The state herald., 1921-04-15
BAKU: OIL CITY OF THE
CASPIAN

CASPIAN
The recent outbreak of n revolt in
Russia against the Bolshevik regime
voices among other interesting ques-
tions that of whether Baku, the great
oil city of Asia, now surrounded by
Bolshevik governments, will he once
more thrown open to world commerce.
This city In the heart of one of the
worlds greatest petroleum fields, has
been practically bottled up since the
fall of the Russian empire.
The city OF Baku, built In the form
of an amphithenter on the south side
of the Apsheron peninsula, which juts
far out into the Caspian ser, is the
Tanpico of the Slav domain. Two
vast oil fields, containing more than
100 wells, make II the chief oil cen
ter of Europe. During the World war,
had the Teutonic powers succeeded In
reaching 1t before the British forces
even more serious 10 the allied cause
than was the seizure Of tie Roumani-
an oil fields by the German army of
occupation.
According TO census the year be-
fore the outbreak Of the war. Baku
was Il city about the present size of
Providence, X. l., Columbus, Ohio, or
Louisville, Ky. 1t was the chief city
of the Russian province Of the same
name, but In recent years the province
has formed n government of its own
under the name of the Republic of
Azerbaijan. Baku is situated In the
midst of an nniIttraciive, treeless
plain which stretches along the west
ern shores of the Caspian. The Cas-
plan Is 81 feet below sea level. and
Buku rises only 30 feet above the
great inland sea. so that il Is more
thnn 80 feet below the ocean level.
Many centuries ago the Persian fire
worshipers discovered that the nat
ural gases issuing from assures In the
rocks near l'aI;u would burn. and
the city. tie r,iualns OF one of their
ancient ,e.aiilc'.
TIE upper Part of the city, CORE
spundlng to the ,'acl, rows of an
ampliilhca.cr. Is ilc picturesque Tui"r
quarter. with It's many narrow lincs
anu oriental bazaar>. y iiftornih-cca-
fury palace OF the hinns Is Ia II Nrrr
dilapidated condition. nnd has been
used for maay years by the Rnss'i'n,
as u military magazine. Tie mo-
I characteristic structure In the ioah
is the massive kis Knle. or Mai,lc,s'
Tower. which rises 10 u height OF II.
I feet and which Is now used as light
house. II intes from the Byzantine
period.
Four iifths of nll the oil produced IN
the Russian empire comes from the
Baku fields. The h-water.mark of
production was reached IN 1902 when
the output of the district was nearly
ten million tons of crude petroleum..
In 1893, however. there was n dis.
asirous fire which considerably cur
latest authentic figures on production
are those for 1915 when little more
! than seven million tons was produced.
Much Of the output ~ the wells. which
vary In depth from 800 to 2.onO feet.
was transported by pipe line to Bntum
ON the Black sen. hut Baku Is also
connected by rail with This seaport
as well ms with INSTRUMENTATION.
In addition to Its oil Interest. Bnku
had drydocks, Hour mills, sulphurIc
acid works md tobacco factories. II
was the chief entrepot for raw cotton.
silk. fruits. dried fish. wines and rice
produced In Persia nnd the Transcnu-
casus territory.
I The town derives Its name from the
/ squalls tbadkubc) which are frequent.
ly very violent on this part OF the
Caspian coast.