The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-20
TO DISRUPT DREIBUND
RUSSIANS WOULD LIKE TO WIN OVER
ITALY AS AN ALLY.
Think 1t Can He Done by Promising
Albania to King Victor Eman-
uers Government.

Correspondence of the Associated Press
ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 3.-One of the
most cherished ideas of the Pan-Slayic
publicists is TO detach Italy from the triple
alliance, and a writer in the Rossiya, one
of the newer of the ST. Petersburg jour-
nails, proposes to accomplish this and TO
overcome the influence OF Austria in the
Balkans at one stroke. He suggests that
Russia shall put Italy in the way of
curing a foothold, or even dominant infu-
ence, in Albania The editor of the Rossiya
finds that this idea has its disadvantages.
The plan, he thinks. however, might be
made acceptable IL Russia had to deal with
Italy only, the political ally. But there Is
another Italy TO be reckoned with-Vatican
and Catholic Italy, the ancient enemies of
the orthodox Greek Church To substitute
Italy for Austria in the direction of Bal
kan affairs would be, he thinks. like the
change of King Lear's daughters-Regan
for Gonerli. The Rossiya thinks ii sees indi-
cations of a possible reconstruction of the
triple alliance with England in the place
of Austria. 1t notes evidences of GOODNESS
between the courts of Rome and Vienna,
and attaches great significance to the
forthcoming visit of the young King of
The result of it all may be the transfer
nation of the Anglo-German agreements
regarding China and Africa into a formal
alliance. in which Italy will be taken on
account of her position in the Mediterran-
can. Austria will be isolated. The natural
result would be that Russia would have
much easier sailing in the Balkans. This
conclusion, no doubt, explains the Rossi-
ya's article 1t is the wish, not the facts
so formally marshaied, that fathered this
thought.
A line of specially constructed steamers
! will begin plying between Riga and Lon
don next spring. They will carry Siberian
Owing to the glut of merchandise await
ing transportation, the Siberian Railway
will not accept further shipments for the
present.
The minister of finance issues figures
showing that, although they have not
thrived particularly, the Belgian joint
stock companies of Russia are making
small dividend. taken as a whole. There
are las companies, with a capital stock of
494 100000 roubles. or nearly $500 900. OF
this not more than sixty-four less than
eighteen months old For various reasons
the reports given cover only seventy-three
companies, capitalized at 265. 100000 rou-
bles. OF this number seventeen operated
during the year covered by the report at a
loss. while others showed net income suf-
ficient to give all seventy-three companies
an average net Increase of 81 per cent
This cannot be regarded a favorable re-
suit in a country where safe mortgages
and commercial paper bear interest at the
rate of from to per cent, and where
interest at II per cent is legal.
The annual report of the grain crop of
Russia, harvest of 1900 made up from the
local reports of ], 200 rural correspondents is
published In full in the Official Messen-
ger. The report shows that of the winter
grains the rye crop is a little above, and
the wheat crop below. the average. Rye
did particularly well in the agricultural
provinces of central Russia and of the
middle course of the Volga. II was bad i'm
the southwest, in Bessarabia and Kher-
son. Winter wheat suffered from excessive
humidity in the southwest and New Rus
STA" Spring grain is said to be near the
average.
Twelve new sugar refineries will be
opened in Russia next season. Warsaw
newspapers report that the agents of the
United States are buying sugar beet seed
in Poland This seed will be given trial
at the agricultural stations in the United
States. Such seed has previously been OBJ
tanned principally from France.