Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-12
ODESSA WICKED CITY
Reputation for Gayety Extends
Over Europe.
HER TRADE IS FALLING OFF
Americans Invited to Bid for Pro-
posed Improvements.
LARGE HEBREW POPULATION
Jealousy Caused by Improvidence
and Inferiority in Accomplish
ments of Russians.
LARGE HEBREW POPULATION
ny WILLIAM CURTIS.


ming "a DISCHARGE cargo and passengers
at the ancient port of Eupatoria. The
Greek name denotes the origin of that
town, which hourehed centuries before
The Christian era, but is now OF compare
tive insignificance.
In the morning we found ourselves in a
crowded harbor under a BLUM 200 or 80
feet high, crowned with several monu-
mental buildings and presenting noble
front TO the sea.
At the extreme western end Of the town
beyond the expanse of foliage of Alexan-
der III Park are the buildings of an indus
trial exposition now in progress. Their
fantastic forms are white that they
look like the fancy ornaments with which
confectioners decorate wedding cake
Town Built by Catherine II.
odessa is comparatively a new town.
only a little more than hundred years
old. and entirely Russian creation. The
Turks nd a fortress here called khodja-
hey, which was carried by assault in ITS
ny the Russian forces under Gen. Ribas
during the war with Turkey which Cath
crime III provoked for conquest. The title
TO the property was conveyed by the great
Turk 20 the Car of all the Russias by
the tire atty of Jassy December % 1I91.
II graciously pleased her imperial ma
JeSty 10 utilize the natural advantages of
tire location for defense and commerce.
and she ordered town created here Gen.
Rihas laid IL out and built the first house.
and catherine, who was always fond of
classical names. commanded that IL should
he called Odessus. from the odyssey"
OF Homer. which mentions this place.
In lsu3 the Duke de Richeieu. a refugee
from tho French revolution. who came to
Russia and was given an important COM
mission in the army. was appointed gov
ernor. The population then numbered
only few thousand but his enterprise
and taste made it a beautiful ard impor-
tant city.
Upon his death Count worozof. after
ward prince-to whom have alluded sew
eral times in these letters in connection
with the Crimea-took up the work where
Richelieu left IL OF, and proved himself
remarkable builder. He founded the uni
versity. the public library the museum.
the municipal opera house and schools OF
medicines attached to the hospitals were
encouraged and subsidized by him.
He gave an impetus to trade and COM
merce which lasted for half a century.
lie built roads into the interior. dredged
the harbor. created docks and encour-
aged the introduction of profitable indus
tries
Woronzof Educated in England.
Woronzof was born in ST Petersburg
in 1Is2 and was the son Of a distinguished
statesman. His father was ambassador
10 London during his boyhood. which
caused him TO be educated there, and he
took degree at Cambridge University.
Returning to Russia. he obtained a COM
mission in the army and commenced his
military career as a subaltern in a eau
casian regiment commanded by a famous
Georgian prince. Tzytzyanon. He proved
a brilliant soldier. was promoted rapidly
ND En~a n of nf a ma nr al
before he was thirty years old.
In the war with Napoleon he command
Cd division of grenaders. During the
retreat of the French he followed closely
upon their flank 10 the German frontier.
At the conclusion of the war he went TO
England and remained until he was
called by the emperor to undertake the or
ganization Of the government of Bessara-
bia. Shortly after he succeeded the Duke
de Richelieu as Governor of Odessa.
He was afterward governor OF the eau
casus and the Crimea In all three prov
inces his memory is revered and many
public works exist as monuments to his
enterprise and foresightedness.
Woronzoff Palace on a Bluff.
The most conspicuous object upon
the blum that overlooks the harbor OF
Odessa Is a mansion built by Prince
Woronzoff and occupied by him for many
years. II is OF classical design, with walls
OF granite. and is surrounded by limited
but handsomely embel'ished grounds
The chief feature Is a pergola OF lofty
granite columns detached from the house
and rising from a little promontory that
projects from the blum. II can be seen
for a long distance and invests with a
classical character the earliest impress
sion of the city.
thirty large apartments. and Is entered
through an extensive courtyard under a
monumental gate. For several years IL
has been occupied as sch0ol for en-
gineers.
In 1910. when the first census was
taken. Odessa had 900 population: in 1910
II has 5301n. but there has been a steady
decrease during the last FIVE years. which
l. due 10 the rivalry of other ports which
a.e attracting trade because of better
harbors. better railroad connections and
better facilities for doing business
The strong and violent sociaistic ele-
ment In Odessa has also injured the city
by frightening away capital and prevent
ing the establishment OF manufacturing
Industries because OF the fear of labor
strikes.
About . per cent OF all the grain ex-
ports from Russia were shipped from
Odessa until about ten years ago. The
total often reached nearly three million
tons. but the old-fashioned methods of
handling freight. and particularly grain,
In use here are so expensive as TO be
practically prohbitory. Sometimes the
elevator charges are as high as ~ cents
per poOd or thirty-six pounds.
Nicolaien, kherson and Rostov- on he
Don, have such superior facilities that
Odessa cannot recover the trade until she
improves her docks and harbor and me-
chanical appliances for handling freight.
Improvements Are Contemplated.
The imperial government has plans for
extensive improvements in the harbor of
Odessa To furnish suitable facilities for
handling the grain al a total expenditure
81 Slo.spV1. A commission from st.
petersburg and the municipal officials
have made thorough surveys and complet-
Cd designs which have been submitted 70
the duma for approval and the necessary
appropriations
The work will be done under the direc-
ticn OF the minister OF commerce and la
Dor al ST Petersburg and will include a
breakwater nearly mile long. costing a
million dollars or more: a series OF stone
wharVes and piers, costing two millions
railway terminals costing two and a halt
millions; four grain elevators and con-
veyors. with a capacity of 12,0O0 tons
each two millions: granaries, conveyors
and other facilities for loading and un-
loading, one million: an electric light and
power plant, 10 cos, half a million: filins
in and retaining land, half a million
and various other features of the enter.
the lowest bidder.
The commission I'm charge desires Il
utilize the most modern appliances and
up-to-date methods. Contractors from
the United States are encouraged to bic
for contracts.