The Alaska daily empire., 1916-09-18
Hills Are Dotted With Merchandise Which Is on the Way to
 the Front
HAS NO ROLLING STOCK
Germans and Austrian Prisoners Are Now Employed on New
 Railroads

hANOOO lAhb ID. Nf Scpts AA' (By mail )- Back of Vladlvostok harbor are many hills. As you near the city, from the dock, you notice the sides of these hills dotted with white for miles and miles. You thing 1t is vast army encamped; but 1t is. as a matter of fact, huge stacks of goods which have been shipped from all points to the Rus sian government. The wharyes and warehouses are congested and the open spaces beyond the city are re- quired for storage. The trouble is that the Russians have not one tenth the railway equipment neces- sary 10 haul these goods 10 Moscow, Peuograd, or such points az may be deemed fit from which 10 supply the huge armies of the Czar."
 Such were the words of Mir. Hen hy C. Lander. who is handling large consignments of goods for Russia by way of Vancouver, when he ar- rived in Vancouver last night.
 Taking Out Locomotives
 Since leaving here on board the Empress Of Asia July IS, Mir. Lan- der visited Vladiyostok Moscow, Harbln and other points on the oth- CT side of the Pacific The return journey was made on board the "Strinda," a vessel under the Nor wegian flag. which had been char tered by the Canadian Pacific Rail- way Company for the Vancouver Vladivostok service. Mr. Landers leaves Vancouver in a few days for Chicago, New York, Cleveland and other Eastern cities. his errand be- ing 10 complete arrangements for shipments of a varied assortment of materials to the Far East.
 Among the cargo the Strinda will carry back for my people," said Mir. Landerf "are fifteen locomotives for the Trans Siberian Railway. These will be pressed into service to assist in relieving the congestion at the port of Vladivostok. Russia is severely handicapped because of her lacy of transportation facilities over land and the consignment now going forward will be a start on a large number of locomotives which have been ordered by the Imperial govern ment"
 Sugar Famine in Russia
 Discussing trade conditions in Rus sit, Mir. Lander says:
 'It is not a case of placing orders for materials. It is a case where the Russians absolutely beg for sup plies of various kinds. On my pres. ent journey l shall buy, for instance large quantities of sugar for there is a sugar famine in Russia and they could consume today all the sugar which Canada could send. In the way of trade between Canada and Russia, am more impressed than ever with the great possibilities and in this connection the people of Vancouver should bestir' themselves '
 There is a report going about that the Imperial Russian authorities are shortly to close the port of Vladi- yostok to all but government busl- ness. Mir. Lander was asked if such report had come to his ears. He said:
 "Such a congestion of freight has taken place there and so crowded IS  the harbor that the authorities prob ably have decided to close down the port for all save business of a gov ernment character. In fact there was such a report in Vladiyostok before we sailed nineteen days ago and while there is no official state ment it would be we'll for all prl- yate concerns having relations with that port to hurry all consignments." "
 That a million Austrian and Ger man prisoners of war, are encamped inland from Vladivostok at various distances was the statement of the shipping man. "These prisoners of war. mostly Austrlans, are being em- ployed on railroad construction work said Mir Lander "and 1t is common to see squads of prisoners at work under Russian military. They are well fed and clothed, and given good treatment, but must work hard and are employed exclusively upon the of railroads, facilities which the country needs badly"
 The Russians may not be very aggressive people, but when they build their railways they had in mind l the plan of national protection. DTheir tracks" said Mir Lander, l "are wider than the standard gauge | on the Trans-Siberian and most oth- CT Russian lines One of the results of this is that should the Germans | ever have gained access to the coun- try there would be no chance of rum Ing a German locomotive over Rus sian railroad unless 1t was espec- ally built for that gague.
 'In Russia" said Mir. Lander "the spirits of the people are high. They look upon the result of the great var as having been definitely set led by the recent advances of Rus iian troops on the eastern front. There is much prosperity among the