The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-10-26
exceptional year Of fertility. Every


exceptional year Of fertility. Every.
where there is the appearance Of thrift
and eontentment. Noble groves OF
trees appear at frequent intervals, IN
closing The dwelling places both OF the
living and OF the dead.
The houses are In good repair and
generally supplied with generous
stacks Of sorghum stalks for wind.
breaks and fuel. Sorghum, by the
way, is perhaps the most important Of
all the productions OF the region. But
II Is no the sugar producing variety.
Its seed furnishes food for the working
animals, while It's stalks are woven
into the walls Of their houses and laid
upon the roofs preparatory 10 the
necessary covering of mud 10 protect
from cold and moisture; and as fuel ID
IL almost as good as wood. At present
indigo and opium form the most I'M.
portant staples Of export
Ia obtaining praeticni possession OF
Manchuria, Russia has not only wen
its long coveted military vantage
ground on the Pacific, but II has ac-
CURED one OF the richest provinces OF
the world, already possessing a popu.
lati0D larger than that of New ENG.
land, New York and Pennsylvania
combined. The single district or Linu-
Tong has i2.O00,000 Inhabitants. The
total area OF the province is 100000
square miles. But, though the mass OF
the population is collected In the cen.
trail portion penetrated by the ralis
ways, the extensive mountainous re-
gions on both the eastern md the west,
crn borders contain vast undeynloped
mineral resources and valuable forest
areas. The railway " sure NJ once ~
have il large an1 profitable local irDlie.
Tens Of thousands o. mules now en.
gagged IN hauling the surplus products
OF the Interior TO Newchwang, over
the most horrible roads IN the world,
Will al once resign Ia favor OF the
steam engine; new Industries viii arise
as soon ~ exchange IL facjIilntedj and,
IL the Mnntcboos are like the Japanese
and the Chinese about Picking, they
will be induced by low fares 10 crowd
the local trims for short trips 10 and
fro upon the line,
As a military measure the value OF
the railway w apparent on u slight ins
speetioD Of the map by IL tho Trans
baikal Nv brought into direct ooppoe
ton with M open port 0n the Paollie
In the lntilude Of Washington, Hnr
bin, the "soIar plexus" 81 the system,
situated Oh the snngari river, Nv about
equally distant from Port Arthur,
vladiyostok and the border 0f Trans
bnikaiiD, while good river navigation
connects II with tho 0celn through the
Amur during the summer months
From this point the railway Nv being
constructed outward In three direc'
lions, yhile construction IN IN progress
Inward from the three torminL WITH
In less tbnn u year the whole Hp9 VIII
be opened, and 100000 troops could DO
transferred from yIadly0st0k Oh int
rior lines, 10 tho Vicinity OF Picking ~
o few days, While Within TWO weeks
another 100000 could DO brought Into
tho same neld from the boart or Rus
sin, Az u lnpd force, RlssIa VIII tbnn
be supreme IN The far enst, ~ u naval
power, sine VIII also have the ndynn1
tage Of possessing TWO eDpaelols and
i|nyulnemble hnrbops IN close o0mmunh
cation win MI the internal resoprons
Of the empire.
10 This condition Of things the phi
Inntbropisl sDrply ennnot object, f0l
Russia VIII surely introduce Into Tho
region y higher civilization, and In tha
wake or her rule VIII spring pp better
established order md lhn prosperity
sure 10 attend H. 10 oplnin IBIS posi-
ton wls y part Of her national dos
tiny, No self respecting Husalnn aoul1
think of resting until this end WIS nl
u ~ NOT llyoly thai luHsiu's
VIII sock for more,