Unfortunately the people of Siberia are not particularly active in business. The explorer, Nansen, like many others, speaks again and again of the apathy of the Siberians, their tendency to sit still and do nothing. Russian exiles in the days of the Czars repeatedly went to Siberia full of plans for study, self-improvement, and writing, but almost invariably, especially in the east where the climate is most severe, they gradually fell into apathy. Doubtless this was due partly to the isolation, but the long, severe winters when the tight houses are as hot and dry as deserts, and when there is nothing to do out of doors, probably have much to do with it. At such times the exertion required to keep warm out of doors creates a reaction which produces lethargy ndoors. Moreover, for many months there is almost no work that people do. They sit in the house and acquire the habit of idleness. Even n the south at Semipalatinsk seven months are colder than the coolest nonth in London, while at Tomsk, April is colder than January in New York. The result of all these conditions is that from the standpoint 14* America the business of Siberia is a very small factor. Neverthe ess, the minerals, furs, lumber, and fish of the eastern portions ought iot to be overlooked by Americans in their search for raw materials nd food.
The Development of the Desert.—Irrigation may add a few million People to the inhabitants of the Asiatic deserts, but the products thus aised in the heart of Asia are not likely to be of much importance to a egion so far away as America. On the other hand, the enormous dry area from western Manchuria and eastern Tibet to the Blaci Mediterranean, and Red seas may prove to be the world's great unexploited storehouse of minerals. On its borders near the Hw River in Shensi lie the great Chinese coal fields; farther -west mountains of Tibet and Turkestan contain much gold; in the Ta basin salt deposits give promise of supplies of potash; in Persia cop has been reported again and again; in Mesopotamia and Persia some of the most promising oil fields; while many other places sugg great possibilities although little is yet known with accuracy. In future metallic ores and fuels are almost certain to. be relatively m valuable than now. Thus, though the deserts of Asia now seem little value, the time may be near when they will be highly priz The nations of Europe and Japan are keenly interested in mine rights and railway concessions in these regions. Even the far at United States has taken a hand by declaring the " open door " poll which insists that all nations shall have equal opportunities in Chill and the neighboring regions, and by insisting that Americans shall nil be barred from developing oil in Persia, Mesopotamia, and other regio0 where Europe is encroaching. Today we are more and more advancing capital, and supplying engineers, managers, and machinery, and sorkil day we may draw on these regions for important supplies, just as now draw on Russia for platinum. These considerations mean tl
for inner Asia as for the Far East we want the open door policy, ani some international control which will insure good government, protect and develop the native people, and give all countries a fair and equ chance without robbing the natives.
One of the drawbacks t.o the future development of the As deserts is the character of the people. Deserts, like every other t of physical environment, exert a selective action so that certain ki of people tend to die out while other types are preserved. The noma life, which usually prevails in Asia where the climate is too dry agriculture and where animals are the chief source of livelihood, giv little or no advantage to people who are steadily industrious, or wit have business ability. Among the men in such tribes the thing th counts is the ability to brave danger, fight wild beasts, herd the shoe to safety in a storm, follow straying horses or camels all day and a night, or make a fierce sudden raid for plunder or vengeance. In ever case swift, and relatively short activity is required. When that is over the nomad lies clown in his tent and rests. For days he may do litt except spend an hour or two on horseback to see that the animals safe and sound. The women milk the sheep, prepare the sour milk cheese, pack up the tents for a migration, and knot the rugs or beat felts which are the main articles of furniture and adornment. But even their work is less arduous than that of equally primitive sedentary women who hoe the crops and grind the grain by rubbing one stone ipon another. In the same way business ability is of little value to the nomad. A good trader and industrious worker who did not have the to ford a rushing stream in the dark and the energy to get up tit night to fight the wolves would make a poor nomad, and his children vould probably be poorly fed. His type would gradually die out. thus the unbusinesslike character of the desert people and their frequent ack of steady industry impose important difficulties in developing egions like Mongolia. Nevertheless, many of these people have ,dmirable qualities, while the oasis dwellers of Turkestan and Persia ave a great deal of industry although they lack initiative and energy. 'he great obstacle to the development of the mineral wealth of the ?siatic deserts is not so much the people as the remoteness and lack of ransportation facilities. The Contributions of Southwestern Asia to the World's Business.— outhwestern sia interests merica deeply ecause Meso ltamia, Syria, id Palestine ere once the )me of great vilizations Bich gave us 1114 only reli 1m, but the iginnings of ;!enee and art. _ore recently .,nerican phil t thropie ef f .ts have been especially active in this general area of the Near st. Moreover, Americans are much interested in Britain's restora t n of the great irrigation system of Mesopotamia, in the French a empts to build up Syria, and in the Zionists' plans for restoring t prestige of ancient Palestine.