davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23
THE MARKETS.
Wall Street Review.

New Yorl-, Aug. 22.--Thc level Of prices was
not materially changed as a result Of tudays
trading in stocks In fact the fluctuations IN the
most prominent railways did not exceed IL per
cent and In only few spccalties was the range
a point Conditions underlying the general stu.
alton are the main topic of discussion In the
street and it apparently requires unusual deyel.
opments TO eNtriCate the market from the rut
into which il has fallen. With operations pretty
generally limited to the trading element who
close their contracts from day to day not muCn
importance can be attached to current market
movements. Some effort was made al the open.
ing 20 continue yesterdays late reaction but
supporting orders appeared in Brooklyn Rapid
Transit and Peoples Gas which strengthened
the entire list. Consolidated Gas was in demand
and rose almost two points on buying inspired by
its early restoration to an per cent annual diT.
dend basis. A subsequent attack was made on
Peoples Gas, the price going down ia and re-
naming under last night until the final dealings
NO definite news has developed to account for the
recent pronounced pressure against this stock
Statements that no agreement was reached in
The conference between various steel companies
ana labor organizations was without any effect
on the steel properties. which were largely ne.
glecteG. Business was At e standstil during the
greater part Of the afternoon but toward the close
There was slight squirt and prices rose to the
best figure Of the day on covering of shorts
conspicuous strength displayed by ST. Louis
southwestern preferred and Northwest which ab
yaneod point, the latter ignoring falling off
IN IT'S gross earnings for July of SllO,7l1. Gen.
eral Electric declined points ON sales infu.
enced by the lack Of corrohoraton Of recent
favorable rumors. Canadian Pacific lost a point
on apprehension OF labor difficulties and Western
Inon amots as much on unusually heavy trans.
actions, London traded both sides of the ac.
count but the aggregate of transactions was
small Total sales, 5000 shares. The sub.
treasury shows that its loss to the banks at the
close of business yesterday was almost IS 900 900
The bond market was irregular today on moder.
ate dealing Total sales, par value, S73j,OOO
United states retunding 2s when issued advanced
in the bid price.
~ The following quotations are furnished The
Tribune by NJ &, ~ -ns
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23

advance over yesterday. Wheat-spot hrm No.
red, 1sc. elevator; No. l northern Duluth,
aioat; No. hard Duluth, Sjhc IT, o. b. anoat
options were slow all day and closed strong at
lsc net decline. May closed s2Ac; September
Spot STEADY; No. ?, i5c. elevator; 45Ikc. (. o.
b, afioatj options opened stronger and closed
irm at lsc. net ad,ance May closed iO7sc.; Sep.
tcnber iiisc.; December, lOAc. Oats-Spot
steadyi No. 2, 2Gc; No. 3, 2jiac. No. 2 white,
2sl2SlRc,; No. white 27iac. track mixed west.
ern, 2S'RaZ7c. track white, 26lRa33c options
barely steady and dull. Buttcr-Strong; cream.
cry, lsa2llac; factory. current packed 15al6c. ;
imitation creamery. 15alsc; state dairy l6a2OIbc,
ChccSc-Dul; large colored, 1OiAc. small colorcd,
lol2ci large white, 10&al07sc. Eggs-Flrm;
state and Pcnnsyl,ania, false; wester, regular
paCklng, l0alllhc. Mestern. loss of, 1Ga17c.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23
Chicago Live Stock Market.

Chicago, Aug 29.-Cattlc-Gcneraly 1Oal5c
lower; Texans about steady; natives, best on sale
today, eight carloads at 81; good to prime steers
S54OaG; poor to medium, S4.G5aj.3j; selected
sS'aers' so steady, siai7i; mixed stockcrs, SLOW
S2ja8.0O cows, 81 G5a2. 75 heifers, S3at.OO; can
hcrs S2a2.GO; bulls, 81 j0ai.40; calves, Si.50a
600 Texans best on sale today carloads at
$50; Texas fed steers Sl.lja5; Texas grass
steers, $315ai; Texas bulls, SO. 25a3 So Hogs
Light and butchers. strong; heavy steady tc
slow; top, S5.57la mixed and butchers, S5aj. 80
good to choice heavy, $jO5aj.i0; rough heavy,
SiWla5; light, s.. 5.15a557is; bulk Of sales, Sj1ja
go. Sheep and Lambs-ChoiCc about steady;
others 10al5c lower; good to choice wethcrs
SS6oai; fair to choice mixed, $3.35a3 co: western
sheep, S}3Ca3.7j; Texas sheep So jOa3. 50; native
lambs, S4.5ja5.25; western lambs, 81. Iia5 Is.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23
Ontario and Western officials Meet.

