120 
THE TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY. 
in the course of ages, and only in modern times has become rapid. 
While the forces conducive to it have been continually increasing, resis¬ 
ting forces, both external and internal, have been continually decreas- 
ng ; until at length the speed has become such that the improvements 
which science and enterprise have achived during this century, are 
greater in amount than those achieved during all past centuries put 
together.” I quote these words of a celebrated writer, because they 
apply with special force to Siberia, which must become one of the 
most important regions on the face of the globe, both from a self- 
supporting as well as from a distributing point of view. 
At the conclusion of the lecture, in the course of which Major-General 
J. F. Maurice, C.B., took the chair. 
The Chairman :—Does any one desire to ask any questions ? I do 
not suppose that there are many questions any one has to ask (after a 
pause) therefore I think I may simply in your name offer a very 
cordial vote of thanks to the lecturer for the very interesting lecture 
he has given us, and I am very sorry I was not here earlier to hear 
the first part of it (applause). 
