Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-05-10
FACTS ABOUT ALL couNTR,Es-
RUSSIA.
BY ]. e. Brigham.

sias, was born May. 1868; was the
eldest son of the late Emperor Alex
ander ILL.,, and of Princess Dagmar,
who was the daughter of King Christ
ian of Denmark. Nicholas ascended
the throne October 20 November !,
new style), 1894, and on the l4ta DAY
Of the same month married Aiexan-
dra Alix, daughter OF Ludwig w..
grand duke Of Hesse.
The car has four daughters and
one son, the Grand Duke Alexis, who
is the heir apparent and was born
August IL. 1904.
In the female line the reigning
family 'descends from Michael Rom
anon, elected czar in 1913, after the
extinction of the house OF Rurik. In
the male line from the Duke Karl
Friedrich of the steln-Gottorp.
who was born in 100.
Until the recent PRONUNCIATION OF
constitution, the government was an
absolute hereditary monarchy. with
the legislative. executive and judicial
powers united in the emperor, whose
will alone was law. The administra-
ton of the empire was intrusted to
four great colleges or boards, name
Iy, the council of state, the ruling
senate, the holy synod, and the COM
mittee Of ministers. The working OF
the new constitution and elective leg
islative assembly is yet to be tested
Alexander |. established the molly
synod in 1901. To this body is COM
mltted the superintendent OF the re-
ligious affairs of the empire.
Every sovereign, with his consort
and children. must be member OF
the orthodox Greek church. Toe
points In which the Graeco-Russian
church differ from the Roman Cath
Ollie are in denying the spiritual su-
premacy OF the pope, in authorizing
all individuals to read and study the
Scriptures In the vernacular. and Its
practice regarding marriage OF the
clergy. Every aspirant for the posi-
tion of pope must be married; but
pope" who becomes widower
may not remarry. The czar. OF
course, is at the head Of the church.
aud ne appoints to every office in 1t.
The czar had private estates OF
more than 100000 square miles Of
cultivated land and forests, besides
gold and other mines In Siberia. The
annual income was estimated at about
$12.000,000, but owing to the unset
tied conditions at present 1t is much
reduced.
In 1902 the national debt was 49,
414,061, ,734, but since the war with
Japan this has greatly increased.
The total peace establishment OF
the Russian army consists of 1896
900 men. 100000 horses, 1000 guns.
Russia's war strength is placed at
100000 men and $4,000 horses.
Although ranking seventh in naval
strength she has more men employ
ed in her navy than any other coun.
try except Great Britain--3,012 Off.
GERS and 56.770 men.
Peter /. was the first czar to as
sumo the title of emperor. which he
did in 1921.
Russia's national wealth is placed
at $4,000. 100000.
In ancient times the Russian plains
were practically unknown to the CIV
tlized world. It was called Scythia
and its peoples were spoken of as
Wild Scythian or Sarpathian tribes.
Historians date the beginning of
the Russian empire from about the
middle of the ninth century, when
Rurik, Scandinavian leader. came
to Novgorod. The Scandinavians
were soon absorbed by the Slavonic
Inhabitants. Kiev was made the cap
ttal of this ancient empire. The house
OF .Rurik came to an end in 1913.
when an assembly. or representatives
chose Michael Romanoh for their
czar.
Peter l. of the house of Romanofi,
who ruled from 1859 to 1925, was
Russia's greatest czar. He found
Russia Asiatic and he made 1t Euro
pean. He erected navy and gave
the country an army clothed and dis
ciplined like the armies of other Eur
opean countries. He gave Russia H.
braries and museums, and from an
obscure and unclvilized country cre-
ated powerful empire fit to rank
with the foremost nations Of Europe
But although he knew how to civilize
his country, he remained barbar-
ian. He Injured his first wife in a
convent and murdered his son, Alex
is He called himself "Old Peter"
and took delight in scandalizIng the
pompous boyars by wearing shabby
clothes or by showing them pair OF
horseshoes he had made, or by ait
ting smoking pipe with a newly ar
rived Dutch or English skipper.
Catharine IL. was also one of the
great rulers OF Russia Following
Peters policy. she furthered the
spread OF western civilization and en-,
acted laws which favored the develop
ment of commerce and industry.
Her schemes for territorial aggran-
dizement met with striking success.
She was the leading spirit in the
spoliation of Poland in 1926, and
through that devastation Russia gain
ed 10000 square miles and 6,000, 900
SuhfpDfS (trtruna oil