Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-05-18
Especial to Times-Recorder.)

WASHINGTON, D. c., May l8.-Li-
Ibau, recently reported captured by the
German invaders Of the Russian Bal
tic provinces, where the Russian Kie-
or Brooklyn navy yards are located, is
one of the important naval and com
mercial ports Of the Cars kingdom,
and a city whose rapid growth during
the last few years has given an ear
IEest Of the remarkable future in store
/ for the mighty Muscovite empire. L
forms the subject of the study in war
! geography issued today by the Ma
tiona1 Geographic society. The sketch
of this prosperous port, as yet little
known 10 Americans, reads:
/ "Libau is one Of the first Of Russia's
naval bases, a strongly fortified por-
and a well-supplied arsenal. The Rus
sian government completed the extern
sfve and powerful defensive works that
enclose the port during 1893-1906. Ths
naval harbor is north Of the CONNER
cial harbor, though the Notifications
were planned to include both harbors.
The port is prepared to build, equip
and commission naval fleets.
Russians know and have a pride in
Libau for its military strength and for
its commercial enterprise and prog
ress. It is the metropolis Of Cour
land. and, with it's fleets enjoying free
passage Of the Baltic Sea, Libau has
promise 70 become a Russian Bremen,
OF even a Russian Hamburg. It is the
home port Of many Atlantic and coas-
liners. and its fire breakwater, ca
/ pacious harbor, and up-to-date docking
1 facilities give it splendid advantages
/ in its competition with the other ports
Of Russo.
"The annual exports Of Libau total
as high as 100000, while its i'm
ports have SCARED to well beyond s10,
900 900 The leading articles of eX-
port are oats, wheat. rye, butter, eggs,
spirits, fax, Iinseed, oil cake, pork,
timber. horses and petroleum. A great
part Of the vast golden tonnage Of
butter from Siberia and the nearer in
terror that takes it's way into Great
Britain, France and Germany during
times Of peace went through Libau.
Libaus imports are mainly manufac-
tured goods. and modern Russia, de-
Imanding the conveniences and sanitary
necessities Of the Western world, has
been bringing stores Of these things in
through Libau
Millions Of dollars have been ex-
pended in the harbor Development Of
the city, and just before the outbreak
Of the war, the government had under
consideration plans for expanding
many millions more for extensive i'm
proyements. The railway connections
Of Libau are good, Moscow, Petrograd,
Orel and Kbarkov being bound to the
port by adequate railways.
DluE ny nlug WIN lht tOililIltf |ifit
strength that the city has developed
there has been laid the foundations for
a great industry. The establishment
Of an important naval station here
has done much to encourage the in
dustrial advance. Libau possesses
large modern factories for the manu-
/ facture Of explosives, machinery belts
sails, ropes and iron products. 1t has
other important factories for the pro-
Guction Of colors, furniture, matches,
agricultural machinery, tin-plate, to-
bacco products, as well as soap works,
sawmills, oil mills, cork and linoleum
factories and flour mills.
in appearance Libau is new and
solidly successful 1t is built Of stone,
with fine gardens and laid out in wide
streets. The town is angular, or An
Iglo-Saxon and German in cut rather
than Slav Too, there are few eyi-
dences to the characteristic Slayonic
in its architecture. The step gables,
the square and diligently proportional
lines of the German building are ey-
erywhere visible, there being little Of