22 INTRODUCTION 



the ecOnoiuic requirelMents of the two countries ;if 

 the comwetcial, industrial, and financial relations 

 subsisting between theta were on a much larger scale 

 than has been the case hitherto. Englishmen would 

 find in Russia a profitable field for commercial enters 

 prise, advanta:geous investment, and the cheap 

 purchase of raw materials, food-stuffs, and half- 

 finished products, A country such as Russia, which 

 is seventy times as large as the United Kingdom, 

 has a population three and a half tiffi'es Ss great, 

 and is endowed with almost unlimited and hardly, 

 touched natural wealth, should not fail to be attrac- 

 tive to any Englishman who can appreciate his 

 opportunities and who possesses the necessary energy 

 and enterprise. 



There are few better ways in which an Englishman 

 could seek to promote the extension of cofflmeYcial 

 and (trade relations with' Russia than that selected 

 by the author of this volume, of making himself 

 acquainted with the Country, at first hand by travel 

 and residence within its borders and afterwards 

 publishing a record of his experiences and impres- 

 sions. In addition to the narrative of his trip, Mr. 

 Turner gives interesting statistics of the economic 

 conditions of Siberia and records interviews with 

 officials and experts in many branches of trade and 

 commerce. His observations merit the attention of 

 the British public, as representing the conscientious 

 opinions of an unprejudiced English man of business, 

 who is anxious to give his countrymen trustworthy 

 information about the country. It is worth noting 

 that the author believes England to be EKaking " one 

 of the biggest political and coifHffiercial blunders in 

 not cultivating the friendship of the Russian 

 Empire." The narrative of his mountaineering feats 

 does him credit as an expert Alpine climber, while 

 the numerous and unique photographic views add 



