The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-07-28
RUSSIAN STR0NGH0LDS
Facts About the Manchurian
Cities Mukden and Hardin.
DEPOTs FOR TROOPS AND STORES

DEPoTs FOR TROOPS AND STORES
Outer Wall of Mud and Inner One
of Brick Surround Mul1den, Ancient
Royal City of Observation-Disclosures
Chief Military Depot In Far East
Is at Hardin.
Mukden, the second city Of impor-
lance in Manchuria, having in times
of peace at least 100000 inhabitants, is
situated in the center of an immense
alluvial plain about three miles from
the Hunho, tributary of the Liao
river, says the Philadelphia Public
Ledger. 1t is about 250 miles north
OF Port Arthur, AZ miles north of Lao
yang and $50 miles south of Hardin.
General Kuropatkin discovered early
in March that Hardin was too far
north to serve as military base for
the campaign in southern Manchuria,
and he selected Mukden for his head
quarters because it is favOrably stu
ated on the railway and on the Picking
road
The city of Mukden has an outer wall
Of mud, and a lofty Quadrangular in
ner wall three miles in circuit built of
brick, fanked by lofty towers and
pierced by eight gates protected by
lofty brick bastions. This wall, on
N, 6run
abreast, protects the commercial and
official part Of the city, which is dense
ly crowded.
Mukden, besides being the great grain
emporium of Manchuria, is the center
Of the Chinese fur trade and attracts
buyers from all parts of the world.
Fine streets divide the city into nine
wards or districts, the central district
containing Chinese palace with much
decorative yellow thing and a public
exa nlination hall. The Russians have
erected spacious barracks, with accom-
modations for more than 100000 SOL
diers. There were said to be a short
time ago more than 10000 Russian
troops at Mukden.
Mukden's streets are regularly built,
and its fine residences are we'll kept up.
1t is a busy place, both in times of
peace and war, and does a large and
lucrative trade in grain, beans and furs.
1t has various industries, which in
cll1de the tanning and dressing of furs
ard the weaving Of silk stuffs; its bank
ers and merchants are rich and enter
prising.
Mukden is the ancient royal city of
the Mantchoos and the former burial
place of the rulers Of China. Four
miles east Of the city is the tomb Of
the founder of the Mantchoo dynasty,
Nurachu. The sepulcher itself forms
great mound built up over the coffin.
In front of this stands a funeral hall,
the whole being surrounded by high
wall pierced by one grand gateway,
which holds three arched portals. The
avenue Of approach is spanned by two
lofty and elaborate arches Of carved
stone, the bases Of their columns rest
Ing on carved likenesses of frogs.
Hardin is the most important Rus.
sian military depot in the far east and
is situated on the Transsiberian rail-
road to Vladivostok, just where the
Port Arthur line turns directly south.
The Russians have within the past
year or so erected more than 5000
houses in Hardin, the materials used
being chiefly brick and corrugated iron.
Forty thousand Russian soldiers, it is
said, were recently quartered in Har-
bin. Immense storehouses for grain
and other forage, as we'll as maya
zines for arms and ammunition, have
also been erected, and millions of ru-
bles have been spent to improve the
warehouse facilities alone.
From Hardin the Chinese Eastern
railway, branch Of the Transsiberian
railway, runs southwark to New
chwang, $50 miles distant, on the gulf
Of Liautong, and thence southwark $50
miles to Dalny and Port Arthur.
A new branch line was recently con-
structed from Hardin to Kirin, one Of
the most important trading centers Of
Manchuria and the junction of the
principal trade routes to northern Man
churia and Korea.