Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-24
BRIGHTER TIMES
 FOR RUSSIA
Lewis Nixon Predicts Glowing
 Future In Czar's Empire.
GREAT PROMISE WITH STRONG MEN

-l0
 { ghipbuilder Tells of Fine 0pportunl- { ties For Expansion -of.- American
 Trade - Big Advance Can Be Made ] With Cheap Money and Cheap 1 .Transportation-W With Proper Rail- 1 way Facflities; He Says, Rusyta
 Could Supply World With Wheat.
 Bringing new impressions of the czar
 and glowing forecasts for the indus
 trial and commercial development of
 the great land of steppes, Lewis Nixon ! recently returned from Russia, whither
 he went several months ago to super
 wise for the Russian government the
 construction of nine torpedo, boats,
 says the New York Herald. A visitor
 to the czar and counsellor with many
 of the men foremost in Russian politi
 cal life, Mr. Nixon is perhaps better
 equipped than any other American. to
 speak of conditions in the land which
 has been upset during the past year by | internal disorder ;.
 l More than a year. ago. when there was immediate demand for the con struction of ships to guard the Baltic,
 Mir. Nixon was summoned to Russia i and asked to undertake the building of
 a small fleet of torpedo boats. Other shipbuilders from European cities had
 been asked to submit bids for the
 work, but the, specifications were so exacting as to time that they declined to interest themselves. Mir. Nixon con- tracted to produce the first torpeo boat in six weeks after he began work, and many persons, regarding the task i'm possible, laughed at his temerity. He delivered the first boat in exactly five weeks and five days and exceeded his guarantee throughout his contract. | MT. Nixon's first visit to the czar was made several months ago in the impe- rial residence at Tsarskoe-Selo. Speak
 ing of it, he said: T found the czar most friendly and,
 furthermore, sincerely believing in the friendship of the American people. His grandfather was friendly to America when we were four years fighting to settle a constitutional question and
 when, many of, the things going on in
 Russia a few weeks ago were being done here The. emperor is perfectly
 familiar with recent agricultural devel- .opment of other countries, such as Egypt and the northwestern part of the United States and Canada, show
 ing plainly that the question of the
 welfare of the tillers of the soil is re- ceiving careful study on his part"
 "Are the many stories about the bad physical condition of the emperor true and, as has been reported, is he uncon- cerned about what is going on?" was asked.
 "I was particularly struck with his appearance of hsosSh. Heisin perfect phySita 1fdition Mnd fuh of youthful vigor and has not. a gray hair. He stands erect and shows in his carriage that the tremendous strain is not af- fecting his strength. He impressed me as having decided grasp of the situation and that there would be no shrinking from his responsibilities. His sincerity in desiring to have the peo- pie take part in the government is con- ceded even by all parties in Russia.
 Tn proclamation on Oct. 17 the czar granted certain liberties, and the new government under the premiership of Count witte has been formulating necessary temporary laws to carry these liberties into effect. The care necessary in their preparation made haste impossible. and advantage was taken of this fact to engender distrust In the new ideas of government and at the same time to use such distrust as T means of embarrassing the national administration.
 Heretofore the great difficulty in the Russian form of government was to find great men equal to the task of car rying it on. Public life as we know it has not existed there. With the insti. tuition of the douma the strong men are bound to make themselves felt, and the results will be that the czar will not Jack for competent advisers and ad rninistrators. I am convinced that as soon as the douma gets going thorough ly new day will dawn for Russia and her people. There is bound to be won- derful commercial development. and with this will come an awakening of intelligence and exercise of limited con stitutional government which are bound 10 result in peace and tranquility and the restoration of Russia to It's high place among the powers of the world"
 Discussing opportunities for the ex- pansion of American trade in Russia. MT. Nixon spoke enthusiastically. AL though Germany has stepped in and captured a good share of the trade in certain lines. American manufactures still lead. and they are making united effort to increase their field.
 Opportunities for American enter. prise" said Mir. Nixon. s'are tremen- dous. The same openings gre there that existed In our own country forty years ago. We already send great quantities of agricultural implements there. but. as usual. the farseefng Ger mans are cutting In on this. Many new industries are being domesticatei. and they are generally profitable. as close corners do not have to be turned. as Is done here. and competition is not 90 fierce. One must understand the Russian character and methods of do