New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-02
THE TRANS-SIBERIAN TRIP.
vLADIvosroK SECTION OF RUssIAs
GREAT RAILWAY-INCIDENTS
OF TRAVEL.
OF TRAvE


OF TRAVEL.
xr1as,vostolx Siberia June II CSpeciaD-Untn re-
nentiv this city was the Pacific stronghold or hus-
sla's vast Asiatic possessions. 1t was the port
furthest south for her commerce and her navy
Now she holds Port Arthur and TalienWan, the
latter OF which she has renamed Dalny. These are
being connected with Siberia as fast as posslolo
nv the Russo Chinese Eastern Railroad. which
masses through the heart Of Manchuria and VIII
he completed and Joined with the western sections
f the main line as early 1903. In fact one might
call It the main line for the most easterly sec
fior-the Ussurian-of the line as originally pro-
,ected viii not be a part OF the grand trunk This
starts from VIadivostok and almost d.
reetlv north 70 Khabaroffsk for distance Of five
hundred miles From Khabarofsk the road as
originally projected along north OF the Amoor'
which marks the boundary between Siberia. Man
clurfa and Mongolia. II not till long after
this route was surveyed and the Ussuri branch al
most completed that Russia made the agreement
with China whereby she obtained the right TO cut
down through Manchuria to Port Arthur and
Lalny. and TO build branch line from this 10
Nikolsk and Vladivostok. Russia agrees TO let
China have this after it has been in operation
thrty-sx years China paying the cost Of construc-
tfon with interest. Needless to say that this day
viii never appear NIanchuria practically belongs 10
Russia already. II VIII not be long before 1t be-
longs TO her in wen as in fact.
Vladivostok has not necessarily been put on
the shelf. though it wifi hardly fulfil the mean
ing of its name Rule the Far East" No matter
how far Russias boundary lines may expand in
the Far East. the position which this city occu-
pies viii always be OF importance. because it COM
rnands a harbor which is like inland sea
and, heavily fortified (as It now Isl, must be i'm
pregnable Il must always be, IN fact, one OF the
great points Of defence the Siberian coast. IL
not the greatest
Business here is carried almost entirely by
the Chinese and Germans. There is firm OF the
latter which started here with large department
store Branches of this have gradually been estab-
lished large cities OF Siberia. Thirty per
cent OF Siberian trade goes TO Germany.
BARBoR FOR VAST FLEETS
You enter the harbor of vIadivostok by a side
door as IL were. which is visible from any OF
the heights Of the city. The harbor is mountain
locked. and the left stretches the great bay Of
Ussurf at the right the Bay of AMOR This is not
the mouth OF the AMOR River; that empties into
the Pacific Nickolaesk about a thousand miles
further north.
There is anchorage for a hundred fleets these
three bodies Of water. but with this Disadvantage
they might get frozen in there in winter. The
roundings Of the city beautiful. especially at
this time CT the year; but each Of the beautiful
hills is heavily fortified though the Notifications
are visible those entering the bay. which is
named for Peter the Great.
Forty-two years ago the site OF the city
q wilderness; the population Is estimated vari-
ously from $3.50 TO 10000. AS a matter Of fact
there are about 10000. OF whom 1900 Chinese.
2,009 Coreans and $50 japanese. There is a great
exodus Of Chinese in the winter. Large numbers
OF them go south to their homes. where they spend
the New Year. and return again weather
approaches. The Coreans and Chinese perform all
the coolie labor The incoming ship is surrounded
by crowd Of sampans. all sculled by Chinese. who
noisiy solicit fares and baggage Over the clumsy
seat reserved for passengers IN each sampan is
gorgeous cotton rug black one side and deco
rated with gaudy flowers the other. These
made and sold in China. and in Vlad'vostok, where
they also made with prancing liz a bright
red background, and sold for five rubles G2 5e).
These about the only distinctive things that
may purchase IN the place.
= BOOM" CITY.
There is a predominance of brick houses for
business while those for residence of wood, not
pretentious, but all neatly built The streets are
wide. but not in good condition. though effort
IS under way TO make them In country
of quick growth, Ike the United States, where
frontier cities settle down into staid common
weslths, there would be nothing phenomenal about
the size of Vladivostok in proportion TO its years.
At present il is bleak and bare, but it might be
made beautiful by the planting of and the
LAYING out Of few small parks.
agency is situated on of the highest points OF
the city and here fly the Stars and Stripes. The
Consul. Mr.. Greener. speaks with enthusiasm OF
The kindly feeling toward Americans which is
visit The bows egnra SUM or military School
and since then the boys the American flag up
their staff the slightest excuse. On receiving
1he news OF the death OF Vice-President Hobart
4 81.
time that the boys hoisted it they put it at half
mast too, h asked them their reason for doing
so They replied that they had noticed the consul
ate flag flying that way and thought that ii must
be the American custom.
There are few Americans in Vladivostok and few
English. the chief Caucasian element is purely
military No foreigner knows the exact number OF
troops stationed there but IL is computed at ten
thousand. or about third Of the population. It is
the military centre for large region around about
Which Is uroe: the authority of a military Gov
ernor. who resides therein addition the Genera
OF trcops-whO governs the entire province. A
Mayor pTes.des over Town Council and the loca
municipal government
Should Russia find herself engaged in war In tn,
lest iadlvcstok would undoubtedly be Of tn,
principal points Of mobiliza ton especially if Rus
50 has ncj succeeded in obtaining a vantag 81
ground y EoToa- ~ present during the summer
months IL Is the key II the trans Siberian route
! The Cssur. section of the great railroad is buii
n from FiaaiEOStCk 10 KhabarOfSk Eve hundred
mics further north. on the bank Of the Amoor
Trains run On this lire every day connect witt
nc steamers which ply up the Amoor and tn
t2lika rivers - -tTeensk. which point the roa,
mas been completed from 81. Petersburg and Mos
cow Ncat wear II Is possible that the easier rout
chinese Eastern Railway 10 the Amoor. though tn
through route 10 Russia by rail from this point vii
rot he completed for three years.
one Of Inc most nOta bic features Of
ana one watch IS most significant as an index o
ttpssias anbif4n In the East. is an institute 70
TIE study Of alFEastern languages in which ar
trained Officers and diplomats. Tfording tho Gov
q me Eastern countries. which may be draw
upon at short notice.