The monthly meeting of the Ontario
and Western passenger and freight
agents was held in New York on Tues
day. Passenger Agent j. c. Ander-
son entertained the party with a spec
ial trip around New York bay, which
was followed by a banquet.
Those in attendance were: J. +.
Walsh, district passenger and freight
agent of this city; w. NJ. Tiel, general
baggage agent, and w. Harrison, spec
ial agent, of Middletown, N. Y; II.
II. Purdy, special agent, Utica, N. Y;
G.. A. Page, travelling agent, Oneida,
N. Y; J. c. Anderson, general pas
senger agent; James r. Dunbar, gen.
eral eastern agent, and f. w. Smith,
chief clerk, all of New York.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23
New York Live Stock Market.

New York, Aug. 22.-Bcevcs-Good steers. 1na
l5c. higher; others, steady; bulls and cows
steady to 15c higher; light bulls closed veal; ;
steers, Si.40aG; grass Texans, $3.50; oxen, S3.6Oa
4.3O; COWS, 81. l.40a375; extra fat do, 81. Calves
s+cadvs vcois cliio sTe ouncr cSa'gs ss IS
a3.37la butCrmilks $3. 2jaS. Is. Sheep and Lambs
Sheep dull; lambs, l0a25c. higher except com.
mon stock which was steady; sheep, Sjaj.30
cul!s S2 lambs SijOad.75; one car choice. S7
culls S.50ai. Hogs-Fim at Sj.6jaj.gO
choice light state hogs and pigs, $j.0ja6.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23
officers All Reelected.

The stockholders of the Scranton
Forging company yesterday held their
annual meeting. Several reports were
presented, showing the work done dur
ing the year and the board of direc-
tors and officers We're then elected.
All of this years officials were re-
elected. They are: Directors, Henry
Belin, jr., William Connell. c. II.
Wcllcs, I. F. Everhart, w. r. Storrs,
j. NJ. Kemmerer and c. II. Bond. The
officers are: President and general
manager, c. II. Bond; vice president,
A. i. Lewis; treasurer, Henry Belin,
jr.; secretary, f. f. Chamberlain.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23
Chicago Gain and Produce.

Chicago, Aug. 22-Whcat advanced today un-
der the influence Of uufavorable harvesting
weather ana foreign buying, September closing
Hatsc. higher. Corn and oats closed each ikc.
lower. Provisions closed with but little change.
No Puot',lons 10Y IONS were as i2iowS tlour-Steacyi
4Oc. No. . ycllowk, 4Ohc; NO . oats, 23hc;
No. white, 2iAa26c.; NJ. white, 2ia25hc;
barley, 66i%c.; No. l fax and northwest, Sl40;
tlmothey, 80 S5a3.0j; pork, S1O.gOa1O.G5 lard,
M.'uaGI2ih; ribs, $6.pOa72j; shoulders, 6%a
t%c.; sides $64jaG.5j; whiskcy, Sl.2i1a; sugars,
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23
Philadelphia Grain and Produces.

Philadelphia, Aug. 22.-Wheat-Fim and 12c.
higher; contract grade August, 71Aa7llac. Corn
Steady; No. mixed, August, 4iaHAc. Oats
Steady; new No. white clipped, 2Sa2Siac; old
western creamery, 2llac.; do. prints, 22c Eggs
Firm, l2c. higher; fresh, nearby l6iac; do
western, lGl2c; do. southwestern, lUc.; do.
York full creams, fancy 10lhc.: do. do. do. rood
to choice, 9aill0Ac Refined Sugars-I'n-
changed; Coton-Stcady. Tallow-Stcady; city
prime, in hogshcad i5sc. country do, barrels,
Zee; dark, 44C.; cakes, jc Live Poultry
timcr, good demand; fowls lie; old roosters.
H2asc.; spring chickens, llal3c.; spring ducks.
MP2c. Dressed Poultry-Fim, moderate de.
lOl&c. old ROSTERS Gee; nearby spring chick.
ens, lOallc, western do, gal2C Receipts-
Flour 5000 barrels and 100000 pounds in sacks
wheat llrOO bushels; corn, $1,000 bushels:
oats, 10000 bushels Shipments Wheat, 81, 900
bushels; corn, $4,000 bushels oats, lOl,O BUSH
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23

