Evening star., 1900-06-14
MINING IN SIBERIA.
Some Misleading Statements Correct
ed by Mr.. II. r. Greener.


Mr.. r. t Greener of this city, who is
commercial agent at Vladivostock, mas
made an Interesting report to the State De
partment in regard to the mining industry
in Siberia In which he takes occasion to
correct several MISUNDERSTANDING on that
subject. 1.-The fact that the cZar, he
says, has ordered the suspension of the
import duty on coal for use on the railways
of Russia until September 1. 1900, has a
special significance for the United States
in view of the scarcity of coal, which now
seems world WIDE except in our country
1t arouses, furthermore. an interest In the
Siberian coal-mining industry, hitherto not
sufficiently regarded While some Amerl-
can coal has already been shipped to Japan
and China. none has as yet come this way,
and probably will not. owing to the greater
demands nearer home.
Mining of all kinds in Siberia has h!ther-
to been beset with many difficulties as
to discourage operators, native or foreign.
The concession to an Amerlcan-D NJ
Clarkson-to mine for gold or coal on MS
own account. without the usual adjunct OF
Russian partner, seems to point to
more liberal policy. Still, there are re-
strictionS.
THE following paragraph has appeared
In American newspapers:
From Port Arthur this summer QS!S9)
several Americans have gone into Man
churia to prospect for gold. and. as the
Russian government advances money to
bona fide miners and buys the entire out
put of the gold mines. there Is some degree
of stability in the venture
Nothing could be more misleading than
such statements. The Russian govern
ment does not yet profess to own Man
churia 1t advances no money to miners
or manufacturers Of any kind. except to
those coming within the scope of its ad-
ministrative policy. 1t does assist immi-
grants after they have arrived, but does
not pay their way. 1t buys the output OF
all mines on broad grounds of government
tai policy as 1t controls mining business
of whatever character. But this fact would
afford little stability to the venture of any
American who came to Manchuria or the
maritime province to engage in mining
without a special permit, or a Russian
partner, or a good supply of capital and
abundant ma machtnery.
I'm this connection 1t should be honestly
said, without any disparagement to the
future of Siberia, that it is no special place
for Americans. Those who came here
twenty-five to thirty years ago did WELL
but all had either Russian partners or
married Russians and identified them
selves with the country. or those who
have come within decade, only one is an
Independent business man, and his success
came from a Russian partnership. The
others are in subordinate positions. earn
ing salaries about on par with what
they would earn in the United States.
Siberia Is no more a field for Americans
than 1t is for Germans, Danes or Swedes;
indeed not so much. Most of the young
foreigners have a speaking knowledge OF
one or more languages besides their own
The best chance for Americans here is In
the line of mechanical work. A we'll
equipped machine shop, with competent
American artisans and specialists in GER
tain industries. would do we'll in Siberia;
but no American without capital or spe-
cial skill in his own trade has any busi-
ness here"