Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-12-23
THE GREAT RUSSIAN RAILWAY.

The greatest work Of modern times, underta-
ken rs public Improvement, and not directly
as war measure, was the project by the Empe-
ror Nicholas Of Russia for a line of railway to
connect the great capitals Of the empire. The
distance was generally stated mt 500 miles, but
the location of the railway has been effected in
a distance of only 420 miles. The plan adop-
ted contemplated the construction of road per-
feet in all its parts, and equipped to its utmost
necessity, regardless Of expense or of the time
requisite TO its completion. The estimates
were on such q scale of imperial grandeur, and
contemplated the expenditure of thirty y-eight
millions Of dollars The work was intrusted to
Col. George w. Whistler, with unlimited au-
thority, and forty millions Of dollars were set
aside for the work. Seven years was the esti-
mate made for the time of its completion, and
all parts of the work were so distributed as to
give time for everything to take its appropriate
position when required. These advantages
were fully appreciated by COL Whistler, and all
hrs plans were matured upon scale of compre-
hensve economy suited to so important al un-
dcrtaking The line selected for the route had
no reference to intermediate localities, and is the
shortest one attainable without sacrificing more
valuable requirements for the road. 1t is near
ly straight, and passes over so level country
rs TO encounter no obstacles requiring grade
exceeding twenty feet to the mile, and most of
the distance is upon a level. The roadway ia
ken is four hundred feet in width throughout
the entire length; the road bed is elevated from
six to ten feet above the ordinary level of the
country and is thirty feet wide on the top
The road is laid with double track, a five feet
gage, and rail of siXty-nine pounds to the lin
cal yard, on n ballasting of gravel two feet in
depth. The bridges have no spans exceeding
two hundred feet, and are wood built after the
plan Of "Howe's Improved Patent" so well
known on the New England roads, with truss
twenty-four feet in depth. The work had so
far advanced at the time of Col. Whistler's
DEATH that large portion of it will be in use
the present year, unless this event shall delay
the prosecution of the work Under these cir
cumstances, the death of Col. w. was received
in this country with universal expression of
sympathy and sorrow. 1t is Fortunate howev-
er, that the enterprise is so far completed that
his fame and his works are safe from the acci-
dents of time or of change. His successor will
share largely in the same American spirit that
he posse'd and will see no reason to change or
modify anything that had been attempted BY a
man who united the rarest mechanical genius
to the most eminent practicable ability
We have derived from Mr.. w. l.. Winans,
who has recently arrived from Russia, some par
ticulars with reference to the equipment of this
road Mr. Winans is one of three American
gentlemen who have the contract for equipping
the road. They have already supplied it with
162 locomotive engines, averaging % tons
weight 10 passenger cars; $3.50 freight cars !;
and imperial saloon carriages, capable of car
rying the Imperial Court of Russia This
equipment has been built in Russia, in shops
furnished by the government, and supplied with
Russian labor, with few American mechanics
to oversee the work The whole contract with
Messrs. Harrison, Winans & .Eastwick has am
ounted to between 100000 and 100000 dol
lars. They engage to instruct Russian mechan-
les to take charge of the engines when compile
ted.
The engines are of two classes; so are 8
wheel engines for passenger travel, and 100 8
wheel engines for freight. The passenger en-
gines are of one uniform pattern throughout,
so that any part Of a machine will fit the same
position or any other. They have each dri-
ving-wheels, coupled six feet in diameter, and
trucks in front similar TO the engines on the
New England roads. Their general dimensions
are as follows: Waste of boiler, AZ inches
length Of tubes, 10 feet; number Of tubes,