The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-11

high roads. We care not, ss we before said
what route be chosen, 30 1t be the best II 4
seem advisable to choose the more northerly
route by the Lake Of Nicaragua. as has beef
proposed, let Walker and his vermin be swept a
once out of the Nicaraguan territory, and let tbs
work be commenced II the more southerly route
which we have been endeavoring to describe to day
be really the best, then let that scheme be carried
into effect IT, finally, any intermediate poip
should seem to hold out greater advantages, W,
are equally content that that should be tried
But at least let us not waste our thoughts upOl
polar expeditions, nor our money on the cOnstruc
tion OF railroads over the dreary seppes Of Russia
while SO great and 80 necessary work as the con
struction of ship canal across the American Istn
mus awaits execution.
The Russian Railways and the Contractors
Be,lp e co. 16) Correspondent OF london rlmes
In one OF my recent budgets Of Russian news
mentioned the disappointment that is being rel
in Russia at the Pereira Railway enterprise meeting
with o little favor in France; and that in Ger
mary, too, where Russia fendly hoped for 80 much
but where also there is 30 much more canton thar
capital, the want OF success has been equally great
What made this unwilliDgness 70 come forward
on the psrt of the Continent so particular.
ly aggravating to the Russian promoters of the
railway scheme was, that this failure abroad ex
hibited itself concidently with their own triumph
over the obstructive Ignorance and prejudice of Their
own country men; just when these latter became
convinced of the expo dency of railways the cont
mental friends they had reckODed on so firmly failed
them entirely, and now their hopes are turned, en-
dernier resort, to England, which has plenty OF
money, plenty of iron, plenty Of enterprise and
plenty Of credulity Aswe are not in possession OF
accurate statistical and tOpog apbica information
regards the localities the projected lines to pass
through. or indeed, OF the general Of the
country at laIge-a deficiency which the proposed
company of Pereira, Barring Hope & Co., do not
supply, and perhaps it does not lie in their interest
to do so-the only resource we have ia TO inquire
what the Russians themselves say or think on the
subject.
The Russians used to say come time back thai
railways we're not necessary for their country, and
would not pay if they were made there, on accoun,
Of the enormous lengths necessary to connect any
two termini of consequence, the thinness of the
population, and the absence OF trade or productive
ness along the line; what traffic there existed wa
already amply provided for by canal and river car
rage, or by sledge conveyance which was always t.
be had when the water carriage was closed; the
frontier was 80 enormously extensive that railways
TO 90 any good to commerce, must be multiplied In
fDitely further than their receipts would admit Of
&C.; and committee which was appointed in 1886
TO examine into the expediency OF constructing
line from Moscow to Odessa decided, after mature
dehoeration and examination, against the expe
diency of doing 30.
These arguments are now pronounced to be obso
ete, and to belong to bygone times; and doubtless
THIS ID correct as regards the objections brought
against the expedency of Rnssa's getting railways
II she can, but not as against their paying. The
chsn.-e that has been brought about in public
oninion 70 regards the desrabeness of railways has
Been effect, by an experience of the exigencies OF
var while tb,' war itself hes in fact strengthened
he objections on the score Of non.psying by d.
minisne the int, pa resources of the country, and
paralx ling her nasce vt manufactures. This is best
shown by the srgum. ufs that have been used by
he Russian press TO overcome the opposition
o railways at all Russia, rs san, must no
n the progress of industrial Development; she
nrst try to catch them, and even to give them the
70 by; she must show the west that her resources
ire on the increase. Russia Is an agricultural State
md produces more tn ian she requires but before her
produce can arrive at her ports ice has blocked up
he navigation, so that America not only supplies
Engl land, but even the northern ports OF Russia
herself, earlier than her corn growing provinces In
The son,h can do il. The Industrial energies OF
Russia, it is said, are still dormant, the old inert
ness Of the country still prevails this sleepy inertia
must be shaken Off for the riches Of country do not
consist in the quantity of gold and silver 1t pos
sesses, but in the activity OF its circulaton RUSSIA
must have railroad communication with port III
the north and another in the south, both OF
which should, il possible be free from ice the whole
, ar round. For this reason Libau should he con-
yeIted into q commercial outlet in the place OF
CroDstadt, ard Theodosia in the place OF Odessa;
since the latter is frozen up six weeks, and Cr"
stsdt six months in the year. These are mos,
be confessed very admirable srgum" Nh, "ha
Russian government should s. ,ye nv Al, rnss;hIe
me ans. to get railways Introduced into the country
and why any s.sneSolent millionaire should take
pity on tnr hitherto neglected country and help it
1orTsrd little; but they offer ut the same time the
most convincing reasons why no capitalist should
embark his money there with view TO dividends in
his own lifetime, or that of his children, since
veral genei atioDs must pass away before the bene
VIOLENT Intentions OF the railway projectors can be
attained.
The national party in Russia, which has allowed
itself at length TO be convinced Of the expediency OF
railroads, has with all the indiscreet zeal Of prose
l.. H. Al~~A a
government ought to keep the railway undertaking
in its own hands, and so secure all its benefits to the
country. Canals, high roads, &c, they say, have
hitherto always been produced by Russian capital.
ard railroads are just as much home matter as the
other means Of communication. They point 10
England as proof that a country is not made the
poorer by the government raising a loan at home,
but they aver that the admission OF foreign capital
TO build the railroads would be equivalent TO Slate
debt TO another country the interest of which would
go to enrich only foreigners The capital requi-
site for constructing all these railways will amount
10 about 800 900 900 silver roubles the government
must in any case, no matter when the shares are
brought In, guarantee per cent interest on tina;
capital. AS even in England the majority of rail.
roads do not clear per cent, II may fairly be ex.
pected that in thiply populated, undeveloped Russia
they will be long time before they do so much as
clear the working expenses, in which case the whole
interest, amounting TO 100000 silver roubles,
wculd be left 70 be betrayed by the government in
fulflment of lis guarantee Since the government
must then, in all probability. pay the whole Of this
rum Of 100000 per annum Tor the per cent
interest of the capital, ii would be much
better 10 keep the amount In the country
by admitting only fs own subjects to take shares in
the undertaking. and for this national course they
adduce an admirable precedent in the manner In
which the company has lstely been brought out for
navigating the Black Sea, in which all the shares
were originally issued 10 Russian subjects only.
The Northern Be has lately published several ar
tcles for the purpose OF confuting this suicidal
notion Of excluding foreign capital from the ccn-
etIucton OF railroads. in the expectation Of finding
what Is wanted at home. II says that neither the
capital nor the credit necessary for such an under
taking is TO be found IN Russia. Russia Is more
behindhand in commercial enlightenment than any
other country In Europe; the old nations inactivity
still prevails and the people at large totally in
competent 70 such undertakings. This most unim.
peachable authority, the Northern Bee, goes on to
say
The confidence OF the people In the governmep, IL In
general boundeR the amount OF ece. winch
tbc security Tor the paper circulation, s oonsice
rabe befe than In England France and yet there In
Internal trade almost credit and very little capital.
Yes, there N no real Russian commerce. Our native
m N direct trade foyeisu