The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-07

The man of Russia makes the other ma
lions of Europe look insignificant by
comSarison.
Moscow is called "The heart of Rus
sia,'' and yet the Trans Siberian hallway
from Moscow to Vladivostok is about
5000 miles long, nearly one-tourth the
circumference of the globe. From st.
Petersburg to Sebastopol is more than q
900 miles. and vet Russia's territory ex-
tends much farther north than st. Pc
tersburg and much farther south than
Sebastopol.
In book recently issued by authority
of the Russian Government some COM
parsons are made that give an idea of
the immensely of Russia's domain.
For instance. Siberia is about one and
onc-half times as large as Europe, twen-
ty-five times as large as Germany, and
covers one-thirteenth of the continental
surface of the globe.
Besides having great timber belts and
vast prairies, Siberia has an area OF hills
and lakes ten times as large as Switzer-
land, and it is claimed that some of the
lakes are as beautiful as those of "The
Mountain Republic"
ENCOURAGING IMMIGRATION TO
SIBERIA.
Lately the Government has been en-
couraging immigration into the country
| opened up by the Trans-Siberian Rail
| way, and the success of the movement is
| shown by the fact that the number of
! passengers carried on the western section
| of the road increased from 100000 in 1896
| to 379. 900 in 1898, and on the middle sec.
| ton from 177,O00 in 1897 to 476,000 in 1898,
| with similar increase in freight traffic
| The Government gives certain area OF
| land to each settler and when necessary
| advances sufficient money to build homes
| and barns for the storage of crops and
| for the purchase of agricultural imple-
| ments.
| The territorial greatness of Russia is
| the first thing that impresses the tourist
and the second is that it is as yet so
| sparsely settled that it can without fear
| of crowdng accommodate a vast increase
in population.
RUsSIAS VARIED RESOURCES.
Russia embraces all varieties of climate
and resources.
Nv Journey was confined to the north
| east portion. I entered the country be-
| low Warsaw, went west to Moscow, then
north to st. Petersburg and thence
southeast to Berlin.
This, with the exception of my visit to
lula, gave me my only opportunity to
see the people of Russia. They impressed
me as being a hardy race, and the neces.
sites of climate are such as to compel
industry and activity.
1 never saw elsewhere such unusual
preparation for cold weather. AS yet
Russia is almost entirely agricultural,
but manufacturing enterprises are con-
tinually increasing.
THE RUSSIAN COMMUNES.
The peasants live in villages and for
the most part hold their lands in com
| mon-that is, they belong to the com.
mune or village as a whole and not to
the individual. When Alexander freed
the serfs the land was sold to them
Jointly on longtime payments. These
| payments have in only few instances
been completed, wherefore not many OF
| the peasants own land individually.
| There is just now much discussion in
Russia about the method of holding
land. Some contend that communal hold
| ing tends to discourage thrift and enter
/ prise. and there is some agitation in ia
|
RUSSIA's GREAT CITIES.
| Moscow, the largest city of Russia, has
| & trifie larger population than st. Peters.
burg, the capital, which has more than a
| million. Moscow, which is the CONNER
| cial centre of the empire, gives the visitor
| a much better idea of the characteristic
| life and architecture of Russia than does
| St. Petersburg.
| ST. Petersburg, however, is laid out
| upon broader, more generous plan, has
wider streets, more impressive public
| buildings and private residences, and
| there is more evidence of wealth in the
capital than in the commercial centre.
| Both cities possess admirable museums
| and art galleries. The chief gallery OF
| Moscow devotes nearly all its wall space
| TO pictures by Russian artists, and they
| are sufficient in number to prove Rus
sia's claim to an honorable place in the
| world of art
! TREASURES OF THE HERMIT
AGE"
| The Hermitage at st. petersburg
| which is an annex of the Emperors pal
| ace, contains an extraordinary number OF
| masterpieces of modern and ancient art.
| The Museum OF the Academy Vi oclehceS
| possesses a remarkable collection OF fine
| specimens of prehistoric animals, among
| them several mammoths, the largest and
| best preserved of which was found only
few years ago in the foot OF Siberian
| glacier.
| The visitor to Russia comes away WIN
| conflicting emotions. He Is impressed
| by the wonderful possibilities OF the
country, but is oppressed by the llmita
| tions and restrictions which the Govern
ment places upon individual action and
activity.
RUSSIAN TRAVELLING RESTRIC-
! TONS.
| AS soon as the traveller reaches the
| border of Russia his passport is demand
ed. 1t is again demanded the moment
he arrives at his hotel and it is demand
ed and inspected at every place ne stops
| When he is about to leave the country
he must send his passport to the police
office and have it Endorsed with oInciai
| permission to depart.
Not only is a passport demanded at
every place from the foreigner, but ma