St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-08-02
End Of the Siberian Exile System.

Three hundred and eight years have
elapsed since the first decree OF Danish
ment to Siberia was pronounced. In
that time 100000 persons have been
sent on the long road, many of them
hardened criminals, Others outcasts or
ne'er-do. wells, often more unfortunate
than criminal, and still many others the
victims of their religious or political
opinions. Dissenters from the orthodox
faith, the advocates OF constitution for
the state and cranks have been mingled
by the scores OF thousands with those
whose offenses against society deserved
the severest punishment. All marched in
the common chain-gangs over the bleak
route that became two years journey
by the time Russia reached the eastern
ocean. The first arrivals after an adj
vance Of the frontier were gangs of con-
victs. II one asks where the Siberian
exiles have been chiefly kept the answer
is, Anywhere in that vast domain
where Russian soldiers have carried their
flag" Whether sent away for their
countrys good or the victims OF their
governments injustice, the exiles have
marked by their presence every successive
stage of Russia's advance to the Amur.
The present Car has decided to close
this long chapter of Siberias history as
penal colony. He shares the opinion
which his father and grandfather held,
that this degrading use should no longer
be made of vast and splendid territory.
| There is plenty OF honest labor now with
which to build the roads and fortresses,
work the mines and till the government
| lands, services for which the compulsory
labor of chain gangs has been employed.
When Russia is inviting millions OF her
subjects to spread over Siberia and make
| the wilderness TEEN and blossom, she
can scarcely continue to send among
them the refuse of the western quarter of
the empire. The tramp class, composed
chiefly of escaped convicts, have already
treated some OF the new settlements to
very unpleasant experiences. Russia is
on the point of relieving Siberia from the
odium of being penal colony, just as,
long ago, she relieved the governments
of Perm and Orenburg from it, and as
England relieved Australia.
Why did not the two preceding En-
perors, who announced the very views
that have led the present Car to act,
themselves inaugurate the proposed
change? Perhaps the reason is because
the time was not ripe and great events
did not impel them, as they have impelled
the Car Nicholas II. The TRANSFORMED
ton of the face of Siberia by millions of
willing hands that were lacking in the
days of Alexander II. gives loud emphasis
to the need OF relieving that country
from further service as the prison of
Russia.
The progress of Siberia due to the
great railroad now two-thirds complet-
ed, the improvement of river navigation,
the opening of large areas to farming
and mining enterprises, and the influx Of
hundreds of thousands of settlers, has
brought about new era The popula-
ton this year is over 100000, and
600, 900 emigrants have poured into the
country since the beginning of 1896. So
large transference OF settlers from one
part to another of the same country has
never been witnessed before in so short a
time. These pioneers are Russian
peasants, and many of them have been
assisted by the government to remove to
virgin lands where they may secure
larger farms. They are beginning to
develop the vast resources Of the country.
Last year there was more wheat for ex-
port than found transportation, though
economists do not count upon Siberia as
a worlds wheat producer, believing that
as the country fills the wheat-growing
area will be fully taxed to supply the
home demand. Industries are keeping
pace with agriculture. They are making
and refining sugar at Seminoatinsk
they are turning out pig iron near the
iron mines, and in the Tomsk govern
ment in 1898 about $4,000 men were
employed in large number of establish
ments manufacturing thirty-nine kinds
of commodities.
The Cars commission to devise a
plan to replace the transportation OF
criminals to Siberia by other punish
ments held it's first meeting on June 81.
The details of the proposed change re-
quire much attention. For some time
the foot journey Of the convict bands has
been greatly shortened by the railroad.
The time seems near when the journey
will not be made at all.-[New York Sun.
Had the Advantage of Him.