Table Ladies Fine 81. 90 and
$500 Shoes at SI.oo.
Table ladies Fine Turned
s., 90 and $500 Shoes at $2.4S.
Table 3-Ladies' Russet Spring
Heel S2.oo Shoes at $I.2o.
1000 pairs Ladies Russet and
Black, Lace and Button Shoes,
worth Sligo So. 90 and s.. 50, cut
to oSc, ST. 70 and $I.4O
Misses Shoes at 75c.
Children'S Shoes at 40c, 5 to IL.
Ladies Bicycle Shoes cut to
$I.4o, ST., % and $7.Oo, worth So. 50
and So. 50.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23
LIVE NEWS OF THE
INDUSTRIAL WORLD
PENNSYLVANIA coMPANY's
MINES TO WORK TEN HOURS.

Nor the First Time in Six Years the
Collieries of That Company in and
About Pittson Will Operate on Full
Time-Scranton Forging Com
pany's Annual Meeting--ontario
and Western officials Meet-Lehigh
and Wilkes Barre Galleries Work
ing Regularly-D., L. and w.
Board for Today.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23
Scranton Wholesale Market.

Corrected by II. G.. Dale, 81 Lackawanna Aye)
Butter-Creamery. Gle; dairy tubs, zoe.
Eggs-Select western, lie nearby state, Iihc
Cheese-Full cream new, IL aal2c.
Beans-Per bu, choice marrow. 81. 45; medium.
81 80; pea, 81. 20.
PotatCes-45c.
Bermuda Onions-Sl.15
Flour-Best patent S425
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23
THURSDAY, AUG. 80.

2iO Glass, Purse 5000.
Prince Redheld, b. G., A. A. Woodring, Beti
lehem.
Lillian Roy, b. m, John W S'Stcry, Scranton.
Mildredwood, b. M, Brownie b., b. j., NJ. L.
Perrin, Pittston.
Victor p, br. e., George W. Dunn, Scranton.
Frank T., br g., Prince Elgin, b. g., IL. 5.
German, Scranton.
Monacle, br, g., Martha D., br. m, Elwood
smith, Wilkes,Bauc.
st. Nick b. e., Nathan Thompson, Scranton.
Union Prince, John Laning, Wilkcs-Bare
Adsign Boy, J. NJ. Sherwood, Jermyn.
Choir, Oh. M, John \. Wood, Old Forge
Altheus, Jr., b. e., DR.. f. F. Avery, Tunk
hammock.
Pearl Alfred, Thomas W. Williams, Bridgoton,
n. J.
9,9s Glass Purse 5000.
Prince Rcdhcld, l.. e, IIallstcad, Jr, A. A.
WoodrnG, Bethlehem.
Brownie b., br. h., NJ L. Perrin, Pittston
Walter D., Oh. g., Prince Elgin, b. e., II. S.
German, Scranton.
ROXanna, b. M, J. VI. Sherwood Jcrmyn
Choir, oh. m, John 4. Wood, Old Forge.
Bird, b, M, DR., +. F. Avery Tunkhannock.
Lord Middleton br e., DIR. Phipps, Wilkes
Barre,
FRIDAY, AUG. 81.
2,33 Class Purse, 5000
Prince Rcdfeld, b. e., A. A. Woodring, Bcthle.
Lillian Roy, b. m, John W. Slattery, Scranton
Nina b., b. m, NJ NJ, Sherwood, Scranton
Sis Kimberley, b. M, Brownie b., br h., NJ L.
Perrin, Pittston.
Poor Richard b, g., }. d. Knight, Clark S
Green.
Victor r., George W. Dunn, Scranton
Walter j., ch. g., Prince Elgin, b. e., H. s.
German, Scranton.
Martha D., br, M, Elwood Smith, Wilkes.
Barre.
RoXanna, b, m. Adsign Boy, b. g., J. NJ shor.
wood, Jermyn.
Lord Middleton, br. e., Dr. Phipps Wilkes,
Barre.
Zazunda, ch, g., f. J. Robinson, Scranton.
Pearl Alfred, Thomas W. Williams, Bridgeton,
j.
2ls Glass, Purse, 500.
King Medium, b. h., s. d. Reed, Tunkhannocb
David Copperfed b, g., A. j, Schnell, Scrap-
ton.
Hearts Of Oak, b. h., NJ. L. Perrin, Pittst.
Walter j., Oh. g., Prince Elgin, b. g., Ii. s.
German, Scranton.
Aoelian, oh. h., Callie X, ch. m, Elwood
Smith, Wilkes Barre.
Lizzie Laning, b. m, John Laning, Wilkes.
Barre.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23
WILD CATS, SOUTH.
WILD CATS, SOUTH.

