Across Siberia.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12198, 17 January 1903, Page 4

Across Siberia.

5 TKAIN^E^CE 1 TQ- T5|E ' 'A RUSSIAN/^ 13m ] A3fA f HON^ - United V^baa - Associalion.^- By -ft.-, .tirifi Tei^fraph«--C"o i pyrig^t^ , __ • r ",i '• „. >': '. ?MeK)6ui*ne, J«,dfiarjf 'l'fr-' / r ! Mr: Krakoff,\the-vßussMnr Imperial :eommtssionerjVb.b i^'visitiiig Australia ,. UQdefaiceotibiw ffbjxi the Pfusaian Minister of Agriculture,- doubts the 'accuracy" of the cable message stating that express trains have commenced ranaing across Siberia. j .' , . When b.e left in September. last, several bridges^ and other works remained to he completed, and the line will not ba jjoite ready till May. < A conference of European railway managers will meet in Paris, in May, to decide upon a train service from Paris to tho far East. '

The emigration of Russians to Siberia -> their colonial empire —^is being carried on with great success and on model lines. * Daring the. last five years tbie Sftberiaa railroad has enabled Russia to~ successfully help 1,000,0.00 peasants over the Urals, and establish them as small farmers in Western Siberia. - The .-Government's method has been to select suitable persons from each locality aod send them , as pioneers into Siberia to choose such laud as would bs fitted for the pastoral or ■ agricultural occupations of , their family and friends These pioneers have then returned to "their villages and have escorted wHole families eastward— the railway fare being roughly a shilling for eyery hundred miles. All along tho route medical attendance is provided free, ami for children,-, the aged, and the sick, food issued gratis -at the chief stations. •Some 13,000^000 acr«s have already been allotted to these emigrants, . together - with grain and meal to tide them over tho first winter, and seed and implements for their first year's harvest. Nearly 200 • churches and 120 schools have bsen built < lin v the last three, year/3. The capital ! required for thp first year's work has been advanced to all in real need of it, and no interest has been charged Moreover, no taxes are or will be imposed oh the now arrivals until they havexjompleted three yoarV residence. AU furniture aud agricultural^ implements re- / quired have been sold by the Government £0 ihe, emigrant* on, "easy repaymeat " terms. The, - populate of t Siberia is .increasing at tho rate of j.,000,000 a year.