West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-06-02
RUSSIAN STRONGHOL1S
Facts About the Manchurian
Cities Mukden and Harbin.
DSPors FOR TROOPS AND sroRHs

Outer Wall OF MUD aud ianer ons
OF nrici< Surround sfuisdsn, Ancient
Royal city of Msntchoos--i,u.sIa,s
Chief Military Depot In Far lna.t
IL st narbin.
Mukden, the second city OF fnpor.
tancc IN Manchuria, having I'm times
OF peace at least 10000 inhabltants "
situated In tho center OF an immense
nliuvial plain about three miles from
the Hunho, tributary " tho IAao
river says the Philadelphia pubiio
Ledger IL h about ESQ mites north
OF Port Arthur a. miies north OF Liao-
yang and aoo mites south OF uarbin.
General Kuropatkin discovered early
IN March that Harbin was too Ear
north To serve as q military base Tor
Tue campaign In southern Manchuria,
md he selected Mulxdcn for his head.
quarters because Il IA favorably aitu-
nted ON the railway aud ON tho peking
road.
The city OF Mukden has an outer wall
OF mud, and lofty quadrangular i'm.
ner wall three miles In circuit built oc
brick, nanked by lofty towers and
pierced by eight gatcs protected by
lofty brick baStlons. This wall, on
which three carriages could drive
abreast, protects tho commercial and
official part Of the city, which IN dense.
ly crowded
Mukden, besides being the great grain
emporium OF Munchuria, IN tho center
OF the Chinese fur trade aud attracts
buyers from all parts OF the world.
Fine streets divide the city into nIno
wards or districts, the central district
containing Chinese palace with much
decorative yellow tillng aud public
examination hall The Russians have
erected spacious barracks with accom-
modations for more than 100000 sol
diers. There were said 10 be short
time ago more than 10000 Russian
troops at Mukden.
Mulden's streets are regularly built
aud its fine residences are well kept up.
IL Is u busy place. both ina times OF
peace and war. and does large aud
lucrative trade in grain. beans and furs.
lt has various industries, which in
clude the tanning and dressing OF furs
and the weaving OF silk stuffs; its bank
ers and merchants are rich and enter
prsing.
MukdeIL is the ancient royal city of
Che MantchOos and the former burial
place OF the rulers of China. Four
miles east OF the city IL the tomb OF
the founder OF the Mantchoo dynasty,
Nurnchu. The sopulcher Itself forms n
great mound built up over tho cofiin.
In front OF this stands n funeral hall,
tho whole being surrounded by high
wall pierced by one grand gateway,
which holds three urched portals The
avenue OF approach N spanncd by two
lofty ana elaborate arches OF carved
stone the bases of their columns rest
Ing on carved likencsses OF frogs.
Harbin 81 the most important RUS
sian military depot IA the far east and
Is situated on tine Transsiberlan rail-
road 70 Nladiyostok, Just where tito
Port Arthur line turns directly south
The Russians have within the past
year or so erected more than 5000
houses in Harbin, the materials used
being chiefly brick and corrugated iron.
Forty thousand Russian soldiers. Il Is
said. were recently qunrtered In Bar-
bin. Immense siOrehOuses for grain
and other forage as well as maya
zines for arms and ammunition, have
also been erected, and millions OF ru-
bles have beon spent 70 improve the
warehouse facilities alone
From Barbin the Chinese Eastern
railway, branch % the Transsiberian
railway. runs southwnrd 70 New
chwang, $50 miles distant. on the gulf
Of Liautong, and thence southwark 100
miles TO Dalny and Port Arthur.
new branch llnn was recently con.
siructed from Harbin 10 Klrln. one Of
the most important trading ceu;ers OF
Manchuria and fhc junction Of the
principal trade routes 70 northern Man
Churla and Korea.