WILD CATS, SOUTH.
1900. Bartholomew
a. m.-Nauman.
40 a. mn: Carmody with Wallis men.
a. m-Ennis.
a. m.-F. Hallctt.
10 a. nj. Hcnngan with Ludlow's men.
IL a. m.-Bennett.
] p. m.-Moscr
$50 p. m.-COlvin.
4.i5 p. m.-Van Welt.
SUBMITS
a. M, north-Frounfelker.
10 a. M, north-NiChols.
FULLER
10 a. m.-Stack.
a.. m.-Houser.
IL a. m.-Moran.
.. m.-Murphy.
p. ma. Ii. Rowe.
PASSENGER ENGINES
ESQ .. m,-Magovern.
WILD CATS NORTH
a. m.-Hammtt
a. m.-Mullen.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23
SCRANTON MACS ENTERED.
Programme of the West Pittson Fair
Races,


The list of entries for the races at
the West Pittston Fair August 2S, 90
20 and q is as follows.
,u,.,,-,,.,, -, -
lutsDAi' AO"' 20
Kors,s Chicf br = violet br m. Mavor
Corcoran, Pittston.
Fusty Garrett, b. G.; Choir, ch. M, John A.
Wood, Old Forge
Prince Elgin, b. e., Walter j. ch M, II. s.
German, Scranton.
Bird, b. m, Atheus, jr., b. G., DR.. Z. +.
Avery, Tunkhannock.
~.
hoau race rurSc' 9'o
Motion, br. g., Samuel L. Falk, Wilkes Barre.
Albert, b. g., Jennie, br. m, II. NJ. Abrams,
Pittston.
Mickey Doyle, ch. g., Percy Gritfiths, Taylor.
Mollie H., ch. m, Dr. W. F. Pier, Avoca.
Lillian Roy, b. m, John W. Slattcry, Scranton.
Nina B., b. M, NJ. NJ. Sherwood, Scranton.
Nellie b., b. m, j. Cool ilkcsBarre.
Billy Thompson br. g., J. w. Marcy, Kingston.
Irwin b., b. g., Dr. II. c. Church, WilkesBarre.
Plymouth Boy, b. g., Daniel Donovan, Ply
mouth.
Dewey, b. g., r. W. Edwards, Wilkes Barre.
Free-for-All, Purse, 500.
Mabel, W, b. M, S. d. Reed, Tunkhannock.
David Copperfeld, b. g., A. ]. Schnell, Scran-
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23
NOTICE.

Two 500 class engine south, J. J. Duffy and
crew, as Summit p. m, August %, tonight
Brakeman S. Cofman will go out with Eel
lows regular in place Of Bartron.
900 class engine and W. ID. Warfel and crew
leave Scranton as Nl2 August % for Manunka
Chunk TO handle special TO Binghamton.
L. NJ. Rne, Trainmaster
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23

Z a. MI. Gerrity.
8 a. NO. Kingsley.
10 a. mn. J. Honnigan.
p. m.-Barber with Bush's men.
2 p. m.-Fitzpatrick.
8 p. ms. Finnerty.
4 p. m.-Masters.
5 p. m.-O'Hara.
G p. m.--Castner.
z p. m.--John Gahagan.
8 p. m.-ketchem.
10 p. m.-Carrigg.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23
Thursday, Friday
and Saturday.

