The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-17


vices to the effect that Russia propo IS 10
turn the military port Of Vladiyostock
into commercial port. making II the prin-
cipaI terminus OF the Trans Siberian Rail-
road Port Arthur viii then become the
chief military port of eastern Siberia.
Talienwan. which has been renamed
''Dalny,' will be the commercial port. and
an open" one, of the Pechih Gulf. Every
effort Will be made to make it an lmpor-
tant trade centre.
The Russian Minister Of Finance has
ordered an impost on tea OF $11.59 per SO
pounds
Leaf tea has hitherto been on the free
list. and the sudden unlooked-for imposi-
ton OF duty has led 20 many coniectures.
At present there is no duty or the COM
, mon brick tea" the poor mans drink.
4 duty OF S1-55 per pound was also i'm
posed on Chinese silver coin. Stringent
| orders are issued TO prevent smuggling in
every portion OF the maritime province.
| this extensive coast line being difficult 10
guard effectively.
With the new tax comes the periodical
/ rumOr Of the closing OF the port and The
| establishment OF regular custom house.
| At present, a board OF excise performs the
! work for the few articles dutiable. The
rumOr OF the establishment OF a customs
/ is denied by officials but good authorities
| assert that the plan IS already matured.
\ II is thought the policy OF the government
/ is 10 place the duty gradually on one or
/ two articles at time; naturally FIRST On
! those most likely to compete with products
! Of Russia or Siberia.
! The new law relating to the coasting
| trade, which prohibits foreign vessels sail
ing from one Russian port to touch at an
/ other, though situated in different se-s.
/ will give rise 70 complications SO far as
| Talienwan tDalnyl is concerned. The law
] took effect January ], 1900. II Dalny De
| strictly a Russian port. and within the
| scope Of the new law, this Will prevent it
/ being considered a free port" II IL -
| not subject to the Pew law, then IL must
! be regarded as a Chinese port. Besides,
] there is grave doubt whether there is Rus
| sisn capital OF sufficient magnitude 10 build
steamships. which &c not pay more than .
or 8 per cent profit IN the worlds market.
Siberian papers continually refer TO the
! time in the natural course of events when
the vast and rich fields OF Manchuria will
become part Of the Russian Empire in
! the East. Here Is a territory with an
| area OF 1900 square miles and a pOpula-
| ton OF 1000 geo only awaiting the trans
| forming process which has made Liam
doom formally Russian territory-the
/ and the maritime provinces.
| ManChuria at the present time is the
| promised land toward which all specuIa-
| tive eyes en- Siberia are turned. On the
! west. north, and east, Russian frontier
enfOlds 1.-THE Anur since 1888 and the
! maritime province since 1S50-aH original
| paris Of Manchuria. The Russian Empire
now has firm grin az the south. not at
| all likely to be lOOseucd. and no uprising
b. a
| ers. IS needed 70 hasten the time when
the ripe fruit viii fan into the hands
| calmly waiting TO receive Il. The COssaCk
/ guards 900 5:-iantry. 1900 cavalry. and
| 4 600 friends OF China" gangs Of Chinese
| Differed by Russiansl. now patrOlling the
! line OF the Eastern Chinese Railroad. and
| the cost OF the railroad itself are all big
| items Of national expense; but they are
| worth the outlay and show the foresight
and resistless energy OF the Russians.
Much IS said about the immense mar
I kets o. the future 10 be formed among
! these MauChurians. There are wild tales
| OF gold and the wonderful productivity OF
| the soil The natives themselves are a
| hardy stalwart race. differing widely
from their Chefoo and Hongkong and
| Shanghai COnfreres. Even in arranging
| the details of the grants OF land and right
] Of way. the Chinese Home Government is
/ with its northern subjects.
! The Chinese Eastern Railway Is some
! times ironically called the Manchurian
| branch of the Siberian Railway twenty
/ two sections OF the main line are now
| completed. making more than $50 miles,
| Monkden 20 Port Arthur is already finish
| ed. and StTCtinsk TO VladivOStOCk will next
/ be finished. II is no longer iDuniCal; Il
/ Is a sober fact
| There lately passed through Yladlvo-
| stock a representative or the st. Peters
burg British Embassy. This gentleman
/ had visited Habin. the great railroad CEN
ire Of ManchITia, a town OF 5000 people.
which sprang up in eighteen months. The
| branch of the Russian-ChineBe Bank at
| this place hid $780, 600 taels On haEd. and
/ I 600 600 additional had been sent within
| a week.
| He had inspected the line noticed the
| trend OF improvement. and the rapidly
\ with which all the railway work through
| Manchuria was being pushed. He saw
| much waste OF material: the helpless Bald
win locomotives sent with tiTcbOxes for
wood in a country where there is no wood.
| and compound engines instead of the or
| binary ones. These were sent last winter
from NladlvOstOck 10 NiuchwRng and aft
| er a series Of accidents reached the shan
hal Kuan- Niuchwang line. the most rick
ETY. and dangerous place perhaps on the
whole railway.
But whether government property is
properly handled and accounted for, or
pHodigally used. the road is progressing.
I IL is thoroughly guarded; the Chinese
themselves are being transformed into
workingmen, guards. etc.