The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-23

continued to absorb vast amounts Of capital
which could not be otherwise probably en-
ployed.
The total cost of the Transsiberian
Railroad up - date is about $4Oo.0oooco.
Work was begun in 1891. The line now COW
ers 1862 miles in Russian territory and 1,6O4
miles in Chinese territory. In ten and one
half years 5.166 miles of rails were laid.
1t took ten years to lay half this mileage
on the Canadian Pacific. On the Trans
siberian Railroad. however, lighter rails
were used, less ballast was put under the
ties. and the ties were shorter. The gov
ernment thought this would reduce ex-
penses, but quickly discovered its error,
and Is rebuilding the entire road.
Freight trains cover the distance from
MOSCOW to Eladivostock in from fifty TO
sixty days, travelling at the rate OF about
make speed Of about thirteen and a half
miles an hour This road has rendered
great service in the colonization and set
uement of Siberia. A government COM
mittee sends out literature on Siberia and
mas established supply houses and medlcal
Ge 65 t me need OF the latter may tP be
emigrants en- route. In 1884, out or 5b,WO,
5000 died; while in 1888, out of 10000, only
300 persisted.
The total number Of emigrants transport
ed to agricultural lands is now nearly
100000 since the road was built. The fare
for emigrants is one-quarter OF the regu-
pied by these people. Every emigrant
ceiveS 400 acres During the nrst three
years he pays no taxes, and for the three
following years he pays only one-half OF
the legal rate. Emigrants without re-
sources are furnished money for the ex-
penses of travel
The cotton crop of the Laguna district in
northern Mexico has been seriously dam
aged by floods. which have destroyed the
irrigating bitches. The actual damage to
these bitches amounts to over a quarter OF
million dollars, and as this is in the
most important cotton raising district OF
Mexico, the results are most disastrous.
There is a compensation for the losses of
the current year, however, in the fact that
a large part of the cotton raising section
has been flooded this year, and there
fore will produce an enormous crop
next year. and possibly for the
year following. In expectation or
big crops TO come, preparations are al
ready being made to restore the canals.
dams, etc, on a larger scale, and in better
shape than ever before. Consul lie Roy
stationed at Durango, believes that this
presents an opportunity for American ex-
porters of irrigation and agricultural ma
chinery.
A correspondent of the London Times has
been investigating the immigration into
the Canadian Northwest. He finds that
people from the United States form the
largest part of this addition to the popula-
ton of the Dominion and that they are Of
the very best class of American farmers.
He says the reason for this is that all the
free or cheap lands Of really good quality
In the States and worthy of q farmers
labor have been taken, and, Furthermore.
that the Canadian Northwest has proved
itself beyond any question a much better
wheat country not merely than the North
western States are to-day, but than they
ever were.
The Americans going into Canada are
largely from Minnesota, the Dakotas and
Iowa. Most of these men already own
farms in one another of the States men,
toned, which were bought at prairie value
or homesteaded in the 70's or early SOS and
are now worth from $40 to SIS an acre,
The writer says that the question has
been asked why the owner of a fine farm
in Iowa should wish TO leave il. He finds
In talking with these men that they have
sons and want more land for the rising
generation. By selling their high-priced
farms in the States they can buy enough
virgin land in the Canadian Northwest to
give each member of the family good
start. Most of these Americans going into
Canada have from $4,000 to $4,000 I'm money
and several carloads of live stock, furni-
ture, etc. One party with which the Times
correspondent travelled represented a cash
capital of about 10000.
This immigration is encouraged by land
companies, most of which are financed by
American capitalists. The taking of a
homestead In the Canadian Northwest in
wolves at the end of a three years resi-
dence an oath of allegiance TO the British
crown, but there seems to be no reluctance
on the part of the Americans to become
British subjects
The province of Alberta seems to be the
favorite point of location for most of the
American immigration. Several thousand
MOrmOns have gone from Utah and have
settled near the northern line OF Montana
and Dakota. Wheat is not the only thing
these people are after, as il is believed that
a factory with 5000 acres of beet tribu-
tary thereto is one Of the new enterprises
in that gection