Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-26
Second to United States.

Turkestan ranks second to the United
States as a cotton producer, and the an
nual crop is now greater than that Of
Egypt or India. Cotton has always grown
here. 1t is Indigenous to the soil, and
so far back as tradition reaches the peo-
pie have produced the material out of
which their cotton gowns, are made.
knowing this. Gen. Kaufman, the con-
queror of Turkestan and the first gov
ernor general, following the broad-minded
policy that characterized his administra-
ton from the start. introduced the Amer
lean seed and method of cultivation and
interested the mill men of Moscow and
other manufacturing cities of Russia for
the encouragement of the native planters.
To him Russia owes the success of the
most important economic problem ever
undertaken in this part of the world.
Russian manufacturers have invested
considerable capital in plantations and
irrigation works, and the industry has
been extended until it is now the most
extensive and the most profitable in
Turkestan. The limits of the irrigated
area extend as far north as Tashkend and
as far east as Andijan, the terminus Of
the Central Asia railroad, upon the Dor
ders of China. Millions of acres more
might be reclaimed and considerable
acreage is being added to the productive
area every year. but the cost of lrriga-
ton plants requires a large capital. 1t
is a matter for Syndicates, not for lndi-
viduals.
The cotton seed oil industry is also
very important. The natives will con-
sumo all of the oil that can be produced
and the cake proves to be the best camel
food known. 1t is so. conveniently car
ried; it contains a higher degree Of
nourishment for it's bulk and weight
than any forage; heat and dampness do
not spoil it, and it can be handled with
the minimum of trouble.
There are American congresses, gin
neries and oil mills in connection with all
the large plantations, and they look ex-
actly like those that you can see around
Memphis and Atlanta.
Once "Queen of the World"
Ancient Merv has been the scene of
much history and more romance. Two
thousand years ago Merv was THE
Queen of the World It's glories have
been described by the poets; its sieges
have been the themes of military experts
for centuries; it's scholars have contrib
uted much to human learning, and its
wealth has been coveted by conquerorS
of all ages. Few cities have a larger
place in the history of mankind or have
been the stage of events of greater
moment.
Merv was the AnIiochia of the ancient
Greeks, and that name. is known in an
C1ent history. OdTluS the PERSIAN, Alex
ander the Great, the Caesars of Rome,
Jenghis Khan, the Mongol, Tamerlane
the Tartar and all the great warriors of
Asia have fought over it and have looted
its treasures. The Persians, Greeks.
Romans. Mongols. Tartars. and finally
the Russians have made it their capital
in turn, and twenty square milestone
writer's say forty-of ruins indicate what
the city has been and what it is today.
recent writer declares that forty
square. miles of ruins in ancient Merv
tempt the archeologist, but they have
never been examined. and it is believed
that they offer unprecedented oppor-
tunities for the study of the ancient
civilizations of central Asia.
There were three cities of the same
name In successive periods upon adjoin-
ing sites. At one time THE Queen of
the World" had population of a million
or more; perhaps several times in its
history. Its commercial Importance was
greater than that of any city between
China and Greece. 1t was the central
point on the caravan route between the
east and the west and the north and the
south. Its khans and caravansaries
were he largest in Asia and were filled