The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-21

sta-The Agttated scheme or an Over
land Railway from London 20 Cal
| cutta. ,sl 4t
Already the Russian invasion of Khiva is
having its reactionary effect on the English
mind and powerfully stimulating it to produce
q checkmate to the Gar. In a recent leading
editorial the HERALD advanced the opinion
that the immediate designs of Russia in her
present campaign were to make herself mis-
tress Of the great Central Asian trade routes,
which from time immemorial have been the
highways of the caravans crossing from China
to the Western World, and at the same time to
come within striking distance Of Herat, the
long-reputed "key to India The latest in
formation not only corroborates this opinion,
but shows that the British statesmen and East
Indian capitalists are impressed with it's force
and are already agitating the splendid project
of grand overland railway from London to
Calcutta, passing directly through Herat and
enlisting the friendly aid and support of
Turkey, Asia Minor, Persia and the British
Provinces of India.
There can hardly be a question that this
magnificent scheme would prove financial
success, and It is receiving already powerful
advocacy and support from able British
writer's and engineers 1t is proposed to con-
meet the great continental railway lines of
Europe, which pass through Cologne, Frank
fort, Vienna. Pesth, Belgrade, Adrianople, and
now terminate at Constantinople, with the
Indian system of railways at Peshawar by
railroad across Asia Minor and Persia.
Although the continental lines leading east
ward between Calais and Oste9d and Con-
stantinople are not quite complete it is said
that the Turkish, government have recently
made sgrn..ssements and negotiations to this
eject so that the longest link in the great
chain is already provided for. In Asia Minor
there is small and nascent railway system
which the Ottoman authorities ore strongly
disposed to favor and furnish with pecuniary
aid, and, indeed, they have already gone so far
as to secure the extension of the Smyrna and
Cassaba Railroad for fifty miles with view
of extending it to point three hundred
miles further. Turkey is friendly to any
effort on the part of England looking towards
the checkmating of q Russian advance and is
ripe for opening an iron way for her transit
across Asia Minor to the Persian frontier.
Persia, also, has not been slow in construct
ing railroads, and, both for purposes of pro-
lection from Muscovite aggression from the
vicinity Of the Caspian Sea and Khiva, and
for the immense commercial advantages that
would be acquired, the Shah could have only
one mind about the enterprise, and that most
friendly and enthusiastic.
The entire railway from Constantinople to
Peshawar (Which latter place is the western
terminus of the very extensive railway system
of British India) would be about two thousand
five hundred miles long; and, it is computed,
the cost of building and stocking it would not
exceed thirty million pounds. This is high
| figure, but the enormous traffic, both local
and transasiatic, would be enormous, and
English capitalists think the revenue would
pay very high percentage on its cost. Eng
land, Turkey, Persia and India will undoubt-
edly be willing to make very large
concessions and governmental subsidies to
secure any company that may be formed to
| prosecute the undertaking. The construction
of the Persian link in this transasiatic line
would open up the resources of Asia Minor
and that vast Oriental region whose hills,
though often dry and sterile, are, nevertheless,
wherever there is the scent of water"
covered with docks and herds, while the
valleys are clothed with corn and redolent
with roses. Such line would open up and
greatly develop the trade of Persia in silks,
shawls, leather carpets, and the luxurious and
unsurpassed fruits of this almost tropic
country. 1t would shorten the time of transit
and transportation from London to Calcutta
from five hundred and thirty-two hours (as
now consumed via Marseilles, Malta, the Suez
Canal, the Red Sea and the Bombay Railway
to two hundred and fourteen hours via
Vienna, Constantinople. Persia, Herat and
Peshawar, the route now proposed.
The immense profits Of our Pacific railways,
traversing new country, just entering upon
its period Of natural and commercial de-
velopment, prove, beyond doubt, the financial
security Of such transcontinental avenue as
that proposed between Northwestern India
and the "Golden Horn Of the Bosphorus.
The distance from New York to the Pacific by
the Union and Central Pacific is about three
thousand three hundred and eighteen miles,
and by the Northern Pacific about two thou
sand nine hundred and eighty-three miles,
while the total line from London or Calais to
Calcutta via Constanhnople, would be about
six thousand four hundred and nine miles
But, vast as would be the demand for such ia
cilities as the latter would afford in the old
countries Of the East through which it would
pass, its value and significance, in military
and diplomatic point Of view, would be greater
Constantinople occupies geographical posi-
ton which has always made it, in the eyes of