New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-11
AFFAIRS IN RUSSIA.
GREAT FIELD FOR AMERICAN GOODS
AND CAPITALIZE EMPIRES IN
DUSTRIAL AWAKENING.

Washington July 10-Herbert H. ID. Peirce, sec
rotary OF the United States Embassy to Russia.
has been In Washington several days on leave OF
absence from his post II has afforded an oppor-
tunity for talks with the President and State De-
partment officials Russian affairs, both political
and commercial and the impartlng OF much In
teresting information which could not be given In
official reports Speaking to n reporter to-day
Mr. Peirce said:
THE relations between the United States and
Russia were never more cordial basis thah
at present and the friendship which is traditional
between the two countries finds constant express
sion In Russia not only among officials, but also
among the people of all classes. 1t Is not 100
much to say that from the Emperor down 10 the
peasantry there Is sincere friendship for US ana
a desire to become acquainted with American
methods and to make in Russia Of the SIKH ana
ingenuity which have advanced this country with
such great strides For this reason there Is n
great opening In Russia tor American capital ana
for the Introduction OF American machinery anu
methods OF doing business. IT Is an Immense heiu'
far beyond anything realized by the people III inns
country Russia is Just entering an era OF ire
mendous prosperity. sort Of commercial ana IN
dustrial awakening Here Is the new held TOT
American enterprise and capital. for. with our Pa
cihc Coast facilities the Philippines and the Trans
Siberian Railroad route. there is ready access Tor
our goods into the very heart OF Russia. during
his Ministry to Russia Mr.. Hitchcocks person.
stimulate our trade relations. and the effect Is
widespread and continuous There is special OPP
portunty for investments In steel and iron indus
tries cotton mills. and for the manufacture OF
machinery and tools. Then. too our manufactured
goods will find almost limitable markets. although
Russa's protective tariff is encouraging her own
industries Still, with the tariff. she wants
many Of our manufa ctured goods, such steel
rails as the home production Is far short Of sufh-
cient to supply the present state OF developmeht
In fact there is hardly line of American in
dustry which cannot find very profitable Invest
ment throughout Russia. Moreover Russia re-
CARDS American goods better than those OF any
other county, that this favorable sentiment In
vites us into these vast new fields.
People outside Of Russia hardly realize how
prince Hikoff, Minister of ways of Communlca
EXPECTED to make trip aroTrd the world in forty
days during the coming Paris Exposition, going by
kindness to ask ne to accompany him on the
trip Even now the route is almost continuous tSa US
Vladivostock on the Pacific coast with the ex-
>eepton Of Comparatively short sretcn w1 ib,a
marks almost commercial revolution, giving
o Pnce coast n1 the 'Ff Far East and
thence to Eastern Europe The road is so well
would astonish even Americans models Of ele-
gance. These trains have not only baths IL
pIee sy aH to Segue the long trip through
siberia The original purpose Of Russia was to
make the route for military and strategic pur-
poses linking the capital and other large centres
with the naval rendezvous at Vladvostock. But
now commerce and travel over the road have quite
overshndowed the strategic purpose. and Russia
finds that she has opened highway which Is 10
be one OF the great channels Of the worlds trafhc
In time possibly the route will be diverted south
ward through Chinese Manchura to permit a ter
minus at Russia's. new and important leasehold at
Port Arthur. But for the present Nladivostock con-
tinues TO be considered its commercial terminus
on the Pacific"
Mr.. Pelrce was asked concerning the recent re- re.
ports of widespread famine In Russia, and the
appeal issued in London for relief. .
There really is no cause for alarm SAID ne:
"I am familiar with this appeal for relief ana
while not wishing to question any chartaole or
philanthropic movement, | think II only Just 10
Russia that II should be known that the distress
is confined to rather small and remote regions ana
that Russia herself has COPIED with the situation
thoroughly and successfully. The country Is so
vast and the method OF communication so prim-
five in places that OF distress are slow 10 be
reported and relieved This may have led TO the
existence OF considerable suffering and distress.
But so far as I learn, this suffering Is NOT
widespread but IS confined 10 some OF the prov.
inces in Southern Russia. The Russian Governmeni
has been prompt in ameorating the distress, ana
the Car has given immense sums think am
safe in saying 5000 O0 rubles. or s0OOp-out OF MS
own private resources to alleviate the distress.
The energetic steps OF the Government have largely
overcome the trouble.