Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-01
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
SIBERIA AND CENTRAL ASIA By John W.
Bookwalter Illustrated by photographs taken
by the author. Springfield, Ohio: Published
author.

SIBERIA AND CENTRAL; ASIA BY John W.
Bookwater ILLUSTRATED ~ phGfograP ph, ishea
10y the author.
Mr.. Bookwalter has the means to travel
extensively and the capacity to tell about
his travels in forceful instructive man.
ner This book from his pen attests to his
zeal as a tourist in search of information
as we'll as entertainment He chose for
his travels a route which covers some or
the most important governmental opera
lions in modern history. over the Siberian
railway from Moscow as far as Tomsk
and back to the Russian borders; thence
down the Volga to Astrakhan. which led
to Baku on the Caspian sea; then detour
through Trans-Caucasia, including visit
to Mount Ararat and glimpse of the sites
of Russian royaltys summer resorts, con-
Guiding with a journey over the Trans-Cas-
MAN railway to Samarkand. This line car
ries Mr.. Bookwalter into contact with vary
ing aspects of Russian progress. He saw
the steady eastward movement of the peas
antry, aided by the government in the
establishment of homes in the fertile plains
of Siberia. He was enabled to grasp the
scope OF the great railway line which Is
to unite the Atlantic with the Pacific across
Russia and Asia He saw evidences every
where of the thoroughnesS and the pater-
nalism of the Russian system. He noted
the vast agricultural resources or siberia
and marked the energy which is now be-
ing displayed to secure outlets Tor the pro-
ducts of the soil. In the Voiga region ne
found tokens of substantial prosperity
everywhere. At Baku he witnessed the re-
suit of the discovery of oil wells when
promise to rival the great American wells
under the influence of American. English.
French. Swedish and Russian capital. In
Central Asia he found the Russian govern
ment snugly ensconsed after twelve years
of purchased proprietorshlp without any
T,;nf h no nrICi
tants, but with steady process or colonial
ton and assimilation in progress
Mr.. Bookwalter observed keenly the
steadfast enterprise of the Russian gov
, erpment in constructing railroads along
strategic routes which will permit quick
massing of vast armies upon the Chinese
and the Indian borders In the event OF war
without mourning any risk from exposure
to the naval forces of any other power.
Eventually, he believes from evidence
which he noted and facts which were Whis.
pered to him, Russia will control all OF
Persia and Afghanistan by means of
branch lines running from the Trans-Cas.
plan road, just as it is but matter OF
time before Siberia will be similarly COW
cred by comprehensive system. Mr..
Bookwalter highly praises Russias energy
and intelligence. He found an utmost
freedom of access to all the points he de-
sired to reach though on some matters his
questions elected no information from off-
Gals. Comparisons with American condi-
tons throughout the work give the reader
an excellent estimate of the character and
appearance of these strange lands, while
ample and occasionally handsome illustra-
tions afford an intimate acquaintance with
| the odd peoples with whom the tourist was
thrown in contact AS a contribution to
| the knowledge of the American people
about region which is believed to be
destined to become the scene of stirring
| events having a large influence upon world
politics. this volume is one of the most
! instructive issued in very long time, and
| 1t is unfortunate that it's strictly private
| circulation will not permit more extensive
reading
| TWO WOMEN IN THE KI,oNDIkE; the Story of
Journey to the Gold Fields of Alaska. By
mary r. M YeSt YIN iSS nnam ussfe snns
Washington: Woodward & Lothrop
Mrs. Hitchcock. the widow of Commander
| R. D. Hitchcock, u. 8. N, went to Alaska
| year ago and spent about four months
| on the trip. in company with friend, Miss
Edith Van Buren,. They encountered every
phase of the hard life in the gold fields and
| on the route, travelling on steamers. on
| barges and by foot, camping in all manner
| of circumstances, raising tents, building
| log house at Dawson ARID bunking in the
most unpleasant quarters on barges They
| found everywhere a genial courtesy from
| the rough miners and campers in the new
| Eldorado, recognition OF the respect due
to plucky women, albeit a disposition to
| charge extraragantly for every service and
| commodity. Indeed, Mrs Hitchcocks ac-
| count Of her experiences. which is written
| In the form of diary, deals largely with
| the price-current problem from beginning
| to end a factor of first Importance in
/ any view of the Kiondfke. These courage
GUS women were often placed in excep-
l tionai predicaments, from which they ex-
| tricated themselves by virtue of their per-
| severance and determination. They soon
| had a coterie of stanch friends, who were
| ready to do their bidding far as the
| almost ceaseless toll of the mining camp
permitted. Many pathetic stories are inter
| woven in their account They found some
pitiful specimens of the genus fortune
! hunter, some brave. fine examples OF daunt-