CHAPTER XVII.

GEOGRAPHICAL CHARACTER OF RUSSIA.

In accordance with the suggestions made in the preceding chapter, let us now inquire whether Russia possesses a territory capable of sustaining a population that will give her a controlling influence in the affairs of Europe. It has been usual to speak of this empire under two great divisions, the one in Europe and the other in Asia, but we shall obtain a clearer idea of its vast dimensions by regarding it as one great whole. In fact, there is no great natural boundary to separate eastern from western Russia, the Ural mountains being little more than a long tract of elevated land, the loftiest portions rising only to the height of four thousand feet, the ascent and descent being so gradual where the great roads pass as to be almost imperceptible. We may then, without violence to any geographical feature, consider the Russian territory as one unbroken whole. Viewed thus, it stretches from the Baltic sea on the west, across the entire breadth of Europe and Asia to the sea of Okhotsk and to Behring's Straits, looking southward upon the entire northern frontier of Europe, Turkey, Tartary, and the Chinese empire. This territory contains no less

than 6,750,000 square miles, or more than one-sixth part of all the land on our planet. It has been the custom of most to comprise the whole description of this immense possession within the sweeping remark that most of it is an inhospitable region of deserts and snows, incapable of sustaining human life, and altogether without any important resources which can contribute to the growth of a nation. The almost unequalled progress of the empire within the last century is quite sufficient to expose the absurdity of such views, and yet in the one of latest American work upon Russia is found the following: After speaking of the great extent of the Russian dominions, and stating that her territory is equal to two Europes, or the whole of North America, the author adds, "But by far the greatest "proportion of this prodigious superfices is almost unin"habited, and seems to be destined to perpetual sterility; "a consequence partly of the extreme rigor of the climate, "in the provinces contiguous to the Arctic ocean, and "partly of almost all the great rivers by which they are "traversed having their embouchure on that ocean, and "being therefore inaccessible for either the whole or the "greater part of the year."

What could the uninformed reader infer from this description but that "by far the greatest proportion" of all Russia lies along the shores of the frozen ocean, and is therefore condemned to a "perpetual sterility?" But how does this idea accord with the fact that Russia, being somewhat less in extent than the North American continent, has already a population nearly double that of North America, and is surpassed by the United States alone in the rapidity of her progress.

Again the same author remarks, "The most distinguish"ing feature of Russia is her vasts forests. Schnitzler, who "estimates the surface of European Russia at about four "hundred millions of deciatims (2 7-10 acres), supposes "that one hundred and fifty-six millions are occupied by "forests. They are so very prevalent in the governments "of Novgorod and Tver, between Petersburg and Moscow,

"that it has been said a squirrel might travel from the one "city to the other without ever touching the ground. In "the government of Perm, on both sides of the Ural "mountains, containing eighteen millions of deciatims, no "fewer than seventeen millions are covered by forests! The "forests of Asiatic Russia are also of vast size." These may be facts, but facts thus presented without explanation, and in connection with the statements which have been mentioned concerning the sterile character of "by far the greatest proportion" of Russia, serve only to lead the mind. of the inquirer astray. No long period has passed since the most "distinguishing feature" of North America, particularly of the United States, was the almost unbroken forest, and it was scarcely impossible one hundred years ago for a squirrel to have passed from the Atlantic to the Mississippi through one continuous wood; and yet on the very site of the old forest now stand our populous States, which indeed could not have sprung up with such marvellous growth had the forests been absent. These very forests constitute a most important portion of the wealth. of Russia; they form a solid basis for her future progress, and an element of growth with which she could by no means safely dispense-as will be shown hereafter.

A fair comparison of the capabilities of the Russian Empire, so far as population is concerned, might be presented, could we make even an approximate estimate of the extent of territory within her limits, equal in productiveness to other portions of Europe, and then calculate what the number of her people would be if these lands were as densely settled as Europe now is. Sir Archibald Allison has attempted such a calculation, in which, as a basis, he rejects two-thirds of Asiatic Russia as sterile and unproductive. Having done this, he then proceeds to show that if Russia in Europe were peopled as Germany now is, it would contain 150,000,000 souls; if as dense as Great Britain, the number would be 311,000,000. He then adds, if that portion of Asiatic Russia which is capable of cultivation were peopled even as Scotland is, it would sustain 200,000,000

inhabitants; if as densely as the British Islands together, more than 500,000,000 people. If, then, the agricultural portion of Russia were populated only as Germany and Scotland now are, her numbers would be 350,000,000; if as densely as Great Britain, the population would be more than 800,000,000. This seems at first glance mere empty speculation. But let us consider that this would be the number of the multitudes of Russia, when she has only as many inhabitants to the square mile as Great Britain now has, and reckoning only the productive portion of her territory. The point to be observed here is, that with an equal number of inhabitants on the square mile, the popu lation of Great Britain would be some 28,000,000, and that of Russia 800,000,000, and this without taking into account the sterile lands of the latter country. This, therefore, affords a fair comparison of the capacities of the two kingdoms, looking at this single point alone. Nor can it be said that it is impossible that the agricultural portions of Russia will ever support as many inhabitants on the square mile as are found in Great Britain now, for out of about 57,000,000 acres in the British Islands, 22,000,000 are waste lands. Besides, even the present ratio of increase in Russia will give her in the year 1900, 130,000,000 people; in 1950, the number will be 260,000,000; and one hundred and fifty years hence, with simply her present rate of progress, her population will be 520,000,000, and we have seen that her territory is abundantly sufficient to support even this enormous multitude-that even then she will not be overstocked with people, for the estimate is based upon her agricultural and productive lands alone, and facts would seem to indicate that this portion of her country is much larger in proportion to the whole than has been hitherto supposed. Indeed, in almost all our publications upon this subject, from the elementary books and geographies of our schools to the scientific lecture, we find only those sweeping generalities which are usually employed in the absence of definite ideas and accurate information.

It will be conceded by all that the territorial possessions

of Russia are sufficiently extensive to form the basis of an empire more powerful than any now on the globe-superior even to any nation of the past. But then we are at once reminded that most of this vast dominion lying under the frozen sky of the north is unfit for the habitation of man, and is doomed to eternal rigor and sterility. If this is indeed so, then western Europe has little to apprehend from the future growth of this northern Power, and the world at large little to hope from the civilization of the Sclavonic races. But it is better to study this subject in the light of admitted facts than to be guided by theories hastily constructed, and which, like false quotations from some ancient author, pass current for generations, sometimes without examination, and, consequently, without dispute. A few well established facts relating to position, climate, and productions, will enable us to form an accurate opinion upon the single point of the capacity of the Russian territory to sustain a dense population.

By far the largest proportion of the Russian Empire, whether in Europe or Asia, lies within the temperate zone, and this alone would furnish strong presumptive evidence, if not positive proof, that a small portion only of its lands are necessarily uninhabitable or barren, on account of the severity of the climate. Between the parallels of latitude that enclose entire Europe, Russia has a territory equal in extent to all the other European States, and from its southern limit, between the Black Sea and the Caspian, it stretches northward through about eighteen degrees of latitude, before it reaches the northern extremity of Great Britain, a distance equal to that from New Orleans to the center of Lake Superior-or in general terms, equal to the breadth of our country, from the Gulf of Mexico to British America.

This fact alone is quite sufficient to show that, so far as territory and climate are concerned, she possess the elements of national greatness almost immeasureably beyond any other single Power of Europe-holding a territory nearly equal to them all, which lies in the same latitude as their