Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-12-22
Young woman Bread Merchant Of ST IBERIA.

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washing on, D. CO
The passing of tile Far Eastern re-
public of Siberia recalls that this pic
turesque government, which Moscow
state toward the Japanese-occupied
territory around Vladivostok. was sup
posed to he built on the model of the
United States, but with certain radi-
cal attachments" 1t is even probable
that, though the country is federated
vidualistic tendencies may continue !;
for the pioneer conditions of Siberia
and the struggle against them have
developed an individualism in the ST.
berians not unlike that which grew in
our Westerners.
When the daylight is fading and the
long shadows are stretching across the
plains, one realizes the vastneSs of ST.
beria-panorama of gently undulat-
ing. silent sea. green and brown, or I'M
ending white.
The area of the Far Eastern repub-
lie is 100000 square miles, larger than
Texas and California combined, vet it
is only the southeast corner of Siberia,
| one-twenteth of the former Russian
empire. From Vladvostok. on the
coast, to Verkhne- Udinsk, on the re-
puhlic's western boundary. is more
than LOO miles by rail. and little more
than 0ne-third of 81! ela has been
crossed. Usually the train is the only
sign of life AS far as the eve can see
the telegraph poles stand sentry along
the winding railroad, fading away in
the distance.
Everywhere now are the sears of
war. 1t may be a locomotive, rusty
and half covered with sand. lying in
tie ditch where it plunged with its hui
man freight 1t may he the skeleton
of train, deserted on side track,
burned except for the steel framework
of cars and trucks. Twisted rails.
wrecked bridges. or shattered frag-
ments. where an ammunition train has
blown up, vary the picture.
peasants wagon. with shaggy gall
Looping ponies and the invariahle dog
trotting behind. is q sign that village
is near. The lamps on the station plat
form are gone and semaphores of I,.r
old days stand with broken arms, for
this is now a moonbeam railroad, run
ming without signals or headlights.
Railroad Still Running.
The railroad is the most important
public utility of the republic. Poverty
and dilapilat.on have overwhelmed it,
just as they have gripped the fallen
genteel of the barakholka. 1t keeps
running. which is about ALL With the
obstacles which must be overcome, the
marvel is that even that is accom-
plished.
The passenger coaches are unheated
in winter, windows dirty and broken.
electric light fixtures wrenched out
bodily. lavatories filed with dirt, rough
boards where once were mirrors. doors
nailed shut or broken off. and the
floors srlintered from being used as
chopping blocks. The proietariat seems
to relish martyrdom to darkness and
dirt.
The Far Eastern republic has 1920
miles of railroad exclusive Of the l.
100 miles of the Chi ese Eastern rail-
road. which also belongs TO Russia.
They are more of liability than an
asset.
AS a part of the Transsiberian, the
system of an empire stretching across
two continents. these miles of road
give access to the Pacific. They are
more than the republic will need for
many years to come. The 1.438 miles
Of the Amur road parallel the river
through tracts Of virgin forest. a coun-
try rich In gold and coal. hut undevel-
oped. Biologists say that there is not
a 150-mile stretch along this road
where coal cannot he mined. 1t was
constructed for military purposes. and
wien the war broke out much Of 1t had
not been bailasted.
When one travels in Siberia these
days. at regular intervals the train
stops and the conductor plods along
the side. shouting "Tovarischi-za dro-
vami y 1t is the call for the com
rades' to pile out and carry sticks
from the neighhoring woodpiles To the
locomotive. 1t is crude study In com
munism.
Most of the passengers. women and
girls as well as mei make riair WAY
ieisurely across the fields. Some climb
on lie tender. anil tbp fuel j. Ioaded
* by n huri = brigade nj an old-time
Ire