Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-15
FREE PORT FOR SHIPS
Vladivostock Believes It Of
Vital Importance.
SEVERE BLOW, DEALT
RUSSIAN CITY WHERE THE Law
WAS ABOLISHED.
Minister White, on Eastern Journey,
Has Many Questions Brought
to His Attention.
of the Associated Press.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
ST. PETERSBURG, November 3, 1902.
Details of Finance Minister Whites jour-
| ney to the far east are beginning to arrive
here by post. A letter dated October II
| describes his stay at Vladivostock.
| The principal matters laid before him
there were petitions for free port for ships
at Vladivostock, for exemption of all Chi
nese goods from customs duties, for COM
| mercial and naval schools at Vladivostock,
! for freedom of commerce In transit from
! customs inspection at Vladivostock and for
various minor reforms in the customs in
| spection in the interest of passenger tratfic.
Blow at City's Prosperity.
1t is generally realized here that the abo-
| lition of the free port at Vladivostock has
dealt most severe blow at that city's pros
| perity.
| Nor are voices wanting in criticism OF the
| pet scheme of the minister Of finance the
| modem and costly new city of Dalny.
The Dalny Vostock of Port Arthur not
only throws doubt upon the necessity for
| fountains and parks in city Which so far
has no inhabitants, but pronounces the
choice of the site for the new city most
unfortunate.
Has No Natural Harbor.
Dalny has no natural harbor, lying on
| The artificial harbor had to be connected
with the sea by a canal, two miles long
| which it Is dangerous to approach in even
moderately windy weather on account OF
| rocks and sand on both sides.
Up to February So, 100000 had been spent
| at Dalny, of which only one-half was for
| the harbor. Work on the harbor had to be
stopped half way because the appropria-
| ton had been exceeded, large sums having
been expended for the identification OF
| the site.
Houses Are Inconvenient.
The splendid looking brick and stone
houses, however, are declared to be ex-
| ceedingly announcement and cold, the archi-
| tects having as usual with Russian archi-
tects subordinated the interior arrange
ments for comfort and convenience wholly
to supposed exterior beauty.
The Dalny Vostock declares that 1nkou,
on the river Lao, should have been selected
the principal shipping port Of Manchu-
ria, the Chinese transit trade having taken
this route for ages. Ice breakers can east
ly keep this harbor Ice free.
No Longer Ice-Free Port.
Daily is no longer an ice-free port since
the moles OF the artificial harbor cause an
accumulation Of ice foes that were former
ly swept away by the wind.
It is feared that official favor will never
be able to make Dalny genuine competitor
of Inkou, which is over $50 miles nearer the
Manchurian market.
The report of the minister of the interior
| on the famine relief of 1901 is considered
| important document NJ. Won Plehwe ad-
| mits that the central government did not
| distinguish itself in this work. which it
| withdrew from the hands of the Zemstvos
| in 1900, many local officials taking action
| only after the need was very great.
Recommends Old System.
| The minister recommends partial return
| to the old system, declaring that no form Of
| relief is comparable to public works, and
| that only the Zemstovs can undertake such
| works.
NJ Won Plehwe also admits that the
| famine of 1901 not only had extremely I'M
| favorable results for the afflicted districts
| but testified to the general deterioration Of
| the condition of the peasants.