russia, not
only among officials, but also among The
people of all classes. 1t is not too much
to say that, from the Emperor down to
the peasantry, there is a sincere friend
ship for us and a desire to become ac-
quainted with the American methods
and to make use in Russia of the skill
and ingenuity which has advanced this
country with such great strides For
4 this reason there is a great OPENING in
! Russia for American capital and for
the introduction of American machine. y
and methods of doing business. It is
an immense field, far beyond anything
realized by the people in this country.
Russia is just entering an era of tre-
mendous prosperity, sort of commer-
cial and Industrial awakening. Here is
the new field for American enterprise
and capital, for which, with her coast
facilities, the Philippines and the trans
Siberian railway, there is ready access
! for our goods to the heart of Russia.
! During his ministry to Russia Mr..
Hitchcock's personality and splendid
business ability did much to stimulate
our trade relations, and the effect is
Widespread and continuous.
There is special opportunity for in
vestments in steel and iron Industries.
cotton mills and for the manufacture OF
machinery and tools. Then, too, our
manufacturers goods will find almost IL
limitable markets, although Russia has
protective tariff which is encouraging
her own industries. Still, even with the
! tdIll, SIlt Wallis UldHy OI our IndHu-
factured goods, such as steel rails, as
the home production is far short of suf-
| ficient to supply the present state of de-
velopment. In fact, there is hardly a
line of American industry which can
not find very profitable investment
throughout Russia. Moreover Russia
regards American goods as better thar
those of any other country, SO that this
| "a inv h,1c in
to these vast new fields. Our people OUT
side of Russia hardly realize how COM
plete the trans Siberian Railway is. I
was told recently by Prince Hilkof.
Minister of Ways and Communication,
who has charge of this great work, that
he could make a trip around the world
in forty days during the coming Paris
/ Exposition, going by way of the trans
Siberian route, and he had the kindness
to ask me to accompany him. Even now
the route is almost continuous from
Moscow to the Amoor River and thence
/ to Vladivostock, on the Pacific Coast,
with the exception of comparatively
short stretch which has been covered SY
post horses. Once open, this marks az
most commercial revolution, giving
highway from Western Europe to the
Pacific and from our Pacific Coast TO
| the Far East and thence to Eastern
Europe.
''The road is so well along that trains
are run out OF Moscow which wouli
astonish even Americans as models of
elegance. These trains have not only
baths, Libraries and other ,nodel IL
equipments, but complete gymnasium
to beguile the long trip through Siberia.
The original purpose of Russia was to
make the route one for military and
strategic purposes, linking the capital
| and other large centers with the naval
rendezvous at Vladivostock. But now
the commerce and travel of the read
has quite overshadowed the strategic
purpose and Russia finds that she has
opened a highway which is to be one. of
| the great traffic channels of the world.
| In time possibly the route will be di-
verted southwark through Chinese
Manchuria, to permit a terminus at
Russia's new and important leasehoii
at Port Arthur. But for the present
| Vladivostock continues to be conssd-
cred it's commercial terminus on the
Pacific
| Mr. Pierce was asked concerning the
recent reports of widespread famine in
Russia and the appeal issued in Lon
don for relief:
There is really no cause for alarm
said he II am familiar with this ap-
peal for relief and, while not wishing
to question any charitable or philan-
thropic movement. 1 think it only just
to Russia that it should be known that
the distress is confined to rather small
and remote regions and that Russia
herself has coped with the situation
thoroughly and successfully. The coun-
try is vast and the methods of COM
munication so primitive in places that
cases of distress are slow to be report
ed and relieved. This may have led to
the existence of considerable suffering
and distress. But. as far as l can
learn. this suffering is not widespread
and it is confined to some of the prov-
| inces in Southern Russia The Russian
Government has been prompt in reliev-
ing the distress. and the Gear has giv-
en- immense sums-I think am safe
in saying 100000 roubles ($1 800, ,0O0>
--out of his own private resources to
alleviate the distress.