The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-07
RESOURCES ARE DISCUSSED
FRENCH ENGINEERS IN CONFER
ENCE REPORT ON SIBERIA.
Full Statistics Receive Attention of
Commercial Men-Americans Are
Warned Against Going to Cape

Special Dispatch to the Post-rntelligencer.
WARRINGTON. June 5.-Consul John
{. Covert. al Lyons, France. sends to
the state department n report OF an i'm
portant conference held recently in that
city at which were discussed the re-
sources of Siberia and its possible COM
petition with cereal-producing countries.
Inc principal speaker was Mr. Emile du
Marais, a civil engineer who has passed
many years I'm Russia. and Is member
OF the Russian section OF the French
bureau OF foreign commerce. He said that
D7,W0 farmers arrive in Siberia annually
'he government providing them with free
transportation and giving each family
the free use of fifteen hectares (thirty-sev-
en- ana one-half acres) of land for a
STATED time. The population of Siberia
Is now 100000. Making a computation
upon the basis of the population of Russia
IN Europe. Siberia is capable OF sustain
ing a population OF 100000 The an
nual production of cereals in Siberia Is
De9'Wo metric quintais C2,O00,0 900 metric
tons) 100000 TO 5000 GO quintals OF which
are exported. The country can produce
100000 tons annually, from 1000. 900 to
o'VoUo tons Of which are subject 10 ex-
portation. Siberia now exports butter to
Denmark. 1t f. estimated tina. she can
export annually 80 10000 francs as 90 oco)
worth Of butter. wool. leather. dried and
preserved meats; and FISH and tallow may
figure conspcuously in her exports in the
near future.
movement is now In progress in the
direction of forest preservation, the de-
struction having caused scarcity of
furs, blue fox and zibelines
Siberia produces one-tenth OF the
worlds yield of gold. and but few OF the
mines have been worked. on account of
the climate The immense coal deposits
have hardly been touched. one mine.
with six beds, contains as much coal as
all the deposits in England. The lack
of transportation facilities alone has
prevented 1t from being worked
The trans-Siberian railroad. from an
economic and political standpoint. is
the greatest work of this century II
gives Russia superior standing in Pc
King. 1t now touches the Amur; in three
years IT viii reach Port Arthur, making
the distance but thirteen or fourteen DAYS
from Moscow to Picking
There Is annually an excess OF 1900 900
births over deaths In Russia, and Siberia
Is the outlet for this overflow The black
lands of Siberia form an area of not less
than 10000, 600 hectares U33 $4,000 acres)
but high freight rates are an obstacle
to the arrival OF their cereal products In
France, The average freight rate on
the trans-Siherian IL three-tenths OF a
cent per ton per kii6meter (about Ave-
eighths OF a mile) In France. the min
imum rate is four-ffths of cent per ton
per kilometer.
French capitalists. added Mr.. Marais
have invested "A great deal of money in
Russian railroads and various Industries
in that country. Since the date OF these
investments the heavy imports from
Russia and the meager exports from
France to that country have been a cause
OF complaint among French capitalists
In return for something like s700, COZ, 900
ttaxtz "A T.. ~.
chases made in the United States. Eng
land and Germany, while France re-
ceives Russian products as dividends for
her capital. Some circumstances have
beer made TO Russia, but the only answer
has been a suggestion that France should
reduce her heavy protective tariff on
Russia's wheat.
Some stranded Americans.
Consul Gen. Stowe AT Cape Town. re-
ports upon the subject OF the incoming OF
Americans into the colony at this time
lie sends n most earnest warning to the
large number OF Americans wtthou means
and in search Of employment. not TO come
10 the colony at this time Even after
the war. when everything IL settled they
should not come he SAYS. without good
~ sum OF money in pocket for emergen-
cies
The consul general had previously re-
ported TO the department. tho plight OF a
number Of Americans who had been
the mule transports. and he says that
there are stHl many others coming in
without means. As matter Of fact po-
sltOns Of all kinds in this time Of war
are uuobtain8ble outside Of the army.
Hundreds are out Of wark. and nritons
are very naturally given the preference
In employment The cost az living Is In
creaSug. hotels and boarding houses are
overlooking and accommodations are not
TO be had Provisions have advanced S3
per cent egEs are worth eight cents
IA.
cents per pound. milk sells at sixteen
cents Per quart and vegetables. never in
sufficient supply In time Of peace, ara not
brought in go supply half the demand
how the poor manage 20 live ~ a question
Americas Industry Grows
German markets are mensced by the
superiority % American textiles Vice
Consul General Hanauer al Frankfort
has sent an extract from a German pub.
Ilcat,ou. which, under the capii1n How
the Americans cause va competition with
our own Workmer. gives some fntarfst.
ing facts concerning tho uudsnlahle AMI
Rcku1W lodged superiority ~ American
textiles ana fabrics over those " Ger
Year by year" the article states Tn,
American textile industry groNs ani
tDRksa our manufacturers look with sirs
States not only completes with ua iu re
oWn uarket but Will az NO distant aatt
o. "A powerful competitor IN other may
kttS
Many % the tarwest manufacturing
hrms In the Iritcd States. the nrti.ff
continues have acquired a vast numter
of skilled textile workers. ARA .Hus tA.
ministry in Germany has been dcspi,
brtt The consequences n tais wholesale
emigration IF skilled operA 'iteE are e,I.
daur.I tu she Jack ~ requisite working
force Ia GermaHy. ~ states ana fhc
steadily rising capacity ~ tha American
Industries ta gain control of tht forsigr
markets
LARGE German Investments
Billions sf German dollars aye Invested
ir trans. csan'c countries aua nearly once
hait 80 the Whole amoin, ts earning tn-
ttrest SEQ thcse United states CONSUL
General f4e1ther ~ Frankfort sruJs sfa-
t-tlrs shaving the amount ~ Getman
caW'Hf Invested n traneNreanie countries
The ta, So states that Germany ts rspII.y
sins tu Importance As a -inLeH ierl.Hu
as VtE 8s funue, making nation n
has hundreds NJ millions iu Nscicas parts
of tns 81 b. Tia North Africa German.
has Invested avariy s. ~a no Ir Soa.h
Afc..t ttf israuar e.tuett tas lest tts
idc1ltt 49, tstrt ~ t1F 1drf wmHrant.
hevirE taken ga rew citizenship Invest
meats tr cape Colony are estimated tt