The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1900-05-05

4 S~NNSA'SAAS
tined, in my opinion, to be a great wheat
country. Generally speaking, the country
IS still unsettled Commencing at Ekater-
lnburg IN the Trails where the railway
enters Siberia, which has from 81, 900 to
$4,000 people: This city is beautifully Sit
uated, is of modern build, and has SPLEEN
did surroundings. Then, after two days
traVei by railway, you reach the city of
Omsk, with 25,O0O population, and after
another day and q half Of travel YOU
are at Tomsk, the capital Of Western
Siberia Another day and half and you
are landed in Krasnaark, and two DAYS
more bring you to Irkutsk, which is on
Lake Bikal, and boasts Of $4,000 popula-
tlon- The intermediate country between
these cities is generally unsettled and
uncultivatsd\ These places were orig
lhally prison settlements, military posts
ana Iur trading stations. The climate of
the country is not bad. In fact. It is
quite hot from May to September in
elusive, while the cold comes from No
vember to Marcr ..-~,,.-ive Whom r ont
lifted at ST. Petersburg was advised to
take along plenty of furs, and did So
When reached Siberia found the men
wearing pongee silk suits, and water
melons We're being raised I was also
advised to take along good supply Of
provisions, yet found SCOT eating houses
at almost every station. 1t can best he
described by calling 1t pioneer country
settieH principally by young Russians.
You do not see the Eskimo from the
NORTH or the Tartar from the South.
Jhe. people seemed more prosperous more
rugged and happier than any other people
In European or Asiatic Russia. Russia
wants to colonies this vast virgin district
and is constantly striving to induce peo-
pie to go out there from the crowded
centers The railways built and pro-
Jected will give them market for the
things they raise, md in time Russia vii.
be able to care for her own. There will
be no famines when it becomes possible
to move foodstuffs at a reasonable cost
Whole villages are shipped bodily out
to Siberia and emigrants are given a Ger
tain amount of money go rubles), a fur
coat. or shuba. and a ticket out and
back, go that they may CO. examine and
report to their friends upon the country.
Besides this every prisoner for no matter
what trivial offense is sent to Siberia
and not only goes himself, but has to
take. his family along, a new way of col
-oniztng atconntry. They are sent for
trivial offenses only a short distance
out into the country, but for more serious
GRIMES their destination is further, and
+. Tor murder, or crimes Of as serious ma
ture they are shipped to Kamskatka and
nave to work In the salt mines The most
serious thing man can do in Russia is
10 engage In ttrea sonable enterprise
against the government; for that and
that alone they are sentenced to capital
punishment. AS before stated the gov.
eminent is making every effort to coll
onlze Siberia. for example, a chateau
near MOSCOW was burned down. havine
heen set on fire by some inceadiaries
VINO were known to be peasants Of two
villages upon the estates. Cu-iously
enough, these peasants were protesting
against the Introduction of American
farming machinery, lately introduced into
that district. The authorities were I'M
anle to determine who the guilty ones
We're, so they shipped both villages, bag
ana baggage, to Siberia Prisoners unon
ARRIVAL In Siberia are rot locked in pris-
ons' but are turned loose, and only have
10 report at stated periods to the gov.
ernor or the district Consequently Won
constantly see them walking from place
10 place, or working in mines-many !.
miles miles depend entirely upon these men for
labor. 1SE., .ss],
! Inc houses in every village upon the
main street facing the road have little
WINDOWS with shelves, about six feet
ABOVE the ground. and on this shelf they j
place whatever food they have to spare. +
This Is custom handed down from all
former period to aid escaped prisoners, i
the shelves being placed at that height I
SO as to prevent dogs from getting at the 4
food II
Siberia is n,ineralized from the Trails 1
east, and 1t Is clear that the belt is the
same one that extends through Alaska. n
You can trace it from the Urals through |
the Yenesej country, to the Lena, to L
on to Kamskatka, which
Is only short distance from the new
district of Cape Nome. All of the gold
found In Siberia SO far has been N
placers. but you can rest assured that
there are Lodges, and that they will be
uncovered. The sharp changes in the
sease MS, with the snow; coming to hold
the rank growth Of srring and summer
grass and foliage have produced a very
heavy turf and the country is covered
SO to, speak. There has been no pros
Decting for the Lodges. but when there
IS, am, as say, quite sure that they
VIII De found: DO not take the impress
sior' that Siberia Is an unknown and UNI
explored land from what say The fact
Is that It is all quite well known. and
me russians themselv,s are quite familiar
with Wit 1t. It has only Teen closed to the
horeiener In the past and Is unsettled and
undeyeloped -
The parts that have been settled are
quiee& tisnly c1vll1zei. q learned that
ci'.ce' rather to my embarrassment on
one OF my trips journeyed ten DAYS
from Afasnaark to a mining camp in
the f & south s Z enesei. was to look the
particular property In question over and
was to be the guest Of those in CHARGE
OF the property. wore what might he
called hunting suit. and travel had moi
adced to Its appearance Imagine nv
sleehngs when at the dinner hour the
gentleman appeared at the table in cor
fectiy cut evening suits. and the ladies
n u : aarr1slan gowns. That is pretty good.
Tor town that Hes within the Arctic
circle There are thousands OF men min
M IN North and South Yenesei, and the
two camps have produced an average
or =, OoO, 600 a year for twenty-five years
s. was very favorably impressed by the
mines of that section
fter my Investigations IL Northern
5,lper1a y travelled down into the Altai
district In Southern Siberia. on the boun-
uary o. Mongolia AS you enter that
{ country It gradually becomes more noun
famous tai and rugged, and you leave the
say race be hind and come upon the
Ia TAI. 3 vas aeconapanisd 81 larx.
DafaI