The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-02-10
SIBERIA AS A MARKET
FOR AMERICAN GOODS

Commercial Opportunities and com
mercial Methods in Siberia" is the sub
ject OF a recent publication in the "Bul-
letin Commercial" published at Brus-
sells. copy OF which has just reached the
Treasury Bureau Of Statistics.
The Siberian merchant, il says, is even
more intelligent, energetic, and enter
prising than those Of Russia. and his
average capital Is probably larger than
that Of the average Russian merchant.
Demand for-FOreIgn Goods.
Payments are made usually. as in Rus
sia, at three. six. nine, and twelve
months. The opening Of the Trans
Siberian Railway has increased the
wealth and consequently the consuming
power Of Siberia and caused an increas-
ed demand for foreign goods
There is therefore now an opening in
Siberia for many kinds Of goods not
formerly sent to that country. except
small quantities, which passed directly
from Russia. though the fact that the
population is chiefly agricultural and in
many cases half nomadic makes it ap-
parent that the market will be for few
years greatly restricted. especially as
regards articles OF luxury. Only one
eighth Of the population is located in the
towns. and they are chiefly high officials
and wealthy merchants.
Articles Likely TO Find "a Market.
The classes Of articles most likely 10
ma market in eastern Siberia Sre. ac-
cording to this statement. agricultural
implements, machinery. and Industrial
material for flour mills. Oil 'nanuiacto-
ries, butter factories, distiIIeries. tanner
les, machinery for gold. iron. and coal
mines. saw mills. machinery for brick
helds and salt works and machinery for
manufacturing rope. paper. etc; while
the demand for wines, spirits. silk
goods. furniture books. musical fnstru-
ments, and ieweiry is apparently small.
Eastern Siberia especially the Amur
basin offered at the time a good market
for foreign products Trade relations
were carried on with China. Japan. the
United States, and Germany. Two firms.
one German and the other American
divided the greater part Of this interna-
tional trade The former. which has an
Office at Odessa, installed a branch at
Niaoivostock in 1864. II now has eight
cen branches established in eastern
Siberia, the chief being al Blagovest-
ehensk. Khabarovsk. NicoIaievsk. and
Port Arthur. Besides representing numer-
Gus assurance and transport companies
and shipping companies. both Russian
and other. this firm transacts business
affairs OF all kinds acts as bank. and
stores merchandise Of the nest var
led descriptiOn-agT iculturaI machinery.
toilet articles. clothing. spirits. etc II
is said 10 realize enormous profits The
goods imported by the firm are sent
principally from Hamburg and Odessa.
The American firm founded IN 1870 is
run on analogous lines. It's head offices
are at Moscow. and branches are estab-
lished st Vladivost0ck, Nicolaieysk.
hhabarovsk- BlagOvestchensk. etc. This
hrm has a purchasing house at Ham
burg
DepOts in Russia Necessary.
Eastern Siberia may now. however. be
regarded as in a position more akin 20
the BaikaI districts mentioned above.
e. as being directly dependent upon Rus
STA. but with this difference. that being
less densely populated and less productive,
il offers a less limited opening
Owing 10 the remOteness Of Siberia and
the lack Of rapid transport thither mer-