Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-14
IN SOUTHERN RUSSIA
American Made Machinery
and Goods Are Popular.
ODESSA is LOSING TRADE
Port Distanced by Aggressive
Neighbor Cities.
OPINIONS OF CONSUL GRANT,
Advises That Materials Comply
With Demands of Consumers
and Be Packed Properly.
OPINIONS OF CONSUL GRANT
By WILLIAM F. CURTIS:
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.

Chicago Record Herald.
ODESSA. Russia. August II. 1910.
TRADE conditions in Odessa, the great
port or southern Russia. have not been
favorable for several years owing to a
combination OF reasons, including a series
OF poor harvests and the aggressive pol
ley of rival ports on the Black ssa.
John H. Grout, United States consul,
who Is thoroughly posted and has reliable
sources O. information. says the outlook
is hopeful. i: the govern ment carries out
It's plan for harhor improvement and the
extension of facilities for handling car
goes. referred to i'm this correspondence
the other day. the prosperity Of Odessa
is likely to revive.
The last year said Mr.. Crout. has
been almost as dull as the historical wear
OF isa2, when the expectation of grain
vas prohibited. Through the customary
shipping season there was almost a total
absence of foreign steamers from the
port.
This was not only due to the scarcity
Of grain. but to the disposition of dealers
TO hoard ii for higher prices When spring
came the reserve stock on hand in sight
was unheard of for volume
AS consequence of these conditions
the -four industry has been paralyzed.
For year only two out of fourteen
large mills in Odessa were running at
full time and capacity. All the others
worked about four days a week.
1.-The alcohol trade has also suffered.
There has been dead lull. Distilleries
have been closed a greater part of the
year.
The sugar industry has also been
greatly depressed. Other branches of
trade have sympathized.
Ship Carried Exposition.
THE municipal government has been
adopting various measures for improve
r,ent of conditions. Merchants have been
trying to help themselves.
For example, the steamship Nicholas
was fitted out as a floating exposition
and visited all the principal Black sea.
and Mediterranean ports, carrying SAM
pies of articles furnished by about one
hundred and forty manufacturers in ten
provinces and twenty-five peasants as
to send cut two ships, but one proved
SUFFICIENT to carry all the exhibits that
were offered. The results have not yet
been reported.
Business of every kind has been dull
There have been no special undertakings
for the investment of capital and there
have been no public improvements COM
pletea or started for a year or more
Active arrangements are being made
by the Belgian corporation, which owns
the horse car lines in Odessa. for cleo
trifying the system, and when this &C.
ours the company win take over the mu-
nfcipal electric light plant and give bet
ter service at lower prices Power houses
are now being built for that purpose
The coal industry has been quite ac-
tive. Last year mora than sixteen mil
Hon tons Of bituminous and nearly three
million tons of anthracite coal was shin
ped from this consular district The coal
deposits in southern Russia are being ex-
plotted more than formerly.
Southern Russia expects to see an in
crease In her trade as "A result of a new
and permanent line of steamers which
has been established for carving coal
from the Black sea ports to the Baltic
ports of Russia The venture started
In 1907. as an experiment, has developed
Into q success.
During the year 1909 more than two
hundred thousand tons of coal was ship
ped away around through the Straits of
Gibraltar to the Baltic ports of Russia
me steamers were able to secure profit
able cargoes of merchandise on their re-
turn voyages.
Odessa May Never Recover.
ut is doubtful. however. whether Odes-
- will ever recover it's prestige as a ship
ping port. 1t has had so many bad years
and the rival towns of Nicolaieff and
kherson are so much more progressive
and have been favored by the government
20 much more that Odessa does not seem
to have had a fair show.
The imperial government is now build
Ing a railway direct from Odessa to Mos
COW by way of Dakhmach, which is in
tended to benefit the city In order TIC
counteract the design of the government,
and to divert the freight from Odessa the
people Il Nicolaieff are arranging to dis
small canal which will divert cargoes
another way
THE government is preparing to spen6
ten million dollars within the next few
years In the improvement of the harbol
OF Odessa and i'm providing new facilitie.
for the handling of cargoes here. which
will greatly reduce the port charges ant
Will attract more business to the city.
The government encourages the or
ganization of agricultural associations foi
the Improvement of methods of cultiva
ton. During the last few years especia
attention has been paid to improving ant
increasing the yield of potatoes, and the
crop for 1869 was d considerable improve
ment upon any that has ever been raised
In the past.
Experts are at work upon investiga
tons and experiments with a view tt
learning what particular sort of corn is
best adapted for this part of Russia, ant
contract has been made with an Amer
lean scientific farmer for a term of wears
TO conduct an experimental farm for thu
benefit Of the Russian peasants
"A considerable attention is being PAID
TO other kinds of agriculture AgricuI
tural schools to teach practical farming
have been established in several places
In the province of Vassilkov six expert
mental model farms have been equipped
with modern labor-saving machinery anc
seventy prizes are offered for the best re-
suits.
WAREHOUSES of agricultural implements
have been provided. where the peasants
can buy them at cost. Similar efforts are
being made In other provinces where seeds
Of various kinds are distributed amons
the peasants free and agricultural nipple
ments are sold at cost prices on Ions
credit.
Sales of American Machinery.
The sales of American agricultural ma
chinery in this part of Russia are already
large and are rapidly increasing. II crops
turn out as promised this year there will
be a bigger business during 1910 than
was ever known before.
The American manufacturers are vel
organized. Every part of southern Russia
where machines are needed is closely and
frequently canvassed.-
During the current year already more
than 3.00o binders, 6,JD reapers, 4.50t
mowers, 1000 horse rakes and 100 sets o.
thrashing machinery have been sold In
this immediate vicinity by the representa-
tives of American manufacturers.
Tai 81. l. srr.tf aar