Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-11-03
Railway Travel In Russia.
Cores : ondence of the Methodist ]

Cores dence of the Methodist ]
Moscow, Russia. August rs. 1869.
For once, at least, the American in Rus
sa feels at home, and that is when he lie
seated in one of the through American
cars built by the Winans Brothers for the
road between 81. Petersburg and Moscow.
The seats of ell are very comfortable,
while the first class cars are divided into
little rooms, and provided with every
accommoda for sleeping There are
enough people in Russia to complain that
the shrewd Baltimoress firm have made
imme sums of money out of the Gov
ernment, but no one dare cay that they
have not managed the road as well as
possible, and that they have not been
honorable and above board in the dis
charge of every obligation. That they
have been too shrewd for the Russians,
and have understood their business well,
does not admit of doubt; for when
the Russian Government found that they
were deriving enormous profits from their
management of the road, and, when
after the contract had expired, new
one was made with French company,
the road was so badly managed that the
aid of the Winanses was again invoked,
and a contract was then closed with
them, which has again proved so advan-
tageous to them that the Russian govern
ment has just paid them six millions Of
rubles to be released from only the last
two years of it, which, according to the
original terms, should have extended TO
1872. Even this was very low price,
and it is onjectured that the Winanses
only accepted it with the understanding
that they were to have ia hand the COM
pletion and conduct of the greater part
of the road arendy commeAced to the
Caspian sea. These facts are given on
the authority of gentleman who has
been connected with them in. railroad
management and enjoys their conf
dence.
The fastest train on the road from St.
Petersburg to Moscow occupies twenty
hours. This road was devised and or.
dered by the Emperor Nicholas purely
for military purposes, and was therefore
made in q straight line. IL scarcely
comes within sight of q large town
during the whole distance, and there are
no DThuCOcb. IL 10 uOW ny
Russians as a epecisl favor to be per-
mitted to pay their thirteen rubles and
ride over the same distance that used to
occupy a week to traverse. At appro-
pirate intervals there are splendid restsu.
rants, probably the best on any railroad
in Europe; ample time is allowed for
eating, In the same rooms are offered
for sale collections of objects peculiar to
Russia, such as cutlery, sIlverware, fancy
leather articles, and Asiatic embroideries
and gold stuffs. l epj Dyed the tea at these
stations more than anything else on the
way, for it was, without exception, of
delicious flavor. Next to brandy, tea is
the national drink of the Russians. 1t is
brought overland from the fields of Asia.
Ia the restaurants it is served in large
glass tumblers, and costs from ten to
twenty cents q glass. A slice of lemon
is given to those who do not wish milk.
As for sugar, the Russian does not put it
into his tea or coffee, but into his mouth
and let's lump after lump dissolve as be
drinks. The fsvorite resting place for
the sugar is between the lower front teeth
and the tip of the tongue, and the tea is
made to pass through the sugar as through
a sponge. A Russian has already given
me lesson in the art, but be has had the
poor encouragement of seeing me after
ward relapse into my former extra Rus
sian bsrbarism.