The City of Harbin.

Manawatu Herald, 28 April 1904, Page 3

The City of Harbin.

The city of Harbin, now dominant among Far Eastern cities as the hoad quarters of Admiral Alexiofx, the Russian Viceroy, is the subject of a Consular report by Mr Henry B. Miller, United States commercial representative at Niuchwang. It is a city that lias sprung out of the brain of Russia’s empire makers. Before the railway engineers fixed upon the spot as their head quarters, there was no native town in the vicinity and the entire place is, therefore, a Russian product. *• It is,” says Mr Miller, “as distinctly a Russian cit / as though it were located in the heart of Russia, and none but Russians and Chinese are permitted to own land, construct buildings, or engage in any permanent enterprise. The city lias been created by the Russian Government, under the management of the Manchurian Railway Company. The land for many miles in each direction has been secured, so as to make it impossible for any foreign influence to secure a profit or foothold close to the city, and foreigners are not recognised as having any rights whatever, but are permitted there by sufferance.” The chief railway engineer was the administrator of the city, and up to the present time has had complete control of everything. Now, of course, it is under martial law, with the military authorities in control. What its future will be depends on the issue of the present war.