The first subterranean shocks of this catastrophe began in the
heat of summer, at the time of the annual summer fair, which this
year was unbelievably brilliant. Many circumstances contributed to
its extraordinary success, multitudes, and the stupendousness of
the deals concluded during it: the building in the vicinity of
three new sugar refineries, and the unusually abundant crop of
wheat, and, in particular, of sugar beets; the commencement of
work in the laying of an electric trolley and of canalization; the
building of a new road to the distance of 750 versts; but mainly,
the fever of building which seized the whole town, all the banks
and financial institutions, and all the houseowners. Factories for
making brick sprang up on the outskirts of the town like
mushrooms. A grandiose agricultural exposition opened. Two new
steamer lines came into being, and they, together with the
previously established ones, frenziedly competed with each other,
transporting freight and pilgrims. In competition they reached
such a state, that they lowered their passenger rates for the
third class from seventy-five kopecks to five, three, two, and
even one kopeck.
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