The Washington times., 1903-01-25

lions are being made TO commemorate
with betting soIemnities and festivj-
ties the 20Oth birthday of the c.pitaI of
the vast Muscovite Empire. which
stretches without "a break across Europe
10 Asia from the Atlantic TO the Pa
ciic Coast. Il Is a celebration which
cannot fail to arouse the most profound
interest aud sympathy, far beyond the
Cars frontiers. especially in the United
States. For it viii serve TO call atten-
tiou TO the fact that the transformation
OF Russia from an Oriental into a Euro
pean power. and the change from Tartar
barbarism to Western civilization is CT
comparatively recent date. q ctrcum-
stance which is too frequently forgotten
when Russia is criticised for being in
feriOr IN popular enlightenment and in
national development 10 other coun-
tries nearer to the setting sun. In the
latter the methods Of government. as
well as the economic and intellectual
condition Of the people, are the result
Of the gradual growth OF civilization
dating back ten centuries or more,
whereas in Russia but two hundred years
have passed since Peter the Great, auto
cratcaIIy forced upon the OrientaIism Of
his reluctant subjects a brand-new
Western civilization, incidentally en-
dowing the empire with a brand-new
capital constructed on Western lines
and destined to remain as the center OF
Western ideas in Russia.
Once Swedish Soil.
Il is difficult when one sees ST. Peters
burg today TO realize that Two centuries
ago the territory on which it stands did
not even belong to Russia The region
between Lake Ladoga and the Gulf Of
Finland formed part of the possessions
OF the kingdom of Sweden. Peter the
Great drove the Swedes out Of the coun-
Try IN the winter OF 1902 and 1903. ana
in May OF the latter year laid the foun-
dalton Of St. Petersburg. which he de-
scribed as his window looking out into
Europe" 1t is only d monarch pos
sessed OF the indOmftable viii and OF
the despotic power Of Peter the Great
who could ever have succeeded in build
ing metropolis on q site such as that
as the capital Of modern Russia. It Is
perched on a swamp. on the banks OF
the Neva. at The mouth of that river
and when viewed from any lofty height
such as, Tor instance, from the dome
OF st. Isaae's Cathedral, conveys the i'm
preston Of huge float laden TO the very
waters edge. and riding on the surface
Of the waves. So low indeed is the
level OF the city that the westerly gales
from the gulf, as well as the big floods
brought about by the melting of the ice
and snow in the spring, are apt 10 in
undate extensive portions OF the town
IN fact. SO grave is the danger 10 which
ST. Petersburg Is exposed from these
inundstions that whenever the river be
gins 10 rise, guns are nred from the
fortress Of St Peter and ST Paul in
order 10 warn the occupants of the eel
lars and Easements TO seek refuge up
stairs, while the naval authorities set
10 work 10 establish a system Of boat
patrols for tue rescue Of those in dan
ger Of drowning in The flooded streets.
Gulf Waters Threaten.
There are some who declare that St.
Petersburg is destined some day or an
other to be completely enguifed by the
waves, and 10 be swallowed up by the
waters of the Gulf OF Finland But al
though the city has been subjected 10
innumerabIe foundations, some OF an
extremely disastrous character, il has
survived all dangers to celebrate its
z0oth birthday, and may, therefore. look
forward with a certain degree of conf
deDce to an existence Of at least two
more centuries.
Built in a Marsh.
or course the swampy character Of It's
site has from the very outset rendered
St. Petersburg extremely unhealthy. es-
pecialIy at certain seasons of the year.
II fact there is no capital IL Europe
where the death rate is so high Il has
only been by the most wonderful Derss-
Eerauca that the material obstacles and
difficulties presented by the marshy ma
ture Of the s0iT have been overcome. and
until quite recently law enacted by
Peter the Great was still in force re
curing every vessel arriving at st.
Petersburg TO bring q quantity of stones
commensurate to her tonnage for use IN
paving the streets and ia forming the
foundations OF buildings. espIauadcs.
etc. Another law enacted BY Peter the
Great, and which. OF course. has long
since become obsolete ives that Of exact
ing Of all proprietors Of more than 500
serfs in any portion Of the Russian En-
DiTe 10 build q house at St Petersburg.
and 10 spend the winter there.
Iuterdicted Stone Houses.
Peter actually went to the length Of
issuing a ukase prohibiting under the
most dreadful penalties the construction
OF stone houses anywhere in his domin-
ions. save at ST Petersburg. and ccu-
handing all provincial authorities TO
dispatch every stone mason on whom
they could lay hands to the new ms
tropolis. Not content with this he
caused tens OF thousands of his sub
Jects 10 be conveyed. without any regard
10 their wishes or interests. from their
homes ia even the most remote portions
Of his dominions. TO his city at the mouth
Of the Neva. depopuIating for the UuF-
pose whole villages and towns.