The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-09-14

accommodation trains run at about fifteen
miles an hour The end Of this ride was
AZ khabaIovka. where we took a steam
boat on the Amur River for Blagoyest-
chersk. The boat was a very large one.
having accommodations for 500 people;
twenty-five first class
THE Amur is a big river. but at this end
not very picturesque or interesting. The
banks on either side are fat. and not wide
the land is put. is grazing. Siberia has
about six weeks OF real hot weather. In
as possible on all Siberian trains. steam
boats and many hotels. patrons must fur
, nish their own bedding. On the TRANSIT
berian road the charge for baggage is al
I most as great as for the passenger.
Throughout our trip we made shift with
steamer rugs and Shawls i.
We made a stop Of several days at
Blagovestchensk. which is a typical Sibe-
place. and I, was imDossi5Ie 10 find a bath
tub. Nearly every man We saw carried
a sword. Indicating that he was either a
the Government. The shops do not amount
to much. and there Is no indication OF
wealth or commerce; Here as
splendid physically They are tall and
muscular. but are lazy. slow and averse to
work.
AT Blagoyestcheusk We encountered q
rather diagreeable experience. which Illus
trates how things are run in Central ST.
beria- We had telegraphed ahead and Sc
cured accommodations on a steamer to con-
tinue our way on the Amur River to Sire
tinsk- On applying at the ticket office we
found that the clerk had crossed our names
OF and written IN their place the names Of
two ladies We were unwilling to lose our
accommodations. being anxious to proceed
as fast as possible because OF the illness or
one OF our party
Ms clerk in charge gave no other ex-
PLANTATION than that he had done it All
the irst-class passages on the boa were
taken. so We decided 10 insist on getting our
places. We called on the Governor General,
to whom We had letters. and through an In
assured Us that We should have our rights
and sent for the manager OF the steamboat
company. This official in turn sent for the
clerk and chart. and our stateroomS were
promptly returned TO US.
The upper part OF the Amur River.
which. we next travelled. is as beautiful as
any river I have ever seen The point at
which the Silks River flows into II IL be-
yond description The stream runs through
the Ural Mountains and the scenery on
either bank Is exceedingly beautiful The
pleasure OF the trip was somewhat marred.
however. by the boat running frequently on
sandbars. as the water Is quite shallow;
were obliged to assist the crew In freeing
the boat with long poles. On board was one
sfs kon: who in 4, estina nss to be The
gold mining. which industry Is the princi-
pal resource of the country.
"Air. Koff told Us that all the gold mined
In Siberia must be sold to the Government
at a price fixed by the Minister OF Finance
While the miners are exceedingly rich. min
i IexuI q mot s sS PI IeaSibs st Sesdnss , St n se1;
incident of note in our journey was the
crossing of Lake Baikal. The passage was
i msds M pearI TS Ise huge Ul .e reel eII1 craft pIouehs
through the ice during the entire winter.
keeping a passage open for the transfer
OF trains All told. we were twenty days
"a few hours from Lake Baikai Is the
city Of Irkutsk- This Is a town Of fine