The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1902-07-18

all OGnerS with WhOm a traveller comes
in contact; but after somewhat ex-
tensive experience in most of what we
call the civilized countries of the
world, 1 want to record as my opinion
\ that nowhere have l had so courteous
treatment, SO generous assistance, and
so hearty welcome as in Siberia, both
from the officials and civilians as well.
| l do not think that this was excep-
tiOnal in my case, but that any Amer
lean traveller with proper credentials
and without a mission to reconstruct
the government and reform all of its
abuses at once would have the same
experience.
But the greatest surprise to me was
the country itself, so wholly unlike
what l had expected, and since 1 have
returned to my home and read the
descriptions of it, written before the
railroad was built, l have wondered
whether could have been mistaken
in my judgment Of it.
Whatever have given of description
of Siberia may be applied in added de-
gree to Manchuria, which is now and
hereafter will be Part of 'Asiatic Rus
STA. l say in added degree, because of
its more southern location and conse-
quent milder winter climate. Both
countries possess fertile soil, abun-
dant timber, navigable water-courses,
coal, iron, copper, gold-indeed all of
the resources which properly developed
tend to make "a nation great and pros
porous.
Into and through such country
the Russian Empire has built rail-
road which is as marvellous as the
country through which it goes. I'm
doub tedly planned as military road,
it's freight and passenger traffic has SO
enormously Increased that there is no
longer question of it's present and
beginning steadily increasing tide of
immigration has flowed into Siberia,
not only by rail from central and
northern European Russia, but by
means of the Russian volunteer fleet
through the SueZ Canal and the
Pacific ports until VladivOstok, which
forty years ago consisted Of four
Chinese fshermen's huts, is now a
f1ourishing city OF fifty thousand souls
and Khabarovsk and Blagovestchensk
are not far behind in wealth or pOpu-
lation. At first Cossack occupation
at strategic points, then an assisted
immigration of the former serfs, now
an eager and enthusiastic search for
wealth in the fertile soil and rich min
eral resources OF new country. To
each family moving into the Amur and
maritime provinces an allotment of
269 acres of land is made and into the
central and western provinces forty
acres for each male immigrant, with
certain tax exemptions and lessening
of military service in both cases. The
fare to incoming settlers is prepOster-
ously low, being about twelve dollars
for 4, 800 miles.
At frequent intervals hospitals, bar
racks and dining stations are erected.
where medical attendance is given
free, where children and sick persons
are fed without charge and all others
can purchase food at cost. Wherever
they 60, the fostering care of the gov
eminent follows them. Loans of
money and seed are made to the needy
and deserving and government stores
supply agricultural implements on the
installment plan. Is it any wonder
that Siberia is rapidly filling up with
strong, sturdy, vigorous population
that the british and cruel COssack,
who is regarded there somewhat as the
Sioux Indian is on our own frontier,
must look for other fields where his
peculiar skill in fighting, plundering
and vodka drinking can be displayed ?
There is little doubt but that the
Russian Empire will ultimately ex-
pend upon this stupendous enterprise
at least $500, 900, 900, but it is building
for the future, and is laying the foun-
datiOnS deep and strong.
No American IN making this trip
can fail to be impressed with the won
derful possibilities of Siberia in it's
agricultural and mineral wealth and,
which it affords for the sale of Ameri-
can farming and mining machinery.
Russians are farmers, not manufac-
turers and, poor as the peasants are,
one family in that climate will con-
sumo more of the worlds manufac-
| tured products than score of people
of like occupations in the Philippines,
India, or anywhere in the tropics, and
| think l might truthfully add, in
China, Korea, or Japan.
The well-to-do Russians are lavish
in their expenditure, fond Of display,
and extravagant in the qualification of
their appetites and inclinations.
They hold a genuine regard for our
new development. When some of the
nations of Europe threatened to COM
bine against us in the Civil War, the
Russian fleet sailed into the harbor of
New York and her shotted guns SILENT
ly, but effectively, proclaimed her
sympathy. Later she transferred her
possessions on this continent to us,
and in the sale of Alaska for 81, 200, 900
put us into the greatest and most
profitable real-estate transac lion of
modern times. Her climate, her soil,
her geographical position on the
world map is like our own. Before
we gave four million slaves their free
dom and left them destitute, to fight
their way in life, she emancipated
twenty million serfs and is slowly but
effectively providing them with homes.
No Monroe Doctrine disturbs our
mutual relations or ever can, for her
policy is as ours should be, to mind
ones own business and say hands off
to those nations which make war on
other lands for trade expansion only.
At the close a motion thanking Mr.
Hill for his able lecture was made by
Allison p. Smith and seconded by
Prof Platt. A motion thanking the
committee OF arrangements was made
by M. A. Todd in graceful little
speech and seconded by Daniel G..
Beers, and was carried. President
Johnson also added a feeling word Of
thanks to the committee for their
good work. An adjournment was
made about 1.3O a. M, large number
of the guests pausing to shake the
hand of Landlord Leonard and to offer
a word of cOngratulatiOn on the fine
dinner and the admirable way in which
it was served.
Mr. Hill was the guest of Mr. and
Mrs !. w. BirdSeye, who also enter