Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-01-01
BRIGHT FOR RUSSIA
CONSUL SMITH ADVISES AMERI-
CAN CAPITALISTS TO INVEST,
CHOICE:
OPPORTUNITIES
Prodigious Sums of Belgian Money
Earning Heavy Dividends in South
ern Russia and Other Capitalists
Have the Chance of Doing Just as
Well

Nineteenth of the stories cabIed
from Europe about probable wars be-
tween Russia and other European or
Asiatic states are absolutely without
foundation" said Thomas Smith, con-
sui general of the United States at
Moscow, to a New York Tribune re-
porter. Mr.. Smith has been living in
Moscow for thirty-fve years and Presi-
dent Mckinley appointed him con-
sui general soon after he was in
augurated.
Mr. Smith is a man about so years
old, and, although he has had little to
do with Americans since going to Rus
STA, except by correspondence, he still
retains the manner and speech of a
yankee. He went to Russia with the
Wiananses of Baltimore as civil and
mechanical engineer, when the rail-
road was built between Moscow and st.
Petersburg, and he has amassed wealth
there in railroad building and furnish
ing railway supplies. He was born in
Paterson and spent two or three days
there this week, hunting up boyhood
friends. The place was so changed
that he hardly recognized it, but he
found some of his old associates. He
is spending the remainder of his time
in the United States at the Waldorf
and will sail the latter part of this
month for his distant post
Mr. Smith, commenting on the re-
ported strained relations between Rus
STA and Japan, said:
CAS- a matter of fact, Russia, having
obtained a firm foothold in Talien-Wan
and Port Arthur for her eastern term
inal of the Trans-Siberian railway, is
not looking for trouble with Japan or
any other country. Why should she?
She has more territory now than she
knows what to do with, and more is
coming to her all the time. I mean
by that that those wild tribes between
southern Siberia and northern India
are one by one asking the white en-
peror' to take them under his wing.
They keep coming without any urging
The rulers of the tribes notice that
Russia does not interfere with their
young men for the army, and that
makes them want the protection of the
Russian government. Russia does not
want India, and the periodical sensa-
tons about Russian aggressions there
are amusing to the ~Well-informed peo-
PIE of Russia
Now is the time for Americans to
take advantage of the unexampled OPP
portunities offered in Russia, for the
Of +oI
tige there is unquestioned. Our ma
chinery is bought in preference to that
made by any other country, and Ameri-
cans need no passports there in order to
get into confidential relations with the
solid people of the nation. It may sur
prise Americans to know that little Bel
GUM has billions Of dollars invested
there. I mean billions not millions.
They are centered chiefly in southern
Russia, or Katirionoslavye, and to my
certain knowledge the Belgians are
making from 40 to 70 per cent. on their
investments in steel manufacturing
plants there. The Westinghouse have
established a plant in ST. Petersburg
in charge of Charles R. Crane of Chi
cago. Their first order amounted to
$2,000,000, and they have just received
a second one for $2,50O,O00. / am afraid
the Westinghouse will have their
heads turned by the nice things the
Russians are saying about them.
wish I could say something to impress
my countrymen here at home with the
fact that Russia is the country of the
future, and that investments there are
absolutely safe. There is perfect
freedom there for everyone if he leaves
politics alone.
Another thind I'd like to speak of
is the money of Russia. There is no
lpaper money in circulation among the
people. It is all gold. There is an eff
fort on foot at the present to get the
government to issue paper money, but
it sticks to the yellow metal The
finances of the country are in an excel
lent condition. The empire is raising
it's own funds for the building of the
great Trans Siberian railway The
labor is largely done by Cinnamon and
prisoners, both of whom are paid. This
labor enables the government to build
the road cheaply and the contractors
are encouraged to economy by system
devised when the work was first start
ed. A government contractor takes a
certain amount of grading and track
laying to construct. Say that $5,0O0,-
900 is allowed him for the work by the
government. It is then understood
that if by practicing economies he
can save 100000 or 100000 and still
build a good road and do good work he
is allowed to do it. This liberal treat
ment on the part of the government
keeps the cost of the road down to the
minimum, as the contractors practice
the strictest economy.
THE government has some trains on
this great road as elegantly appointed
as can be found in the world. 1t is posi-
BILE to ride for eight and half days
and have all the comforts of home
without leaving the train. When built
the road will reduce the time spent in