Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-12

than sa0. ,Ooo Among his treasures was
Iha ea ,,,o,s diamond called the "Derya !
Nur." of 1S6 carats and the IaJ VIC" n
~ LAG carats, two of the fnest STONES a.
the world, but during the las. Ven of econ
hia reign he abandoned his habits Oh eoo
onov and spent large portion OF this treae
IRE so that when MuzaHar came ~ .ne
throne it had been reduced at ieast olie
hole The latter initiated his 1ather ea
travapance. He was lavish in ms muhii
cance and has not only parted WIN MUS. "
the Jewels and other treasures o e. tho
created large public debt, cnleny ioi IT,
cement of his own personal expenses Ine
debt is held by the Russian Imperial bama
"a DC Guaranteed by all the custom MOUSE
receipts, with the exception OF those ,se coi-
leeted at the ports on the ferSlan sI'i with
laoal capital which is the first step towalu
financial Independence and pubic ilip, o,Sn
ments There are no rallroadS III G .ne 49,
try and the jealousy of Russia, derIha ny
ENGLAND and other foreign powers mas
heen effective in preventing the govern
ment from granting concessions nor ,,ant
construction. The Russian gpve III, the
has a railway from KrasnoVosk' On '.o
eastern shores of the Caspian sea, 70
Bokhara and Samarcand which Ioiiows
the Persian boundary line for consiuel
able distance, and mas ma" aosan md the
interior of Persia. The Germans nave en-
deavored to obtain concessions anu Eng
lish syndicates have formed large piahs'
iects of the other to obtain the pohticai
and commercial advantages wnlch rali-
way would carry with It.
There are two short railroads IN fersia
One runs about six miles from Teheran
to a suburban town, and the other CON
meets one of the northern cities with the
sea coast at about the same distance.
Russian steamers sail from BaRu 10 au
the Persian ports upon the caspian sea
and the shortest route to Teheran Is by one
of them to the port of Resht and thence
by carriage road a distance OF about ~2Jo
miles around the base OF MI e. Dem Mareazs
tells me that automobiles are now running
over this route and make the distance in
fifty hours.
Little Trade With Persia.
There is very little trade between the
United States and Persia, the imports into
this country being valued at only about S5O,-
600 last year. They consisted of carpets,
rugs, silks dried fruits and gum tragacanth,
which is. used in the manufacture of .muci-
lage, as a basis for medicines, and for other
purposes. Our exports to Persia amounted
to about half a million dollars. the articles
exported consisting of agricultural lmple-
ments, hardware, furniture and various ar
tcles of merchandise. General Morteza is
working for an extension of trade between
the two countries for he thinks he ought
his country and says 1t might be easily
secured If our manufacturers would study
the market and organize a commercial
house for that purpose. r.,
81 am very much interested he said
the other day. Our commerce amounts to
10000 600 a year, chiefly with Russia, and
we need so many things that are produced
in the United States. know the trade can
be made very profitable and any company
with 100000 capital ought to do large
business. So
There are very few Americans in Per-
STA, perhaps forty or fifty, chiefly mer-
chants and missionaries, and about as many
Persians in the United States, who are mer-
chants and students in our medical and
scientific schools. -Four or five young Per-
slams are in the University OF Chicago, three
or four in the colleges of New York city and
one student in Washington.
The minister is arranging little CONNER
cial exhibition at his elgation for the infor-
nation of Americans who want to know
about the trade and will have 1t ready
within few weeks. --r-
concerning the illness Of the shah must be
read with reserve. The news agencies are
not always accurate but 1t is no secret that
he has been suffering from rheumatism ana
kidney complaints for four or five years and
mas made three trips to Europe for treat
ment. He Is now ffty-two years or age.
His successor, Mohammeds All Mira, Is
twenty weight years of age, and the son OF
princess distantly related to the shah. His
majesty has several wives, but his success
or to the throne must be the son OF a legiti-
mate wife of royal blood. Mohammed was
educated In Persia by French and English
tutors and is considered young man or
great promise. His taste Is for military af-
fairs. He Ia believed to be Iberal-minded
and will follow the policy OF his father.
The customs of Persia require forty days
mourning for ordinary people and one hum
dred days for the king. The coronation can
not take place until after, the period OF
mourning Is passed. but the new shah will
assume the power at once.