The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-01-20
Famous Russian Market Is
Named for Novelist.

Washington.-After more than 700
years of fame as a great Russian
market, Nizhni Novgorod recently was
officially erased from the world map
when the Soviet government renamed
the city Maxim Gorki," in honor of
the Russian novelist, native son.
"a city of 100000 inhabitants.
sprawling along the banks of the Okla
and Volga rivers where they converge.
Maxim Cork is husky child of wa
ter-borne commerce." says a bulletin
from the Washington ID. c. head
quarters of the National Geographic
society.
"Long before the city became
railroad center and telegraph wires
linked it with important commercial
and industrial centers of Europe and
Central Asia, the inhabitants of the
volga valley and the vast agricultural
and mining regions penetrated by the
many Volga tributaries, recognized
Mimi Novgorod's accessibility and
made it their market place.
1.-The city was not thrust into the
worlds commercial spotlight, however,
until the early part of the Nineteenth
century when 1t was made the perma-
nent fair ground of the Volga valley
fair. From ancient times merchants OF
the valley met to display their goods
and to barter and trade. The site of
the fair was frequently changed due
to economic and political conditions
Nizhni Novgorod was chosen the fair
ground in 1917 and, with the exception
of the years from 1914 to 1922 when
the World war and the Revolution in
terfered, the fair was held in the Vol
ga metropolis every year until its final
abandonment two years ago.
Normally, or for ten and one-half
months year, Mimi Novgorod was
abustle with commerce, but In fair
time-August l to September 15-it
suddenly burst into even greater &C
tivity. It became a modern Babel, for
merchants from many countries Of the
eastern hemisphere Joined with the
Russians in displaying their goods,
wares and merchandise.
''The city's streets, hotel Hobbies,
railroad stations and shops echoed
with the gayety of buyers and sellers
and tourists of many races and
tongues. The fair ground. normally
a quiet, almost deserted area of stone
buildings. suddenly awakened with
1000 shops displaying an array of col
orful merchandise ranging from tiny
handmade trinkets to huge oriental
rugs. Bulky commodities, such as
iron, lumber and grain, were deposited
on nearby islands. The turnover of
the last few years of the fair amount
ed to about S1OO.OO0.OOO annually. In
1927, only few years after the fair
had been reopened. more than $500
merchants took part.
Recently Maxim Cork has been
called the Detroit of Russia because
an American automobile company has
built the largest automobile plant in
Europe about Is miles up the Okla riv-
er. When the workers town near the
plant is completed the entire project
will represent an outlay of more than
$50. 5000. There are % main De-
troit-like factory buildings and more
than so different shops. A large part
of the modern machinery in the plant
was built in the United States.
although commerce has been the
city's principal means of support, it
early began to accumulate industrial
plants. It's shipbuilding and repair
yards help to supply and keep in con-
dition many volga boats. Nearby, in
the lower part of the town. are fac
tories where thousands of workers are