The sun., 1900-05-21

that not only the mails. but the greater part
! Of the passenger traffic between western
Europe and the far East will go by
the Siberian railway.
We should here note that the Siberian
route Is the cheapest and the most rapid,
n first -class passage from Paris or London
| to Chinese or Japanese ports by the trans
oceanic route costing from $500 to s36s, in
| cuding food, whereas the overland journey
on the Siberian railway will cost only from
Si6O to $3.50 The goods trafflc, no doubt
will continue to take the sea route. so FAR,
at least, ~ heavy merchandise IS concerned,
| for here tho cost of transport Is more I'M
portant than speed Tho more valuable
commodities, however, and especially such
| as suffer from sea damp and tropical heat.
| are likely TO be sent by the railway.
The effect of tho tfanscOn'ncntal railway
! on the peoplng Of Siberia has been already
! noteworthy. Between 1887 and the end OF
| 1898 the total number of Immigrants was
| .0i7 900 In the last year named alone
| the figures were 400 In order to attract
desirable settlers the statutes Of Car ALIEN
ANDFR II relating to iuries and the appoint
mont Of Justices Of the Peace werc recently
! extended to Siberia, and this reform has
| Just been followed by the abolition of the
deportation of convicts to that region, a
measure which has long constituted the
main obstacle to Siberia's development
II appears that. thanks to the opening Of
the west Siberian section OF the transcon-
tinental line. great stimulus has been
given to the outflow Of agricultural prod
ucts The export to Russia of grain, wool.
frozen meat tallow and skins has increased
enormously Of late years. Tho butter
making industry in the province Of Toholsk
has undergone such expansion that in
1890 no fewer than 100000 pounds of
siberian butter found market abroad.
Not only in agriculture and in cattle breed
ing, but also in mining great results are
expected from the railway The mineral
wealth of Siberia is apparently inexhaust-
ible According to Mr.. MrKHAILoFr. its
auriterous region is much larger than the
area Of the gold mines of California, Aus
trail and Africa taken together. In many
parts of the country there are lodes of sill
yer, lead and copper. Iron and coal exist
in vast quantities throughout the whole ex-
tent Of Siberia: most Of the coal Is btu
mnous, but there Is some anthracite. Con-
tiguous veins of coal and iron are found in
some places. Tin. mercury and sulphur
also have been discovered IN the trans
Baikal territory, and in the basin Of the
lenisei there are large deposits of graphite
said to excel in purity those Of Ceylon
In Mr. MIKHAILOFF's opinion, the United
States ought to play conspicuous part in
Siberia's economic awakening. Besides
railway supplies and mining plants, for
which there will be long n great demand.
cotton goods. sugar and steel and iron ware
will he needed in Russian ManChuria, while
Siberia proper will call for chemical goods.
soap. fruit hops. watches. mYsical instru-
ments, bicycles, typewritprs tinware. ready
made clothing and also raw cotton. for the
factories which are certain 10 spring up in
the Amur region. We should note, lastly,
that the Russian Government in order to
promote the economic development Of
Siberia, has sanctioned the importation.
duty free until 1909. of all plants necessary
for the Siberian and Ura mining industries.
while no customs dues are TO be levied until
1903 upon machinery and fishing nets i'm
ported through Siberian rivers.