B, C and D, sizes nearly regular,
IA to 7, worth $3.50, at osc.
70 pairs Ladies' RuSSet 81. so
Oxfords, at 75C.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23
D., L. e. W. Board for Today.

Following is the makeup of the
Delaware. Lackawanna and Western
board for today:
Wednesday, Aug. %.
WILD CATS, SOUTH.
p. m.-Bsbing
$50 p. mp. Cavanaugh with A. Bartholo.
news men.
IL p. m.-FGllows
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23
New York Grain and Produce

New York, Aug. 22.-Flour-Thcre was ahcttcr
INQUIRY today for spring wheat goods at a shade
The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1900-05-05
from St. Paul Daily News

colleges still stand and are in quite g
good state of preservation considerins
their age. Leaving Sanarkand behind
we went on to the end Of the valley
lands Of Turkestan and up into the pocket
formed by the @Himalaya mountains. We
entered Afghanistan and then went Oh
through the Panyr country into Thibct.
It is a wild, broken, mountainous country
apeopled by Chinese and fTartars who
know no rulers and are generally mn
friendly and dangerous. we found them
quite hospitable and friendly. however
and while we never allowed ourselves &c
pc caught Off guard and were constantly
V1slia Mt we never faced even an indfca-
tlon OF serious trouble. In a general way
we covered the country for a thousand
miles east OF Samarkand and on our
return went on back to st. Petersburg
lhlpet IS high plateau gor table lana
very sparsely settled, and all those tras
are now there are of nomadic or roy;ns
disposition It is hanked by the high
snoW-ccYered Hirnalayas on the south
ana the Central desert OF Asia on tlae
north Streams and rivers, flowing north
I as they enter the desert, have fertile val
leys, arc II is in these that the pcpl,la
ZION IS found. Chinese Turkestan q.
~ estern Thibet, the only portion I was
IN Is country full of game. and It il
upon It that many Of the people I've
II is, as l before stated. an extremely
( oar country to travel in. and con,
s sec very little hunting was done
e. All travel is done upon cameIs and a.
goods are transported in like manner.
5s8 nave had special opportunities IN,
seeing and studying Russia and T f1d M
hesitate to pronounce her future ) 5a.pyo,
derful ore She has wealth of untouched
territory mat is rich in minerals am
stli richer in Its agricultural possibili
aes. She has probe MS Of transporta,
ton, and harmorlizing Of populations. bn,
the genius OF her people is meeting these
obstacles and one by one they are beinsl
solved. When the task is done hesitat.
/ GO ever guess at her possibilities. ~
Marion !. Pike
The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1900-05-05
hundreds Of buildings still stands, ana the

hundreds Of buildings still stands and the
old place offers a great field for archo-
logical ton. The Russians have
made some excavations, but for the most
part the city Is untouched. examined
number of mosques and dwellings, and
was fortunate enough to find many relics.
I dug up some silver and copper coins and
also found a number of bronzes. I also
found the ruins of many baths that in a
general way resen1b1ed the Roman bath
*Phe baths were beauti TRULY tiled and in
several places saw large quantities of
those tiles still intact. Tt would be an
excellent step I think to have a very
through scientific examination made of
Merv. for feel that the discoveries
would repay the effort and that one
should get more light on several periods
of the worlds history. That portion Of
Mervs built by Alexander is probably its
most modern portion, SO the place boasts
{ of great antiquity.
Merv and Samarkand which by tie
way means Face Of the Earth, were the
certers Of civilization Of Central Asia at
1 the time If Alexander the Great. After
leaving -serv We went CT to Bokara and
saw bo.h the ancient and modern cities.
CITY
0O0 people hen the Russians took the
I place 1t was probably the greatest slave
marie. in the verdi, and il is said thar the
soldiers of the o.sI released 400, 900 sl:l. cs,
4 In Bohara ard lkiva. Bokara was thu
home OF the raiders who swept south
i among tue 1sersians and north and east
amoag the Mcngo1ians, and tits OF record
that that 20 600 slaves. principally women and
children. have been driven in at one time.
The effect OF that traffic is still TO be
seen In the faces of the people who walk
the streets of Bokara, for they bear the
cast Of the Persian and Mongolian Box
1 ara had Its black hole too, and i stood
upon the great fat stone that caps, it.
Like the other black holes, It was great
underground chamber, where the luckless
prisoner was cast to die
The most interesting place IN Bokara
is the execution tower. had heard of it.
before, but the matter had slipped from
my mind. and it was from the aneer HIM
self that sought Information about IT,
1T is a finely constructed stone tower. and
its height Of 2ssG fee /, makes it imposing
II asked the ameer what Il was when il,
caught my eye. and he aained thai
The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1900-05-05

