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Show AMERICAN ENTERPRISE AND INGENUITY find a market everywhere. The latest account comes from St. Petersburg. It is stated there that the presence of Baker, an American, attended by a staff of experts, has given rise to most varied rumors concerning the introduction of the Gray elevator system, construction of a Siberian railway and explorations of the coal and iron districts of Southern Russia. It is believed the government is determined to appropriate a considerable sum to the enlargement of the fleet, and it is reasonable to suppose that Barker, who is backed by a powerful American syndicate, is willing to help the government. Barker very much astonished the Russians by the scrupulous honesty with which, under disadvantageous circumstances, he notified? nullified? his former contract for supplying cruisers, and he has been received here with singular favor. He was even admitted to private audience with the Czar. |