WESTERN SIBERIA AND THE ALTAI MOUNTAINS 



491 



Photograph by C. S. Stilwell 

 ITS HANDSOME RAILWAY STATION IS ONE REASON WHY IRKUTSK IS CALLED THE 



PARIS OE SIBERIA 



"Nothing forbids the hope that the natural action of economic forces will, perhaps within 

 a few years, install some sort of settled government in Siberia, able to enforce order and to 

 permit men to resume their daily work in a normal way" (see text, page 507). 



Photograph by Hugh A. Moran 



THE IRKUTSK MARKET PLACE 



Before the World War 100,000 industrious Russian peasants immigrated to Siberia annually 

 This is destined to become one of the great food-producing countries of the world. 



