The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-11-26

American needs no passports there In
order to get into conhdential relations
with the solid people Of the nation.
II may surprise Americans t. know
that little Belgium has billions of dol
lars invested there | mean billions
not millions They are centered chiefly
in Southern Russia, or Katirinoslavye.
and to my certain knowledge the Bel
gians are making from 80 o. 70 per
cent on their investments in steel man.
ufacturing plants there.
The Westinghouse have established
a plant In St. Petersburg In charge Of
Charles r. Crane. OF Chicago. Their
first order amounted to 100000 and
they have just received a second one
for S2.5OO.OOO / am afraid the West.
lnghouSes will have their heads turned
by the nice things the Russians are
saying about them. / wish | could say
something to impress my cOuntrymen
here at home with the fact that Rus
sia is the country OF the future. and
that investments there are absolutely
safe. There is perfect freedom there
for everyone II he leaves politics alone.
Another thing I'd like 70 speak Of Is
the money Of Russia. There Is no pa
per money in circulation among the
people. II is all gold. There is an ef-
fort on foot al the present time b get
the government 20 issue paper money
but IL sticks 10 the yellow metal. The
finances Of the country are In an ex-
cellent condition. The empire is raising
its own funds for the building Of the
great Trans-Siberian railway The la
Dor Is largely done by Cinnamon and
prisoners. both Of whom are paid. This
labor enables the government TO build
the road cheaply and the contractors
are encouraged 20 economy by a sys-
TEN devised when the work was first
started. A government contractor
takes a certain amount Of grading and
track laying % construct. Say that
s. OoO 900 is allowed him for the work
by the government. II Is then UNDER
stood that II, by practicing economies,
he can save S3O0. 900 or 500, 900 and still
build a good road and do the work
ne is allowed % DO IT, This liberal
treatment on the part Of the govern
ment keeps the cost Of the road down
to a minimum az the contractors
practice he strictrst economy.
The government has some trains on
this rreat road as elegantly appointed
as can be found in the world II ls
possible 70 ride for eight and a half
days and have all the comforts Of
home without leaving the train When
built the road win reduce the time
spent I'm travelling from Moscow 10
Nagasaki, Japan from two or three
months 10 eighteen days. That means
q practical revolution in the traffic
betwen European and Pacific coast
points. The road is doing a great bus
mess now, but nothing 90 what II will
do when the line ig built through to
Tallen-Wan. II has been decided now
to make the line that reaches to Viadi-
v0stOck only a branch. The main line
will be the one which stretches through
Talien-Wan 10 Port Arthur. There
is little doubt about Russia holding
Port Arthur indefinitely. When ! left
Moscow | understood there were eight
Russian admirals at Port Arthur. and
each admiral has his squadron. Before
] forget II, ! might add that the gov
eminent has spent about 5000 900 900 on
its railway up 10 date, and it Is esti-
mated that II 1t had beer Jet out to
| private contractors It would have cost
$500, 100000.
What about the stories of the Czar's
. i'll health" Mr.. Smith was asked.
You mean all that rot about al
legged brain trouble? Well. that's all
nonsense. The Cars health is first
rate. The only fault he's got is his
| liability to overwork. He works like
a slave-harder. in fact, than any Of
his clerks. There is one charming 6ea-