Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-02-26
Some Facts About Russia,

The empire OF Russia extends over
the eastern part of Europe and great
portion OF Asia, comprising An area
of s,6i4,100 square miles, or about
one twenty-sixth part of the globe,
and one.seventh the land superficies
of the planet. The population is esti-
mated at 13O,9OO,OOO.
The government OF Russia is an I'M
limited monarchy, the head Of which
is Gear Nicholas H., who assembled the
throne in 1894. He is an absolute
despot, embracing in himself supreme
political and religious author ity. He
is the emperor and head of the ortho.
pox Greek church. All other relig-
ions are tolerated, except of the Jews
upon whom all sorts of oppressive re-
strictions are imposed. The expenses
OF the imperial family amount to
about 81 SOC, 900 per annum.
The ministry of Russia corresponds
somewhat to the Cabinet officers OF
our own country. with the addition OF
a Procurater- General OF the Holy Sy-
nod, and the ministry being vested
with legislative as we'll as executive
powers. This is the Council of State.
The Senate, the Holy Synod and the
Committee OF Ministers constitute the
remaining adjuncts to an apparently
cumbersome form OF government
which is greatly simplitied by every
department being under the absolute
control of the sovereign.
Russian forests cover an area of
474 DOC, 900 acres, the government be-
ing the largest owner, from whom con-
cessions are made to cutters, but as
yet little demand has been made on
the timber reserve. One of Russia's
great resources has been her cereal
products, her wheat crop of 1902 az.
gregating 64S,707 900 bushels, which
we're exceeded by no country except
the United States, whose aggregate
amounted to 67O,O63, 900 bushels that
year. On an average there are &c..
00O, 900 head of cattle in Russia and
100000 horses. Sheep-breeding is
carried on extensively. Camels are
bred in the southern part of the coun-
try, reindeer in the northern and hogs
and poultry everywhere. The chief
articles of export are cereals, hides,
wool, oil and seeds; imports are sugar,
tea, coffee, cotton, silk, iron, wine and
other liquors, dyes, fruits, vegetables
and machinery.
For the education OF the clergy,
there are four academies, so semina.
ries and 2O1 schools, in which 81 900
persons are trained. These, and
churches, converts and ecclesiastical
departments in general, are maintained
by government. The imperial library
at ST. Petersburg embraces about q
million volumes and is one OF the fin
est in the world. A great deal OF the
inland transportation of the empire is
done by canals, the four seas surround
ing European Russia II the White.
Black, Caspian and Baltic-being con.
nected by three systems. She is now
engaged in building the Siberian rail-
road, the longest in the world, which
traverses the whole length OF Man.
churia.
Finland, . province Of Russia, is not
in the closest sympathy with tho par
ent government. A protest sent to
the Gear by four governors OF Finland,
on the ground that it was against the
Finnish constitution, resulted in dis.
missal OF the Governors. A famine in
this province last year enlisted help
from America.
Russia maintains a gigantic army Of
100000 men in peace. which is in.
creased to over five times that strength
when on . war footing. Her navy
consists of Is first.clsss battl eships, 10
second-class, 4 third.class; 13 coast
defense ships; 4 armored cruisers; II
cruisers, first-class, 10 second.class, IL
third-class; % sea. going gunboats, q
river gunboats; 20 transports and dis.
patch vessels. 43 tugs and special ser.
vice vessels; 33 subsidized auxiliary
ships; Sc torpedo-boat destroyers; 48
torpedo boats first.class, 81 second.
class. These vessels are manned by
2,570 officers and 37,945 enlisted men,
and armed with 703 heavy guns and
4,512 secondary and machine guns.
A Nut FOR Our PEOPLE TO CRACK.
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