Evening journal., 1903-09-21
ACITY WITHOUT PEOPLE
Dalny, Manchuria, Is Russia's
Paradoxical Creation.
HAS ALL MODERN IMPROVEMENTS,

Transsiberian Railway Needed IA
Terminus, and NJ. dc White, the
Russian Minister of Finance, Had
IL Duflt-OriEinaI Estimate of the
Work, which Has Been Exceeded,
Was s15,o0o,ooo.
There stands a little to the east of
Port Arthur, on the Liaotung peninsu-
Ia, the most remarkable city In the
world, says London cable dispatch TO
the New York World. 1t is Dalny, the
new terminus OF the great Transsibe-
rian railway. 1t Is at yet city with
out inhabitants. Save for masons and
workmen, its streets are as deserted as
those of a decaying village. In it the
Russians are building houses and nd
ministrative offices for population
which Is yet TO come and are erecting
great docks for a trade which does not
exist
Dainy Is the paradox OF cities. III
contrayenes all the natural laws OF a
cltys growth. 1t was forced into ex-
istence not because men I'm the course
OF human progress found Il convenient
to meet and trade there, but because
NJ de Witte, the Russian finance min
lister, on the far distant Neya, ordered,
'Bulld me a city, Dalny Is the life
less body of a city, but thronging citi-
zens will vitalize Il. II might be called
the modern city Of Aladdin - NJ. de
Witte rubbed the lamp-were it not
that 1t and the railway whose termi-
nus it Is were buildcd not in a night
but under tremendous difficulties.
The extraordinary fact Is that this
Russian railway, which has been one
Of the greatest factors in making Man
churia virtually a Russian province,
was possible only by the labor Of the
Chinese themselves. And thousands Of
Chinese coolies. under hsndreds Of Rus
sian architects, engineers and over
seers. are building Dalny.
Politically England regards with
grave apprehension the completion Of
this railway, which runs through the
disputed province OF Manchuria. Yet
civilization and commerce must rejoice
that the Chinese Eastern railway. as II
is officially named. viii bring the Pa
cihc coast so much nearer TO Europe
The Transsiberian railway was a tire.
mendous step toward bridging the gnr
between the west and the east. but Il
was comparatively useless until the
Manchurian section was completed. II
was necessary TO have a large CONNER
cial town as terminus, and Nj. dc
Witte conceived the tremendous idea OF
building one.
Dalny Is the result To the east iti
silent streets look out on Korea bay
Behind It to the west is the gulf o
LiaOtung. and to the southwest is tn
gulf of Pechili, across which the Tier
tsin steamers run. When China lease
Port Arthur and the Iiaotung penir
sula to Russia she guaranteed that 7,
lienwan should be n free port. Daln
Is the city on Talicnwan bay which
TO be the free port in Russian territor
Looking into the future. NJ. de Wit
made every possible arrangement K
the personal comfort and business SUI
cess Of Dalny's inhabitants. Street
drainage and electric wires were lai
down. electric lights and telephone
were installed, parks, gardens, electri
trans, municipal buildings. hospitals
schools, prisons, docks and jetties wer
provided before q single lot of Ian
was offered to the public for purchase
, The original estimate OF the huge wor
was Sl5.OOO000 and 1t has been e1
ceeded long since.
That Dalny viii be peopled and wi
flourish Is as certain as anything mur
dane can be. Its harbor is ice free
great factor for success in north China
Newchwang, the only other 5Ianchr
rian port. is frozen fast for more tina
! four months in the year. Besides, Da
! ny is a free port. II is the terminus O
the railroad, and it possesses all th
conveniences Of a modern city. Mel
chants who settle there will have notl
ing of hardship to fear, as If Dain
were an ordinary newly formed settle
, ment. Radiatlng from the municip6
buildings run avenues named after tn
various nations, and at the end OF eac
avenue will be a national church.
The city has been and win be go'
erned by the civil and not by tie mil
, tnry authorities. II needs now no PR
! phetic eye TO see at Dalny trains frol
Moscow and St Petersburg, carryin
passengers from all over the worll
running alongside steamers from il
, pan. China. America and Australia
passengers and goods having to
! transferred only a few yards frol
I train to steamer or vice versa.