and to examine some naphtha properties.
My mission led me into a country that
vas really dangerous, and I was given a
Cossack guard to protect me during my
travels. was given every assistance
that the government could extend and
was thus especially favored in doing the
work which I had undertaken. We out
fitted at ST. Petersburg and went down ]
to Batuun, and from thence to Baku by
rail. We then worked south along the
Arax and Kura rivers, which it is pro-
posed to tap and divert In connection
with the irrigation plan. I found that
country intensely interesting. It is very
pretty, and there was added interest in
the fact that 1t was once almost the era
die Of the human family. The danger,
too, gave the trip the spice Of adventure.
The country lies close to the Turkish and
Persian frontier and is constantly being
raided
Down close to the Caspian we came
upon party of thirty Persian brigands
who had beensin the country on raid.
ing expedition. They had robbed, looted.
and murdered wherever they could find
valuables to steal and lives to take We
had heard of them at several points and
our Cossacks had been appealed to to-
hunt them down. They finally made a
demonstration against our party and in
defense Of our troops had to go after
them The Cossacks managed to drive
them into canyon or rayine one morn
ing and when the skirmish was over
there were thirteen dead Persians In the
gulch. The people came out from one
of the little towns on the Caspian and
carried three OF the bodies in as a warn
ing to other evil doors. The bodies were
hung up by the feet in the public street
as lesson to criminals
81 spent some time in an examination
of the Arax and kura rivers and found
the remains of scores of old Irrigation
bitches that were originally dug probably
two thousand years before Christ. The
plans of the government for the irriga-
tion Of that country are entirely feasible
and my report to the government was
favorable one. My next trip was to
.Krasnovodsk and. through the trans-Cas-
plan country to Askabad, Merv, Bokara,
isamarkand. Tashkent Kokand, Marga-
land. Andijan. and the Parmyr country
which is western Thibet. The railway
running towards that country Is approx1-
The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1900-05-05

mate1y two thousand miles long and runs
in general direction from east to west
For the first one thousand miles Of the
ttrans-Caspian country there is nothing
but desert land, although at one time that
section was highly productive Part OF
Its present desert condition is due to the
turning of the course OF the Amo Doria
river which Is the river Oxus mentioned
in the Bible. That great stream almost
as large as the Mississippi originally
flowed into the Caspian sea, but in the
sixth or seventh century, in the construc-
ton of irrigation bitches at Kiva it was
diverted into the Aral sea- Its course
was thus changed for between 700 and 800
miles. The river carries very great
quantity of sediment which is rich
fertilizer. The sand from the abandoned
bed OF the river has drifted for hundreds
Of miles over great area and is now
encroaching upon the Sanarkand and
Bokara country The problem of reclaim
Ing that vast district is one of the ques-.
ton now being dealt with by the Russian
government ss#S
Askabad is a modern Russian town
built on the spot where the last great
battle between Russians and Turkomans
took place. It is the military headquarters
Of the country at the present time. An
cient Merv is the next point as you go
eastward and it claimed my interest and
attention more than any other point on
my journey. The final chapter in the
history of Merv as an inhabited city is
the story of one of the worlds. greatest
tragedies. The son of a Tartar king was
killed in a battle between Mervans and
Persians and the king took most ter
rible revenge on the city. He besieged
it for years and when he finally forced a
surrender by cutting off the city's water
supply he put every man, woman and
child within its four walls to DEATH The
estimates of News population at that
time vary, but it is generally believed
that it amounted to between 4O0,O and
100000 persons. The ancient city stands
some thirty miles east sof modern Merry,
and still remains entirely uninhabited II
{ was originally from FIVE to six miles long
and abou, two miles wide and was com
ipletely walled. In addition to the. walls
there was a wide meat extending all
around the city. Within the city were
several smaller walled cities, one OF
which was erected by Alexander the
p Great. The walls. moat. and the ruins OF