Tashkand

Tashkand, or TASHKENT, the capital of Russian Turkestan, stands 300 miles to the NE. of Samarcand, on a small river which empties itself into the Syr-Daria or Jaxartes. It consists of an ancient walled city and a new European quarter with broad streets bordered by canals and avenues of trees. The Russian citadel lies a little to the south. There are extensive military stores, official buildings, Russian schools of all grades, an observatory and geographical society, Russian and Kirghiz newspapers, and a brisk trade with Russia and other parts of central Asia. It is connected with the European system of telegraphs, and with Samarcand by a railway (laid in 1895-97), ultimately to be extended to the Siberian line; and it has manufactures of silk, leather, felt goods, and coarse porcelain. Pop. 100,000, including 80,000 Sarts (q.v.) and 15,000 Russians. Tashkand was in 1810 conquered by Khokand, and since 1868 has been Russian. See TURKESTAN.