The National tribune., 1902-02-20
A TRIP THROUGH SIBERIA.
Tour of Observation Through Vast and Fertile Region Little
Known to Western People,


Of its present and future financial sue
| cess. From its beginning a steadily in
creasing tide of immigration has flowed
into Siberia. not only by rail from central
and northern European Russia but by
| means of the Russian volunteer feet
through the Suez Canal and the Pacific
ports until Vladivostok. which 40 years
ago consisted of four Chinese fishermen :
huts, is now fourishing city of 10000
souls, and Khabarovsk and Blagovest-
chenSk are not far behind in wealth or
population. At first Cossack occupa-
tinu 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 mineral re-
sources of new country. To each family
moving into the AmuT and maritime prov
inces an allotment OF $50 acres OF land
is made. and into the central and western
provinces 40 acres for each male immi-
grant, with certain tax exemptions and
lessening of military service in both cases.
The fare to incoming settlers is prepos-
terously low, being about So for 4.5O0
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 pur-
chase food at cost. Wherever they go.
the fostering care Of the Government fol
lows them. Loans of money and seed
are made to the needy and deserving, and
Government stores supply agricultural i'm
Plements on the instament plan. Is 1t
any wonder that Siberia is rapidly filling
mp with strong. sturdy, vigorous poPu-
latiOn of independent Russian farmers.
and that the british and cruel Cossack.
who is regarded there somewhat rs the
Sioux Indian is on our own frontier must
look for other fields whore his peculiar
skill in fighting. plnndering and vodka
drinking can he displayed?
There is little Doubt hut that the Rus
sian Empire will ultimately expend upon
this stupendous enterprise at least $500
000. COO. but it is building for the future
and is laying the foundations deep and
strong
On June %. az babe good-by to Con
sul Harris in Nagasaki he said: 81 will
write letter to night and mail il To you
at St Petersburg, ny way Of San Fran
cisco, New York and London. think
it will go around the world and get there
before you do" And it did, reaching st.
Petersburg in 81 days. while il took me
40 days TO get to Moscow.
My first stop was in Korea. q poverty
stricken land. which Russia and Jaran.
in eager rivalry, are attempting IN exploit
In my Judgment. it will ultimately he
province of Siberia. for islands do not an
mex continents permanently
India and Canada do not disprove the
rule; for. as we reckon the life of nations
British occupation of either is but tenn
porary.
There is an opinion prevalent that th-
Philippines are a doorway into China, and
that Manila is an entrenot for Chinese
trade. One might as well claim that Cuba
or the Bahamas could control the com
merce Of the United States: for. barring
the small percentage Of Americans and
Europeans in Manila. the industry. the
enterprise, and indeed the capital is
largely Chinese
From Gpnsan. in Korea. we crossed the
Japan Sea in n splendid subsidized JAnan-
pse steamer, with the most COSMOPOLITAN
of passengers that | ever trav-
"led with-a Turkish pasha and wife. two
Mahnmrtfn priests and their attendants
and English, Scotch. French Danes.
Japanese. Chinese. Koreans. Indians.
Russians. Germans and Americans
We arrived in Vladivost0k Tuesday
evening, July 2. The harbor is a grand
one tremendously fortified from the outer
lpproa hes straight into and around the
'ity itself. In many respects il raSpm-
bles the Golden Gate at San Francisco |
the Amur Bay reaching for many miles |
north and south behind the city.
ladlNoStok II what ITS name implies, !
The Capital of the Eastern Dominion,'
and wonderful empire that dominion il |
'ure to he. II is totally different from
anything that I had seen elsewhere in
he Orient. In place Of mud huts and
shacks were three and four |
story brick and stone buildings, and in |
stead Of little brown specimens of hu- |
nanity found full-bcarded. strong |
imhed men and vigorous. rosy-cheeked |
women
Vladivostok has every appearance of one