Notes and Comments.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 141, 14 December 1901, Page 3

Notes and Comments.

A most entrancing picture of Siberia is drawn by a writer in new the Revue de Paris. The Siberia, late Czar of Russia believed that Siberia would in time become a great health resort, and with this object ia view, commenced the opening up of that that vast'country whose *uame 'Was one of dread and terror to all civilised people. The present ' ruler -of all the Russians has pushed 1 6n this work, and very soon the great railway across Siberia will join the East to the West, as it has never been joined before. Every Saturday morning an express leaves Moscow for the East. The train is quite a small one and consists, in addition to a powerful- engine, only of one first class car, two second clas3 cars, a dining saloon and a luggage van ; each compartment contains sleeping arrangements for four persons. The cars -are lit by electricity, and warmed by hot air. An important addition to the train, is a charming car whteh is at one and the same time a library, a gymnastic hall and a game room. In spite of all thisi luxury, the price of the jounray from Moscow to Vladivostok, which in the old days, when undertaken "by sea cost the traveller £OO - first class, now costs 89 roubles (£H 2a'"'6). The railway passes 'sbrough marvellous scenery, Siberia having within its borders many ■ kinds of climatp. From the point of view of the seeker after fortune, Siberia is a virgin country ; even in the most dreary portions mineral wealth abounds, and the time may come when Siberian coal will oust • avery other kind. Everything has ; been done by the-R assign Government to people even the most ■ dreary wastes ; immigration _ is encouraged in every possible fashion, and in most Russian villages pampbbts setting forth the charms of life in Siberia have •bee» distributed. At the present time the treat Siberian sources of revenue are the-cereals. "Tomsk ' and Tobolsk are- fast becoming the .granaries of Russia," observes tho British Consul, Mr Cooke, in one of his last reports. Siberian cattle are also becoming justly famed in other portions of the Russian Empire, and in St. Petersburg Siberian butter ia famous. As 1 many people are aware, the gradual exhaustion of the primeval forests ' of the civilised world is affording a serious problem to various matufacturers, notably to the paper'makers. In future let them look to Siberia, where. every tree ;; sgerm ' to flourish, and where as yet very little in the way of forestry has done. Already the inter- • national capitalist has his eye on Hoe. Russian Golconda, and concessions are being rapidly bought up by the great German and Belgian companies. So far, Germany seems to have made the most profit by Siberia; even six years ago German machinery was being sent 'there to the tune annually of 'fourteen million marks. The French writer evidently hopes that Trance will benefit by her great ; ally's newly-discovered Golconda, but he 'is content to simply set ■forth the facts as be believes them to be. and it is likely that this ■ article Will attract a good deal of attention in French commercial • circles.