The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-23
RICHES OF MANcHURIA.
When Developed, It is Likely to Be
 a Second Klondike


 Manchuria, the scene of so much inter- national contention, embraces an area of ,3lO square miles. It is more than six times the size of England and Wales, about twice the size of all the New Eng land and the Middle States together, and nearly one-fifth the area of the whole Empire of China. A journey across Man churia would be equal in length to a trip half way across the United States It is known as the strategieal key of Eastern Asia. Within easy marching distance of the principal Chinese cities, 1t commands the entrance to Korea and to Northern China by land. The ports of Siberia are frozen for eight months in the year, while those of Manchuria are closed but four months. The winter temperature ranges from 10 degrees be- low zero to about 50 degrees above. and while this closes the inland navigation it seldom affects the seaports
 The present population is 100000 per- sops. composed principally of Chinese, the pure-blooded Manchus having grad ually disappeared. only about 10 per cent of them remaining.
 The northern portion. little known un- til recently, has been thoroughly ex- plored by the Russians, and Is now tra- versed by the great trans -Manchurian railway. This portion of the country is composed of mountains and highlands and is dotted with the crests of scores of extinct volcanoes.
 The great rivers of the country, the Yalu and the Sungari, are navigable for many hundreds of miles. Along their banks lie throughout the open season fleets of Chinese and Japanese junks, which ply between cities of the two coun- tries.
 It is in Manchuria that the larger part of the tobacco used in China Is produc- cd rhn aarala of oIe.x this product in great quantities, the men and women smoking almost from infancy to old age. Here, too the won- derful ginseng is produced, which is be- lieved by the Chinese to prolong life and to possess many magical virtues. The gold deposits of this country are said to be so rich that when developed they will far outstrip the fame of the gold fields of California and Alaska. Sill yer, lead, copper iron and coal are abun- dant in the mountainous regions of the country. but owing to the non-progressive methods of the Chinese little has been done as yet toward developing the pro- duction of these minerals.
 In spite or its enormous population, Manchuria possesses few large cities.
 Primeval, indeed, are many parts of this country, where the wolves prowl among the forests and the mountain fast nesses are inhabited by bandits. who make their living by preying upon the people of the plains and villages. Even the great trade highways of the prov inces are infested with them Officials are sometimes carried off and held for ransom. These robbers have agents in the principal towns and cities. who keep watch upon the movement sof rich trav- elers
 In the construction of the trans-Man- churian railway the Russians have often experienced the greatest difficulty in transporting their silver for the pay of the workmen. As an ostensible protec- tion against these outrages, insurance of fees have been established throughout | the country where agents. for commits | sion, undertake the safe conduct of goods | and treasure. Each office supplies the | trader with its own distinctive flag, I which is planted on each cart in the car avan, and a few armed men are sent as | a nominal guard. It is known that these | insurance officers have to pay blackmail | to the robbers as the guards are far too | weak to resist any determined attack In some parts of the country brigandage has become profession, and parents are fit- | ting their sons for the robbers proi-.. sion