Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-01-04


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 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 30 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 a 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:
As matter of fact, Russia, having
obtained a firm fOOtboId in ToIiap yUo ~
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 op-
portunities offered in Russia, for the
investment Of capital American pres
rige 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. | mean billions not millions
They are conferred chiefly in southern
Russia, or Katirionoslavye. and to my
certain knowledge the Belgians are
making from 40 to 20 per cent. on their
investments in steel manufacturing
plants there The Westinghouse have
established a plant in st. Petersburg
III charge Of Charles r. Crane of Chi
cago. Their first order amounted to
S2,000000, and they have Just received
second one for 81, 100000. / am afraid
the Westinghouse will have their
heads turned by the nice things the
Russians are saying about them. |
wish l could say something to impress
my nountrymen 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 nc
paper money in circulation among the
people. 1t is all gold. There is an eff
fort en- foot at the present to get the
government to issue paper money, but
1t sticks to the yellow metal. The
finances Of the country are in an excel
lent condition. The empire is raising
its 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 a 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 $1,000
900 is allowed him for the work by the
government 1t is then understood
that il by practicing economies he
can save $4,000 or 100000 and still
Guild 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. # is nossf-
BILE to ride for eight and a half davs
and have all the comforts of home
without leaving the train. When built
the road will reduce the time spent IN
travelling from Moscow to Nagasaki
Japan, from two or three months tc
eighteen days That means 6. practical
revolution in the traffic between Euro.
pean and Pacific coast points. The
road is doing a great business now, but
nothing to what it will do when the
line is built through Talien-Wan. II
has been decided now to make the line
that reaches 10 Vladivostock only :
branch. The main line will be the one
which stretches from Talien-Wan tc
Port Arthur. There is little doubt
about Russia holding Port Arthur in.
definitely. When / left Moscow I I'm.
derstood there were eight Russian ad.