Saratoff

Saratoff, a city of Russia, on the right bank of the Volga, exactly 500 miles by rail SE. of Moscow. It is a city of broad streets and fine squares, and stands on terraces rising from the river. There are nearly thirty churches: a handsome new cathedral (1825), an old cathedral (1697), and Radistcheff's Museum, sheltering a fine art gallery and a library. Manufactures of brandy, liqueurs, flour, oil, and tobacco are carried on. Fishing is prosecuted in the river, and market-gardening (especially fruit and the sunflower) in the vicinity. There is an important trade in corn, salt, iron, wooden wares, textiles, and groceries. The population has grown rapidly—50,000 in 1830; 70,000 in 1860; 137,109 in 1897. The city was pillaged by Pugatcheff in 1774, and suffered severely from fire several times during the 19th century.—The government, the east side of which is washed by the Volga, has much fertile soil, growing rye, oats, wheat, oil-plants, and flax; it has few industries except agriculture, distilling, and corn-grinding, but considerable trade. It was colonised in the end of the 18th century. The population, 2,419,884 in 1897, embraces several flourishing German colonies (pop. 120,000) which settled here in 1763–65. Total area, 32,624 sq. m.