222 SIBERIA 



to, the clumsy Russian article can be sold as dear as 

 the superior Danish cask wa:s sold before the tax was 

 infposed. 



A nutflber of important reforms will be necessary 

 before the butter industry can be placed on ai footing 

 to give com"plete satisfaction alike to producer and 

 consumer. At the same time, it must be admitted 

 that the Government has shown marvellous insight 

 and sympathy with the industry, and the peasants 

 are quick to adopt new ideas. 



It was while reflecting upon the conditions of life 

 in that remote portion of the Czar's wide dominions 

 that I was induced to name the three mountains of 

 the Katunda district Faith, Hope, and Charity, as 

 a silent appeal to the native from a sympathetic 

 stranger that they should endeavour to cultivate these 

 sentiments towards the Czar and his active and 

 energetic representatives who, it was plain to ffie, 

 were doing their very utmost to conquer the natural 

 obstacles in the way of rendering this enormous 

 stretch of wild country a happy home to those who 

 had settled in it. 



I am firmly of opinion that His Majesty the Czar 

 could not choose a more grateful task than that of 

 opening up the Altai and other remote districts of 

 Siberia, by introducing, with as little delay' as pos- 

 sible, a system of quick transit in suitable con- 

 veyances. By this means the industry would be 

 encouraged and the resources of the country 

 developed. The dairies would be able to obtain at 

 least I OS. per cask more for the butter, and the 

 earnings of the peasants would be increased in 

 proportion. 



Before the Government decides upon refrigerator 

 vehicles, I think it would be advisable to investigate 

 thoroughly as to whether well-built, strong boats, 

 of a suitable size and type, could not be sent up the 



