Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-10
NEW ERA IN RUSSIA
Commercial Awakening Throughout
the Empire,
FIELD Fl1l ENTERPRISE En- IE:lEP RISE OF AMERICANS
importance Of the Trans Siberian
Railway.
TALK WITH A DIPLOMAT

MI. Herbert II. II. felrce, nrSt secretary
OF the United States embassy to Russia,
! has been in Washington several days on
leave of abserce from his post. 1t has af-
II rGed an opportunity for talks with the
President and State Department officials
on Russian affairs, both political and COM
E'eFciai, and the inl~ rtilg of much inter
est}ng information which could not be
| brought by the channels of official reports.
: Speaking to a representative Of The Star,
Mr.. Peirce said:
The relations between the United States
and Russia were never on more cordial
basis than at present, and the friendship
which is traditional between the two coun-
tries finds constant expression in Russia
not only among officials but also among
the people of all classes. 1t is not 100
much to say that from the highest to the
lowest, from the emperor down to the peas
ahtry, there is sincere friendship for US
and desire to become acquainted with
american methods ana to make use in
Russia of the skill and ingenuity which
mas advanced this country with such great
strides For this reason there is a great
opening in Russia for American capit;I and
for the introduction of American machinery
and methods of doing business. 1t is an
immense field, far beyond anything real
lied by people in this country.
Russia Is just entering an era of ire
rendous pr1sperity-a sort of commercial
and 1ndust rial awakening. 1t covers
vast stretch of country in Europe
and Asia. particularly IN southern Rus
STA and the small provinces and
through Siberia. where the new trans
Siberian railroad is tapping another vast
area All of this country is fairly teemine
win prosperous ard intelligent people
who have hitherto not known much of
modern industrial methods and means but
who are ready and eager to learn them
here is the new field for American enter
PRISE ana capital, for with our Pacific
coast facilities, the PHILIPPINES and the
trans-Slberian railroad route there is ready
access Tor our goods into the very heart of
russia There is special opportunity for
investments in steel and iron industries
cotton mills and for the manufacture of
machinery and tools. Then, too our man
u1actureC goods will find almost illimita ble
narkets, although Russia has q protective
s sh whicn is encouraging her own in
oustrles. Still, even with the tariff.
she wants many of our manufa cturad
goods, such as steel rails as the home uro-
ductlon IS far short of sufficient to supply
the present state of DEVELOPMENT. In fact
there Is hardly a line of American Industry
Which cannot find very profitable invest
nent throughout Russia Moreover. Rus
sia regards American goods as better than
thoSe OF any other country So that this
favorable sentiment invites US into these
vast new fields
Around the World in Forty n,xs
People outside of Russia hardly realize
now nearly completed the trans Siberia rail-
way IS, continued Mr. PIERCE. II was tod
recently by Prince Hilkoff, minister of ways
OIL communication, who has charge of this
great work, that he expected 10 make a
trip around the world in forty days during
the coming Paris exposition going by way
OF the trans-Siberian route ami ne had the
klhdhtSS 10 ask me to accompany him on
the trip Even now the route is almost con-
1lluoGs from Moscow to the Amoor river,
anu lhence to Nlad1vostock OF the Pacific
coast, with the exception of a coInDara-
lively short stretch which has 10 he COW
cred by post horses. Once OPEN this marks
almost comm ercial revolution, giving a
atsh"ay from western Europe to the Pa
enc and from our Pacific coast into the
Tar east, and thence to eastern Europe
Inc road Is so we'll along that trains
are run out of Moscow which would aston
lsh even Americans as models Of elegance.
Ihese trains have not only baths, libraries
ana other modern equipments but COM
pete gymnasium to beguiie the long trip
through siberia. The original purpose of
Russia was to make the route one for mill
tdry and strategic purposes linking the
capital and other large centers with the
naval rendezvous at ElaQiEostock; but now
commerce and travel over the road has
quite oVershadowed The strategic purpose
and Russia nnds that she has opened a
highway which is TO be one of the great
channels of the worlds traffic. In time
possibly the route will be diverted south-
ward through Chinese Manchuria, to per
init a terminus at Russias new and impor-
tant leasehold at Port Arthur. But for the
present NladivOstock continues to be con-
sidered as its commercial terminus on the
Pacific
Kind Treatment of Prisoners
Speaking of Siberia, there is an amazing
amount of misinformation about Russia
and our people ought to know the facts
about so friendly people and nation. l
have travelled good deal through Russia
and inspected every prison in ST. Peters
burg, and have never seen anything but
the best of methods in the treatment of
prisoners. There is no cruelty or oppres-
sion, so far as l have been able to see IN
five years of close observation; the disc!-
pine is good. the administration intelli-
gent. Care is taken not to make the pris-
oner a mere number. His individuality is
retained by the use of his name, instead of
d number. The prisoners are treated with
a gentleness characteristic of the Russians
for. despite stories of cruelty. the Russians
are remarkable for their gentleness and hu
manity. 1t is particularly noticeable IN
their treatment of children and of ami
mails, and | have never known Il case of
inhumanity to d human being or an ami
NAL
Reports of Famine in Russia.
Mr.. Peirce was asked concerning the re-
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