The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-28

NO srop IN ,Ts DEVELOPMENT


vaaAivossok. the advanced post OF the
Russian empire In the far East, and wascn
has q great bearing on commerce Win
that part Of the Orient through Seattle.
= In som~ respects the most interesting
OF the sfronxhoidx that guard the domsn-
ions OF the cxar. II y officially known
O. q fortress Of the second-ciaSs. but the
Russians look on II a. one OF the Inn
pfeGnable places In the world. IL was
only 1T the time of the crimean war.
when Russia found herself crippled IN
Eastern Siberia by the activity OF the
Pacific squadron OF the British navy.
which blockaded the entrance TO the
Amur river. thus preventing the trans
porting Of supplies TO Khzbarcyka and
Nerchins. that her representatives.
thought OF the development OF a naval
station on the Manchurian coaet. and
Gen. Ignatie6. young staff officer. WAS
sent 20 Pekin to Investigate.
This military man accomplished ono OF
the most remarkable diplomatic feats on
record-without giving any equivalent he
rot for his government, by mere stroke
Of the pen. territory the ssse OF Eng
land. naturally fertile. with much mineral
wealth, and having on IL seaboard one
OF the finest haxbora In China. BY the
treaty he negotiated with China. IGnatIen
chursa. from the Amar river to the Korean
frontier.
Toward the southern extremity OF the
Manchursan seaboard n q small PENN
sulA trending southwark from the main
land and bordered on the west by the
bay Of Amur and on the east BY that
Of usaur!. The southern extremity OF this
peninsula 10 heavily indented by series
q hays containing many islands. and
amid these. sheltered on all sides and
protected by outlying tongues OF land. 10
3 sheet Of water three miles long and In
places nearly q mile wide. capable OF
boating ships Of all sizes at any stage Of
the tide. All the surrounding bays are
bordered by hills. Afkording ideal locations
Tor the construction OF forts. The beauty
Of the scene II 20 great that the entrance
to the harbor WAS named the Eastern
Bosphorus, while the port became known
q Golden Hern harbor.
TAe Town Of vlaAivoseok.
vIadiyostok may be approached from
either the east or west. the entrance In
either case being commanded by power
ful forts The town conaista Of three por~
tons. That nearest the Bosphorus II the
military town. extending along the edge
Of the harbor and given mp almost entire.
" 20 officers quarters and barracks. On
the extreme north Of the harb0r are the
official and private residences OF the gov
enor. the bureaus Of the various officials
connected with the arsenal. military
works and government institutions and
3 number az stores. Beyond this Is the
arsenal The population In i..o00. exciud
Ing the military. Of whom 5000 are Chi
nesc and loo each Koreans and Japan
csc. The population Of Russian civilians
n 1000 The normal military strength OF
yladivostok consists Of two regiments of
the Siberian line the Ussuri railway bat-
TALON. the vladivostok infantry regiment.
the fortress artillery and companies Of
aappers with telegraph attachments. In
addition 10 these there are two regiments
Of East Siberia rifles and squadron OF
Cssurf Cossacks. Taken altogether, there
are not less than eoeoe soldiers and other
military men In the.~town.
Some fine buildings have been erected
there. especially the admiralty. cadets
schools. arsenal and museum. The clos.
Ing Of the harbor By lee during the win
ter is somewhat Of q mistake. as an Ice
boat keeps open permanent channel.
making navigation possible to vladfvostok
the year round.
II IL found that the trade Mt viad-
ivostok II vastly disproporsicnate to the
continuous area Of Msnchuria. the only
exports from the port being timber nah.
furs and Whalehone. the total value OF
which amounts to less than G.0p0.o0O ex-
ported annually. and this despite tho fact
that yiat&snstok liz the nearest seaport
and practically the only outlet to the
rest OF the world fer the whole az Eastern
Siberia. While Russian trade remains In
this incip.ent stage the trade carried on
with Newchang. which conducts only the
commerce Of Manchuria and does not
hold any relation with Russian territory.
amounts To sea."e.a"a a year. the greater
part OF which Ia In British hands
mar kx
navigation OF the Golden Horn Is one
which limits the number of foreign bait
tleshinssor cruisers which may enter the
barber ~ the same time TO two and this
rule Ia rigidly enforced
Changes I'm Railway Plans.
me programme Of Russian railroad ex.
tension In Asia has lately undergone ccu-
siderable revision. The original scheme OF
the Transaitssr!sn railway heing greatly
modified. and IL IL probable that portion
OF the proposed route through Eastern
Siberia will be abandoned When IN.
lire vas originally authorized the work
OF construction was commenced at both
ends simultaneously. and the work on
the Pacific terminus was inaugusased hy
the present csar. who cut IN. farst sod
at vsaaivcstok March -. ,Ssf. The work
az this end ~ the road has been com
rieted as far as khaharoyka a distance
Of Al miles. and there the terminus Is
Hkeis 20 remain for several years The
alternative route authorized hy tse Man
churtan railway agreement Of issss viii
start feesn Nlsalvas,ck and pass ss way
CT Sicaisk and Ntnguta "a Tsitsshar. and
thence across the Siberian frontier 10
Nereainsk. where x viii totn the road
row under construction Tho work Of
railroad development IL being pushed Ia
Russian Aancsiaris with great energy,
TIRE country For miles around swsgyaiag
with parties os saenrsrs engaged in en-.
construction ~ sarthworks. the erection
Of bridges and the genera. work ssev~s-
sa<y Ia tAst llns- The iaaorsrs av~ Ssn-
<tcss that have been @eat 10 Siberia sar
various eTsaSes. Who werk under Co.'S
SACK guard and are rad at the rate OF
ene-tenih the value az she work they
do There ARE from is.eso - q 40 81 taerz,
worslas IA Msrea9rts new
The Strategic stw~nxtM.
A. t. TIE strategic strength ~ v1as
livestock 1ittie Information ia available
The forts u hsch are snn~n ard are sAewFs
On The accompanying nap Though VIZ