The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-03-05
.FQ0THOLD HAS. BEEN / |
ESTABLISHED BY
RUSSIA
In Northern Manchuria BY
Making vladivostok a
Port Of Entry.

sfe9ti W.
Port Of Entry.
Washington, March 5.-Russia's re-
newed attempt to establish a perman-
ent foothold In northern Manchuria by
making Vladivostok the port of entry,
thereby offsetting the loss of Dalny
and Port Arthur is described In an
official report,Spart of which was made
public at the state department today.
The report recently reached Washing
ton from one of the departments
agents in China. alt expresses the be-
lief that this wiiSsredound to the de-
velopment Of American trade and will
result in q curtailment of the impor-
lance of Shanghai as a distributing
point. The Extract given out says:
Since the conclusion of peace be-
tween Russia and Japan there has
been much speculation in the for
eign community of Shanghai as to the
future opportunity for trade and de-
velopment In Manchuria and therefore
the negotiations between Japan and
China and the diplomatic moves of
Russia at Pekin have been watched
with the closest attention.
AS soon as the way to Vladiyostok
was open. there ensued rush Of
steamers from Shanghai, Tsingtoa,
Chefoo, Tientsin, Nagasakai, Kobe and
Yokohama and as consequence the
immediate demand for merchandise
was soon satisfied. Then came the
riots both a Vladivostok and sHarbin.
followed by the ice closing the port Of
entry. These discouraging factors
drove many Of the traders away and
left a. market which. while supplied
with such luxuries as are indicated
from the Russians is still demanding
staples for the natives and is offering
great chance for development. Such
is practically the situation today and
a period of three months from this
date will see northern. Manchuria ea-
ger for that which is now believed to
be the beginning of new era, which
will last a few years at least. e
No one knows what Japan intends
10 do in southern Manchuria either. in
the way of trade or developing her
portion of of the Chinese Eastern rail-
way and the new line that is to be
built there to connect with Korea.
Russia, for the benefit of her portion
of the Chinese Eastern railway, for
her own political affairs in the far.
east and perhaps for the sake Of af-
fording a contrast, is letting every
body know what her aim and ambi-
ton is: It may be well to point out
the field for the development now be-
ing advertised by Russian agents. The
Chinese Eastern railway which leaves
the old and original survey of the
Trans-Siberian railway at Nertchinsk,
crosses the Manchurian border at the
station since called Manchuria, ana
then by q southeastern course runs
through one of the most fertile areas
on the continent to Hardin and thence
on to Poyranitznaia (border), thus
reaching Siberia again and joining the
'Ouisar railway ca part of the orig
inal Trans Siberian route and now
running to Khabarovsk on the Amur
river) goes to Vladivostok. Through
this Manchurian section there are vast
stretches of rolling and level land,
great forests of fine timber of mer-
.chantable kind and rich mileralized
areas.
ITO the south of the line lies the
practically unexplored bottom country,
which forms the Northern Korean bor-
der. To the north lies the Amur river
country. a land Of splendid possibili-
ties for agriculture and numbering and
fanked by streams which are remar-
kable for their fisheries. To the west
is that which many think is the best
part OF Siberia, since it contains all
that has made Irkutsk. the great COM
mercial center. It is a great domain
and one which under good manage
ment and lack of political disturbance
from Russia will produce rich results.
The railway itself still remains eftec-
tive despite the strain which has been
put upon 1t; the, rails are light (65
pounds to the yard) from the Ameri-
can standpoint, but they are said to
be In good condition; the bridges are
of American construction and the
roadbed is solid. That portion Of the
line, Hardin south, need not be con-
sidered here as Russia's Is portion only
extends to Kirbin and, sof course, is
greatly in need OF Reconstruction on
account Of the war. N!
But Russia !, is \ now apparently
through this railway construction {for
! 1t is not government owned) attempt
ing to establish q permanent foothold
in northern Manchufia and to alter
things to such an extent that relapse
will be difRcult Even when, vladiv-
st0k and Hardin were burning, plans
we're Fastening for the coming pro,
gram Of development The scheme ad-
vertised Contemplated the establish-
ment Of q steamship service which
would make Vladivostok the home
port, welcoming and protecting In
vested capital. pointing to the rail-
way % the means Of transportation to
Europe Of the products OF China and
especially Of tea. These In q general
way are said to be the plans and the
| foreign agents have been given q free
Y hand to put them into effect as Tar na
the outside world AZ concerned. L Ii
thus evident that TIE sovernment and