The Washington herald., 1911-01-18
VIEWS AND
INTERVIEWS
Ir,kut.k Wilderness Paris.

lrkutsk wilderness Paris.
"Irkutsk is not only the wickedest, but
II Is the fastest city In the world" said
George Woodruff, an American banker
who recently made trip to China to
investigate the railroads there in con-
nection with a new loan.
There is more night life in that little
town Of 100000 people," said Mr.. Woodruff.
who was seen at the New Willard, than
there Is in all Of Paris or New York.
In one of the gambling houses there I
saw as much as 100000 staked on the
turn of a card a,d dozen times in an even
ing. In the cafes l saw gay parties
drinking bottle after bottle Of wine at
so per bottle. In all my travels 1 have
never seen so many beautiful and we'll
dressed wonderland women of all nation-
alities.
The Irkutsk opera is almost as bril-
liant as the opera in Paris. Duels sui
cides. and murders are of weekly occur
renee. but a formal reception at ST. Peters
burg could not boast of any more cul-
ture than is to be found at a smart en-
tertainment in one Of the fashionable
homes in this Siberian city. If any ono
imagines New York is swift, a visit to
Irkutsk will open his eyes. The quintes-
sence of vice is to be found there
Canadian Railways.
Fred B. Newman, of Montreal. Canada.
who is at the Raleigh, in speaking of
Canadian railroad enterprise. said last
night that Canada has a greater railway
mileage per head of population than any
other country in the world.
This indicates said Mr.. Newman.
that Canada has done much in the way
of railroad construction. but there is less
railway mileage per 100 square miles of
territory. indicating that there is still
much to do. The railway mileage in the
Dominion to-day is something over 3n.-
COO. Six countries in the world-the United
States, Russia. Germany, Austria a-Hun-
gary, France. and the British empire.
have a larger mileage than Canada, but
none of these countries. except the United
States with its 10000 miles. exceeds that
of Canada by any very large amount.
Canada is building railways at more
rapid rate than any other country with
the exception of the United States. and
will some day soon, at the present rate
of construction, be the second country
in the world in point of mileage.
AN army of 125 900 men finds permanent
work on the Canadian railroads. con-
tinued Mr.. Newman ''and this army in
creases at the rate Of 10000 men each
year. Great as is Canada's agricultural
industry, it Is the mines Of the country
that furnish the most freight to the rail-
roads, fully So per cent of the entire
freightage coming from mineral products.
The railroads in Canada are now en-
gagged in a desperate struggle to keep
pace with the great expansion of west
and east. By their efforts. the railway
builders are barely keeping abreast of
industrial
growth of the country
Louisiana Climate Healthful.
DR.. Sidney d. Porter. special medical
inspector Of the Louisiana State hboard
of health. who was seen at theS New
Ebbitt, said that man on a Southern
farm takes no more risk than one on
farm in Illinois or Iowa
Reclamation of land improves health
conditions" said DR.. Porter. las it drains
stagnant waters and diminishes the num-
ber of mosquitoes. Our pine lands in
what is called the Ozone Belt are ex-
ceptionally healthful. and the breezes
from them reach all through the State.
Malaria has decreased materially during
the last fifteen years, especially the
types most feared by the Northerners- In
fact although my home is IN typical
'nlalariaI district on alluvial soil, have
not seen a case of malarial fever in
eight years An active campaign of edu-
cation is being prosecuted along health
lines. and the results are showing on
every hand. We Gan prove that Louisi-
ana is exceptionally healthful, in addi-
ton to having pleasant climate"
American Tips Abroad.
American travellers in Europe are ruin
ing the European people by the large
tips they are giving" said F. c. Steen-
erson, of Chicago. at the Arlington last
night. Mr.. Steenerson had just returned
from a trip abroad, and he says he
knows whereof he speaks
Where but a short time ago French
man could give a fellow-countryman a
tip Of sous, the American Of to-day
gives a tip of a dollar. The extravaganza
of our people is going to cause rise in
prices in Europe, and soon you will have
to pay as much for articles there as In
the United States.
But the odd part of it,. continued
Mr.. Steenerson, lis that although we spend
large amounts of money, We dress rldlc-
ulously while travelling. Particularly no
ticeable in that respect are the women.
who. as a rule, look like wooden posts.
compared with the well-dressed. neat
CANT of all people. and they always want
whatever costs the most. without regard
to real value J have known of cases
where they were deliberately charged
more for inferior rooms than Europeans
were for the best suites in hotel.
Money seems to have no value at an
continued Mr.. Steenerson. THE richer
class is making 1t almost Impossible for
the poorer Americans to travel abroad.
on account of the exorbitant prices
charged.
THE Frenchman charges 80 cents for
the best seat in his theater and makes
money, at that Here We are charged
four times as much. The Americans are
money mad. They are not content to
make a fair profit. They must get rich
Immediately
A Story of Hartman.
Frmo tho New York Sun.
julius Kruttschnitt, vice president OF
the Southern Pacific Railroad. told this
story of the late e. H. Hartman:
when Mr.. Hartman went out on the
line I naturally went with him. He had
a way when he got into headquarters of
just going around looking at things for
himself. He went into an Office at one
of our general headquarters once and
when we were out on the road again