The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-16

Special Correspondents Of The Sunday Republic.
Mini Novgorod, July 25.-The great fair
Of Mini Novgorod is now at Us thickest.
II is freQuented daily by 100000 buyers
and sellers from all parts OF Russia and
Western Asia. and its exchanges amount 10
100000 every twenty-fou hours.
They will aggregate $500. 100000 or $Soo0oo.-
900 during the time of the fair, and II our
American exporters had their goods here
on sale our trade with Russia might be
increased to an enormous extent.
Indeed the United States should stuov
the fairs of Russia and lay out trade
route for the American invasion along the
lines of their meeting.
This country does business after the style
Of the Misdle Ages
1t has more than 10000 fairs. to which the
people come from all quarters to buy and
sell, and II our American goods could be
placed in them our factories should have
to employ extra hands
I have the figures Of the exchanges of
these fairs before me.
They are furnished by the Treasury De-
partment of Russia and may be considered
correct.
Central Russia has 1000 fairs every year.
with exchanges amounting to 100000.
which. II remember correctly. IL as great
n the foreign trade Of all China few
years ago.
Eastern Russia has 1000 fairs with re-
turns of Ss50O0.oOo. and Little Russia 1000
with q sale OF more than 80. 900 worth of
goods.
In Southern Russia there are s2s fairs
annually. with $5O.00oo0o OF exchange. IN
Middle Russia. 200. with 900. and In
the Baltic region, 100 fairs. with busi-
ness OF ss.ooooQo.
Away up along the Arctic Ocean there
are 200 fairs, which do a business OF more
than &.000.c0o. and in Siberia the fairs al
ready number 900. with annual returns
amounting to &25.0o0,0c0
In Central Asia the exact number Of fairs
Is not known. but their sales amount to
$0.ooo0oo year, and. in addition to this.
there are 1.9o0 fairs in Poland. and some In
other parts Of the Empire.
All together. &5000t0,O00 worth Of business
u annually done in the Russian fairs alone.
MANY OF THESE FAIRS
HAVE THEIR SPECIALTIES.
describe those of Mini Novgorod. the
greatest of all. farther on In this letter.
The fair at Irbit. in the Government OF
Perm. IL held during the month OF Feb
TrAry. It is largely f:equented by people
from Siberia and China.
It handles tea. silks, camel'a hair and
Goats wool from China ana Central Asia
and furs. hides. fish. honey, butter and oil
from Siberia. as we'll os all kinds of wares
from Russia In Europe.
Its sales amount to $4a000.0o.
There 10 another fair in the same region
over $z0oo.0o0 worth Of goods. and one
known as the fair of Karavan. not far
from here. which deals almost exclusively
in metals, especially as iron and cast iron.
1ts annual exchanges are about &. 0oo.A0o.
There IL a big June fair not far from
here. which deals chiefly In timber, and
there are fairs In the South devoted to live
stock. to which whole droves of horses are
brought In from the plains for sale
There are vast number Of agricultural
faits. where our farm implements could BE-
old p great quantities. and the Northern
liver Oh and such things -
despair Of giving you 4 vivid descrip-
don OF the fair Of MINI Noyrorod.
Il y one OF the wonders Of the world and
= greater wonder every year.
wes predicted that the rranssfberian
roeo would Kill Il. but It II growing, and
~ exchanges efs greater than ever.
Think Of city with q population OF 200. :.
merchants which does business for
only about month every year, and that
business running into the hundreds Of
Think Of . city which has srovn mn to
eecommodate this business ana which for
one month II full Of life and trade but
Tor the rest Of the year IL a. dead a. q
xavsyard. and you have some idea OF Mini
The vord .'f.,r.'. how.vsr. siv.s you .
4 makes you think Of tents and booths
and fasged buildings with nags flying. You
imagine circusea fake shows and merry
go-roundA
Mimi Novgorod has all these. but they
sc on the outskirts. The real town il more
me substantial Wholesale business CEN
ter trading quietly and without noise.
The fatr city b located on a narrow
eongus Of land. where the great rivers
volga and Ola Join.
Il = washed on each side BY water, ana
the rfverU for miles are flled with ship
ping. leading and discharsing goods.