Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-21


before the revolution
was estimated at something like boo'ooo ouo
rubles, all In landed estates, mines In ST.
IBERIA. cotton fields in Turkestan aud vines In
tho Caucasus and Crimea. Recently the
administration Of this fund had bought oil
claims near Bakou and Grozny to CON
siderable amount. II was out OF ths iunu,
90 which must be added a sum invested
in different Russian and foreign s~ecurl.,es' ~
the amount OF which has never been mage
public that the Emperor and all the mem
bers OF the imperial family received the
allowances which constituted the bu'K OIL
their income and which were paid 10 inc"
In accordance with their rank
ROYAL ALLOWANCES.
For instance, the sons Of the reignins SOW
ereIgn received a larger allotment tnan his
cousins. VINO were the children OF n granu
duke Formerly an immense amount OF
money was given out by the minister or the
imperial household in that way. because
whenever a grand duke got into debt. when
occurred pretty often, he applied TO this
general steward of the imperial fannly 10
get them paid At least this was what went
on during the reigns OF Nicholas and Alex
ander II. But when the late Car Alexan-
der III succeeded to the throne the hrst, or.
rather, one of the first, things which he did
was to regulate the standing OF the Imperial
family not only in regard TO thelr ranh'
but also in money matters
Each grand duke ana grand DUCHESS was
TO receive at his or her birth the sum or
. 600 900 rubles which was rather more than
had been the custom In preceding reigna
This sum TO remain invested In the
State Bank until its owner had reached his
majority, or in the case of girls. until she
had married. when Il was given back. TO-
gether with its accumulated interest. ], con-
stituted the private fortune OF its owners,
who, apart from this. receive In the case OF
a grand duke placed In the direct line OF
succession an annuity Of 100000 rubles. and
IN that of a grand duchess 100000, which.
however. came TO an end with their life.
Tho consort OF a grand duke with the ex-
ception of the wife to the heir apparent,
received 10000 rubles year for her pri-
rate expenses. and each grand duchess was
given a trousscau Of 10000 rubles and jew
els, the value Of which was left to the dis
cretion of tho sovereign. from whom they
came as a gift The heir 70 the throne
ceiyed 100000 rubes year. and his wifo
100000 rublcs for her privy purse. Four
hundred thousand was the amount OF the
annuity granted to the Empress. which,
in case of widowhood. was increased 10
100000 The sovereign could take what
he liked. and the expenses Of his household
were valued at something like L., 900. 900 ru-
bles a year. part OF which, however. was
given by tho state and did not como from
The oudiel but formed part of the budget
OF the nation for the year.
ADDITIONAL PRESENTS
Some grand dukes. especially the brothers
of Alexander III and his sons received the
latter, who was most generous in regard to
tho members OF his family, large estates as
presents. which were generally entaied on
their eldest sons. Thus their private for
tunes were very much increased The old
Grand Duke Michael. who was a very shrewd
and clever man. made excellent investments.
especially during his tenancy OF the vice.
royalty of the Caucasus. which he held for
something like twenty years, IL not more.
He left huge fortune to his numerous chill
dren, which some OF them soon managed to
squander. being reduced to their yearly in
come out OF the Oudiel This came to an
end with the revolution. and the loss left
them In dire straits, as was the case with the
Grand Duke Michael and his WIFE pretty
Countess Torby.
The daughters OF the former Czar Nicholas