Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-18
THE MOSCOW OF ASIA
RUssIA's NEW BASE OF SUPPLIES
IN MANGHuRIA
Something About the City Now the
Scene of Warlike Preparations
Many Industries Flourish.

In the consular reports of the Department
OF Commerce and Labor the following ac-
count of Hardin, Manchuria, is given by
Henry B. Miller, United States consul at
New-Chwang. China, where, it is believed,
Russia will establish her base of supplies
for the ensuing campaign:
One of the greatest achievements in city
construction that the world has ever wit
messed is now going on in the heart of
Manchuria.
In the building of such cities as vladi-
vcstok, Dalny and Port Arthur Russia has
demonstrated her power and purpose on
the. Pacific in line with the worlds con-
ception of her character; but in the con-
struction of this wonderful city of Hardin
she Is displaying an altogether different
type of activity from what we are prone to
attribute to her.
1t is in this city more than in all the
others combined that Russia is asserting
her intentions of becoming an active in
dIstrial force in the affairs of the orient,
and her people are already giving the place
the title of the Moscow Of Asia.
Geographical Center Of Manchuria.
The city is located on the Sungari river,
at the point where the Manchurian branch
OF the Siberian railway crosses the stream
and where the Chinese eastern branch
starts south to Dalny and Port Arthur 1t
is about $50 miles west of Vladivostok and
600 miles north of Port Arthur Its loca-
ton Is the geogra phical center of Man
churia, and from present prospects 1t is to
become the commercial center as well. The
city is surrounded on all sides for hun
dreds of miles with rich and productive
agricultural country, producing corn,
wheat, oats, barley, beans, millet, hemp,
tobacco, vegetables and some fruits. Min
erals and timber and great areas of graz
ing lands also surround 1t.
At present the place consists of the old
town, three miles from the central depot;
Prestin, or the river town, the present COM
mercial center. and the administration
town, in close proximity to the railway
station. Before the railway engineers es-
tablished this as their headquarters there
wac no native town In this vicinity, and
the entire place is therefore a Russian
p1 oduct.
Distinctly Russian City.
It is as distinctly Russian city as
though 1t were located in the heart of Rus
STA. and none but Russians and Chinese are
permitted to own land construct buildings
or engage in any permanent enterprise.
The city has been created by the Russian
government under the management Of the
Manchurian Railway Company. The land
for many miles in each direction has been
secured so as to make 1t impossible for any
foreign influence to secure a profit or foot
hold close to the city, and foreigners are
not recognized as having any rights what
ever, but are permitted there on sufferance.
In 1900 the place began 20 assume impOf-
lance as a center of railway management.
and in 1901 the populations had grown 10
$4,000 Russians: in 1902 10000; by May
1903 1900. and in October, 1903. census
showed a population of 64OW, exclusive
of soldiers. OF these. 400 are Japanese and
300 of all other nationalities, including Ger
mans, Austrians. Greeks and Turks. All
the rest are Russians. There are no Amer
leans.
Transportation Systems.
The Sungari river is navigable with light
draught steamers and native craft for
nearly two hundred miles above the city,
up both branches of the river. and much
traffic has already developed on these
streams, especially in wheat
From Hardin to the Amoor river. during
the navigating season, which begins in
April and ends on November l, good-sized
steamers run daily.
Going west from Hardin the train takes
you by a branch line from the crossing OF
the headwaters of the Amoor to Stretensk,
the head of navigation of this great river.
while the main line goes to Lake Balkal
(Siberia) and Russia. Going east, the rail-
way reaches the sea at Vladivostok over a
grade that does not exceed in any place
thirteen feet to one thousand. Going south
the Chinese eastern railway meets seago-
ing ships at New-Chwang, Dalny and Port
nine feet to one thousand. and that for
only a short distance and at rare intervals.
Originally a Military Center.
Hardin was started primarily as mill
tary center and an administration town.
for the government and direction of rail-
way affairs. Its growth into a splendid
commercial and manufacturing city was
not originally provided for by the pro-
moters, and it has been somewhat of
surprise to them, but the fever OF making
1t great Russian commercial and manu-
featuring city has now taken possession OF
the railway management and every system
of promotion and protection that can be
devised to increase its growth along these
lines is being energetically encouraged.
The capital for most of the private enter
prises is furnished by Siberian jews Chi
nese are furnishing moneyifor the construc-
ton of some Of the finest private buildings,
such as hotels, storerooms, etc. In the ad-
ministration part of the city no private
buildings of any kind are permitted.
The administration has already received
more than 2,0O0,000 rubles s1.030.000J for
land sold to private parties. Many elegant
residences and substantial structures are In
course Of construction in the additions
adjacent to the administration town. A
hotel and theater combined was built at
cost of 10000 rubles ($30.90o) and rented for
"a, coo rubles G12S75) per annum
All of this land is secured on an eighty
six years lease.
Industries of Harbin.
The leading industry of Hardin is the
manufacture of -four. Eight mills are now
in operation, all with modern European
machiAery with one exception, and that is
small one constructed with American ma
chinery. Applications have been made and
granted for the construction of twp more
large ones. and by the middle of 1904 ten
mills will be in operation producing 25.00O
pcods (902Sco pounds of -four day. They
pay from 80 to IS cents gold bushel for
their wFeat delivered at the mills, and the
wheat producing area can be increased
enormously. The present value of the -four
mills In Hardin is 12000OD rubles ($61s. 800
In the immediate vicinity of Hardin there
are 200 brickmaking plants. the cost of
which was 100000 rubies (s257 500. Two OF
these plants were constructed by the adj
ministration, at cost of 100000 rubles.
Most of the brick produced are used In the
construction Of the city. A very good grade
of red brick is produced and sold for ESQ
rubles $3.50 per ! 600. Most of the work
is done by Chinese who are paid 80 ko-
pecks 40 cents day.
Valuable Meat Packing Industry.
There are several companies engaged in
the meat packing business, with plants