Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-11-06
S|BER|A'S VEAL TIL,
Not the Frozen Realm Imagined
by Americans. .
RICH AND FERTILE COUNTRY
Our Consul In St. Petersburg Sends
Interesting Facts About a Land
Larger Than the United States, In
cludinu Alaska.


Guiding Alaska.
According to an official report made
to the state department by James w
Ragsdale, United States consul In st
Petersburg. Siberia, Russians great
Asiatic realm. Is far from being the
frozen, barren country pictured to
themselves by Americans when they
hear its name.
In his report Mr. Ragsdale sets forth
the results of his own observations
made while travelling from Tientstn,
China, to st. Petersburg. He presents
a striking picture of the development
of Siberia and the wonderful possibili-
ties there.
Mr.. Ragsdale comments on the igno-
rance that prevails throughout the
world as to Siberia. He says those
who have never visited the country
have only exaggerated ideas gathered
from descriptions that picture Siberia
as cold. barren waste swept by
storms and of little value to any one.
THAT the winters are long and cold
there can be no doubt" he says, ''but
they are no worse than the winters in
northern Canada. now being so rapidly
settled by people from all parts OF the
world. The soil. too, Of these vast ter
ritories is as rich and fertile as that OF
Canada and very much resembles the
lands in the great states Of Illinois,
Iowa and Nebraska, except that 1t Ii
better watered and timbered."
Bigger Than tho United States.
Mr.. Ragsdale reminds US that Siberia
is an enormous territory, representing
no less than 100000 square miles, or
much larger than the whole Of the
United States, including Alaska.
'The country is beautiful from every
point of view and Will some day be
thickly populated. Here game is plen-
tiful, and the trapper has field that
is rich in fur bearing animals, such as
the black and other foxes. ermine.
sable Of all kinds. otter, mink, marten.
weasel. squirrel, lynx and wolf. The
furs of this locality find the best mar
kets in China. the United States and
England through the Pacific ports. A
better article. found in Kamchatka and
other parts Of Siberia, Is sent overland
to Moscow. whence it is distributed to
the whole of Russia, considerable
quantity finding its way to Leipzig 4
Discussing the mines Of Siberia.
speaking of gold, Mr.. Ragsdale says
gold is known to exist in almost every
district, both in quartz and placer, but
the methods are poor. Improved meth
DDS would double the output. Exceed
ingly rich gold discoveries have re-
Gently been reported on the Siberian
coast, a territory as large as California
and Oregon. 1t is said these mines
will prove as rich as the mines at
Dawson and Nome. The find is near
the mouth Of the Aquatir river, which
is about 100 miles directly west across
the water from Nome. The output Of
gold alone from the Siberian mines for
1907. Mr.. Ragsdale says, was valued
at about $26,O00,00O.
Rich In Precious Stones.
1t is believed the coal deposits will
prove as extensive as those Of China
Iron and miscellaneous minerals
abound. Many Of the mountains, es-
peciaIly the Urals. are exceedingly rich
In precious stones.
Other features Of the country as de-
scribed by Mir. Ragsdale are the great |
navigable rivers. the Astounding sup
ply of fish. the prospects of rich ex-
ports and railroad development. Al
ready thousands of tons of the finest |
butter are being sent to Denmark,
Holland. Germany and England. 1t is |
Of late shipped to China and Japan and
even South Africa from Siberia. |