Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-11-07
THE PEOPLE OF SIBERIA,
Not -Four Per Ceut are Conyiets or
Political Exiles,

ostatlstics have their value when
given comparatively. In following up
,be analogy which was always pres
,r,in nv mind In crossing Siberia, the
srsiogy between that coenuv and the
limited States. IL Is interesting to COM
rsra the area and the population OF
ION Siberia has 100000 square miles
m our 10000 while our population OF
,fNOmJ oyershadOws the $4,000 OF
pussIa's Asiauc possessions. OF this
number GO Der cent are Russians the
rsst INDIGENOUS. But this average ~
brought down by the low per cent OF
Russians n the extreme north, which
as In northern Canada, is left almost
entirely 90 the aboriginal Eskuimo, ana
10 he hardy fur trader, while In south
ern Siberia from 60 20 90 per cent are
Russlans Not 4 per cent Of all the
Russians are conylcts or political eX-
Hes The number OF cOnvicts varies
in the different sections. In the gov
eminent OF Tomsk, in the west, they
only amount 20 one-siXth per Gems
which necessarily makes a much high
or average in some OF the other prov
inces These facts are fatal 20 the
theory that the Siberian population is
composed mostly Of criminals and the
sons Of criminals.
The Russians find the great north
ern Jeppes as bleak and as inhos-
p,abe as do the Canadians. Yet the
mineral deposits and the fur trade at
tract certain population. II is eX-
tra0rdinary 20 read OF the early con-
quests Of the Russians In this coun-
irr and Of their first settlements here,
though there We're no visions Of an I'll
Dorado 20 draw men on.
LIKE OUR GREAT WEST.
None Of the country north Of the
Amur ever belonged 20 China. though
that Is the popular idea. IL was in
hablted by independent tribes. some Of
which were subject 20 the Chinese
throne In a very roundabout way pay
ing tribute 90 O Manchu Khan who
IN turn, paid tribute 10 the Son of
Heaven In finally obtaining posses
zion Of the region the Russian gov
eminent was urged on by its individual
representatives there. not by its own
avowed policy as It Is today. The
chef Of these was Murayicn. whose
sf'a't'H NaNA NN"I NF AWNlAtNANl Win 81
IBERIA as the name OF Washington Is
win our own country. In 1858. in a
treaty drawn up az Aigun, where the
russians and Chinese have recently
come In conflict, the Chinese relin-
Qulshed all claim 20 the left bank of
The great river From that time dates
southern SIberias mushroom growth
nlalV0siock Is one Of the fruits OF Il;
hhabaronsk, az the end Of this east
en- section OF railroad. Is another.
haeh city Is less than fifty years old.
ana each bears a striking resemblance.
S 90 an the Siberian cities. 10 our CEN
leis OF quick growth in the West Only
large garrison creates military So
Cs,y which element Of the population
oueTenuates these cities from ours.
aOseht. TOO. is the atmosphere Of ner-
sVus enterprise and business push. the
.ysul ot What the Yankee terms hust-
lug Inc American city owes IT'S
SSlu and Tie 20 the energy Of the in
s,lllal the Siberian city owes its
ouulIhg ana ITS continued existence
,ne government. A site Is not Sc
s,'eQ IN accordance with the econom-
i.s oi business. but on account OF milf
s4'' eAgency The city's tenure Of lifc
rs not depend upon a boom. but on
VA va convenience Of the government.
,W,o'e individuals may follow in the
pS'n automatically blazed. and turn
,~dna,eVer is possible 10 their own adj
tan.ase but the CITY Is not there for
',L DIV Tor the government. In spite
=, 'n.s tact business thrlyes and men
~ gsHiklng money, which speaks well
Alnslees enJoilih IN