Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-11-11
TEN so much as to the individuals in

"iio"'u every year cHleIly from the
cities of European Russia. Instead of
sentencing an offender to term of
Imprisonment In the penitentiary or
to some reformatory institution he is
sent to one Of the Rendezvous which
are found near every town of import
ance and there detained until n suffi-
cient number have gathered to justi-
fy their shipment to Siberia. In this
RENDEZVOUS the convict is well treated
according to the Russian standard
His recommendation are NOT as
clean nor as comfortable as the
houses of detention or the police sta
tions of the United States. but are
quite as good as those in which he
was born and in which he has lived
all his life. The habits of the lower
classes In Russia are filthy and de
praved. The convict may take his
family with him to Siberia. and as
many friends as desire to go; he may
carry all his household goods and per-
sonal property If he has other things
of value he can dispose of them and
use the money to purchase horses.
vehicles, food, clothing and blankets,
or invest upon his arrival at his des-
tination. His location upon his ar
rival at Siberia is usually determined
by the police officials of the district
to which he Is sent. If he wants to
become farmer he is given piece
of land If he is a mechanic he may
lind employment at good wages at
the government shops or in private
enterprises. He can build house
with whatever materials he can com
mand. If there is government timber
near he can have as much of 1t as he
needs without cost. In all respects
he is treated as an emigrant and not
as convict, except that he must
have passport, which may be called
for any moment by any officer of the
police and must be produced, If con.
Wet losses his passport it Is wisdom
for him to go instantly to police head.
quarters and report the loss and Sc
cure duplicate. But the same is re
quired of all citizens in Russia and
all strangers who exist by permis-
sion of the police.
Every subject of the czar within
hilt carry pu
his person or have within easy reach
a card. which may be called for at
any moment, stating his name, occu-
patton, age and other information, au-
thorizing him to live in that city or
police jurisdiction. If he desires to
change his abode or his occupation
he must report the fact and have his
passport altered accordingly. Every
tourist requires similar passport,
until he obtained from the nearest
police magistrate permit to leave
place of abode. Thus the police of
Russia know the whereabouts and the
occupation of every soul within the
boundaries of the empire.
Since the government undertook to
develop the great natural resources
of Siberia and the construction of the
great continental railway was begun
the emigration from European Rus
sia to the exile district has been five
times as great as the involuntary
movement that way. In 1896 the emf
grafton across the Caucasus was 203,
600; In 1897. 1877 900; in 1898. 100000;
in 1899, 225, 900. and in 1900, $4,000.
The movement of the Russian peas
ants from the European to the Asia
tic territory of the czar during the
reign Nicholas ii. has not been less
than 100000 of people. and 1t is in
creasing annually. The government
gives reduced rates upon the rail
ways, free land and exemption from
military service, which is the great
est of all inducements. The agricul-
tural department Is authorized also
to assist worthy emigrants in build
ing cabins. purchasing machinery and
to instruct them how to cultivate the
land and use labor saving machinery.
Not less than $3,S00,000 has been ex-
pended in that manner within the
last five years. Most of the money
has been loaned to farmers who have
undertaken to repay 1t in ten annual
installments.
Thus is the Russian government
awakening the dorment wealth OF
that great farm which extends for
5000 miles from the Baltic to the Pa
cifc ocean and from the Arctics to
the Black and Caspian Seas. The
tools and the methods employed were
obtained in America Agents of the
Russian government have been en-
gagged for several years in studying
the development of our western
states. and have adopted the best
methods that we have used. The
towns laid out for the occupation OF
exiles and emigrants have been built
on the same plan as those of Dakota,
Washington. Wyoming and western
Kansas, and, the strangest thing Of
all. but the most natural and signif-
cant. is that schoolhouses and church
es are provided for every village, be-
cause the Russians are wise enough
to understand that intelligence and
education are essential for success in
all great enterprises.
The fields are plowed with Ameri-
can plows. planted with Dakota seed
and reaped with Chicago self-binders.
In every district of Siberia men are
employed by the government to set