HARBIN, Manchuria, a city on the Sun gari River at the point where the Manchurian branch of the Trans-Siberian Railway crosses that stream. The Chinese eastern branch of the railway, running to Dalny (Talienwan) (q.v.) and Port Arthur (q.v.), begins here. Prior to the Russian occupation in 1900 (see MANCHURIA), Harbin was a small Chinese vil lage. On account of its geographical and strategical position it was chosen as a military centre, and very quickly it became also head quarters for railway and governmental affairs. Commerce and manufacture have also greatly developed, although not originally considered in the promotion of Harbin; and here more than elsewhere Russia gradually asserted its inten tion of becoming an active industrial force in the Orient. Every system of protection that could be devised has been employed by the gov ernment to advance its commercial prestige. Harbin consists of the old town, three miles distant from the central depot; Prestin, the river town, the present commercial portion; and the administration town, about the railway. Only Russian and Chinese are allowed to hold land, construct buildings or enter any perma nent enterprise. The territory for many miles
surrounding has been secured so as to make it impossible for any foreign interest or influence to obtain a foothold or profit near to the city. The principal railway engineer is the chief ad ministrative official. A census of 1903 showed a population of 60,000 exclusive of soldiery; of these all but 700 were Russians. The imports into Harbin in 1914 were valued at $13,447,458 and in 1915 at $9,410,725. The total exports in the same years amounted to $9,831,460 and $5,598,457, respectively. Coal and coke, fruit and vegetables, clothing materials, boots and shoes, oils, tobacco and railway supplies form the bulk of the imports. Live stock, beans, grain, eggs, fish and fishery products, ground nuts, meats and hides are the chief articles of export. Harbin has 19 steam-power bean-oil mills, two sugar refineries and large timber and coal interests. There are four distilleries and a candle factory. About 4,952 vessels of 1,508,179 tons entered and cleared the harbor in 1915, exclusive of 15,735 Chinese junks of 259,339 tons.