The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-22
OUR GOODS In SIBERIA.
A NOTABLE AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL
TRIUMPH IN THE EAST.

The Trans-siberian Railroad to he Com
pleted Years in Advance of Expecta-
lions Owing to the Use of American Tools
and Machinory-A New Field Opened.
The Trans Siberian Railroad will be completed
70 all practical purposes by the time navigation
opens in the spring several years In advance Of
the expectation Of all Europe save Russia. Tray
oilers may then take an unbroken railway jour
ney for than two-fiths OF the distance around
the earth II is to American skill and ingenuity
that large share Of credit for this commercial
triumph should go. Three years ago America
was not represented in the Siberian railway con-
struction market: she has since displaced all other
nations Early In 1897, NJ Sergey Friede, OF
New York, became convinced that American imple-
ments and railway supplies could be sold in east
ern Siberia So he started TO introduce them.
when reached Vladivostock," said Mr. Friede
II found that the local engineers would not listen
to what they regarded wild stories Of what
America could do in the line of tools and
chinery. The great Russian engineer, Iugowitch
was of in Manchuria on his way to Sungari River
SO l executed flank movement, went 10 New
chang and by going north intercepted the Rus
sian party near the Sungari River l found
these men willing to hear what had to say. At
that time everything was being supplied by Eng
land and Germany. English manufacturers
thought Russia had TO come to them. and that
no other country could compete; and Russia
would have gone 10 them, she had before, II
had not gone there and told Of the possibilities
OF America, I remember when first told the
engineers that America could supply nails cheaper
than England. they laughed at me. Al the pres
ent time there other nails there except the
American. Then there was the question OF Eng
lands supplying the commercial iron AS
matter Of fact, this iron was ordered by me in
this country afterward. In the case OF rails.
Russia intended To supply these herself but found
that her mills could not turn them out as
quickly they were needed. and America came
In again. The first order was for so 600 tons.
The joke Of it that the order was placed with
an American firm through an English agency"
How did you succeed in turning Russian
attention our way"
We'll, | took with me catalogues OF American
material in railroad construction. l first told
them what we could do. They were not willing
TO believe me. They would ask, How much
is so and so :? and Can you compete with Eng
land2' They had no idea of America as an ex-
porting nation. IL was, therefore, not always
a question of price, but is there such place as
America where they really do these things?
The Russian idea was that Americans were bluff
They thought we Dragged a lot, but. could
as Yankeeland. Even the word Yankee is adopt
ed into the Russian language, and it is the name
by which an enterprising man goes. They con-
meet enterprise with Yankee because they knew
of us as inventors Of sewing machines, telephones
monographs, and wonders of delicate mechan-
cry OF heavy and powerful kind, they did not
think IL possible that America knew anything
sa Ssy idea
making boilers They were importing boilers
from England and thought tina, boilers made out
side Of England were not worth anything. The
English. by the way took advantage Of this
idea by by chnrSns good pig price When
Of what the English were demanding"
American tools and machinery that when he
to duplicate English German machines In
fac, much Of the machinery. was known only
said to be light, they looked well, and could do
strange tricks. but were not massive.
Forty locomotives are now on their. way and
sixty more will soon follow. American steel
rails To the extent of 10000 tons will be laid in
Manchuria and large orders are being filled here
for electric supplies and material for equipment
Of cars and stations Railroad cross ties from
Oregon tools from Ohio, steel rails and locomo-
vSs 59m nnS T make parts OF this
overcome the English and German market"
thing from nail to anything you can think of
in railway cronstIuction, we have been able to
sell III olD'rlf. we nave driven all competitors
from the field Why, what else could they do'
We had the best machinery and building mate
rial could sell it cheaper and get II there quicker
than any other country. Does that not speak
well for American skill and industry? But had
absolute confidence in our ability | was con.
fdent OF success before started and | was not
| a bit disappointed A great change Of feeling
| toward America an industrial nation, took
| place after the introduction Of American tools
| the first rock drill was put into operation, the
coolies went on strike. II was an American
characteristic which might better have not
been introduced The natives thought dynamite
| a work Of the devil The Cossack guard, how
| ever. not belonging TO the cooe union. perhaps
refused to Join the strike and after tying uI
the road for three days the frightened natives
went back 10 work"
| Mr. Friede brought back from Siberia a queel
| flag which was among those displayed in this
| city during the Dewey celebration II shows
| huge painted dragon Of Chinese type back
| ground OF yellow, forming one triangular hall
OF the flag. while two smaller triangles Of white
were filed with Chinese characters the othel
| with three bars of red and blue 1t is the frs
| Trans Siberian Railroad From the beginning
| Of the project it has been necessary to protect
the workmen along the route. A CoSsack guart
was established and made to wear uniform
| part Russian and part Chinese. For banner
| they had another combination Of Russia anC
China. and now for thousands Of miles through
| Siberia and Manchuria this strange flag may
| Perhaps this Is the first instance Of flag mad,
| from the standards of two nations and used Il
carry out peaceful project for the benefit Of both
This flag is indeed PLAYING great part in the de
vclopment Of Siberia and the linking of the Eas
| and the West