The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-30
through the volga the Caspian sea andAthe Amou

through the voga. the Caspian Sea andAthe Amou
Darya.
The opening up OF such route must inevitably
revoiutonize mercantile enterprise with Eastern
countries ana once 1t Is successfully achieved. line
day cannot be far distant when trade with these
regions viii be fully developed by means OF
the iron rail. and that trade will assume magni-
tude little dreamed OF In the present day. Indeed
It Is asserted that the concession for the constr
already been granted, and, however numerical
the project may appear there is no doubt that the
execution or that plan Is near ar hand
1t has been maint tanned BY those who oppose the
design OF extending Russian commerce 70 Central
Asia, that trade cannot be diverted from the old
accustomed channel-namely the one now running
through Tashkend and Khokand, with terminus
at TrOitsk. The other way from Orenburg to Khiva
passes through Bokhara. Either OF those routes
consume, under tho most favorable circumstances,
from six to eight weeks. The distance from the
volga through Samara and Orenburg to Tashkend
comprises $500 versts, while the distance to
Troitsk may be taken at 1880 versts.
There are many difficulties to he faced along
these roads. stretching as they do far and wide
through arid, waterless tracts OF land. On the
route to Orenburg there Is the Kara-Kum Steppe;
on the route to TrOitsk the GOlOdnaja Steppe, sig
nlfcantly named the Famine Desert"
The cost OF transportation over these routes
that Is between Moscow and Central Asia-fOr all
ordinary g000s, Is computed at from three to four
roubes per pud (32H lbs.) On the other hand, 1t
has been estimated that the trafic via Krasno-
wodsk, when properly organized will not exceed
one rouble, or at most one and half roubles, per
pud. Although Khiva has now been taken, it Is
not surprising TO learn that Russia win have to
contend with fresh troubles. But she will strain
RI difirntfaa m
henceforth stand In her way.
The route through Krasnowodsk offers further
advantages from its geographical position; the
settlement Ia nearer and more attractive to
Asatc commerce. Thus, for instance, the dis
lance from Samarcand to Krasnowodsk comprises
only LOO versts, while the distance from Samar-
cand to any principal station on the northern
route exceeds 5000 versts 1t appears toleraby
clear, therefore, that, with reference to Afghan
stan and the question OF direct overland route
with India, the advantage OF having settlements
on the Caspian Sea increase immensely.
Having established these facts, the Importance
of the Caspian route Is further heightened by the
immense progress which Russia has made in the
Caucasus. The railroad system or the Russian
Empire extends already to Rostofr on the river
Don Further, the route will be carried Staw-
ropol, Gieswsk and Wladikansk, with terminus
at This. A second line Is destined to con-
meet Wladikansk with the newly created port
OF PetroYsk, whence communication Is to be
opened with the northern part OF the eastern coast
OF the Caspian Sea, terminating In the Peninsula
OF Mangushlak and Fort Alexandro1sk. third
route will establish communication between Ros-
ton Ga.endshik. port which Is accessible
throughout the year. But the most important
route is the which connects the Black Sea with
the western shore OF the Caspian, namely, from
Poti to Tinis, thence to Baku. This road once CON-
pleted will provide uninterrupted communication
by rail- between st. Petersburg and The remotest
southern point OF the Russian Empire, distance
which may approximately be estimated at 1000
miles, Ten years ago the latter project would
have been considered q mere fantastical idea,
while at the present day 1t represents an accom-
plshed fact.
THE RUSSIAN RAILROAD SYSTEM.
It may not be out OF place to give skeleton out
line of the entire Russian railroad system. The
network Is divided into two great sections-one
comprising the roads running IN q direction from
northwest to southeast; the other one embracing
roads connecting the northeastern provinces with
those situated southwest. The entire system has
been mapped out into immense squares producing
almost the effect OF o checker board, while the
remotest corners Of the empire have thus been
brought into connection with each other. The cen
tralization has been effected at the second metro
polls of the Russtas. namely, MOSCOW. From that
city no less than six different routes radate In
various directions. When the great network is
competed the traveller will be able to
go in q straight line from st. Petersburg
to the Crimea, to the borders oil
Persia, while the banks Of the river Volga, as well
as the base of the Ural Mountains, will be reached
with equal facility. The mysteries OF the great
Empire will then be revealed to the world, and
Russia will be more appreciated and better IN.
derstood when facilities for locomotion anord an
opportunity Of penetrating into the heart of the
country.
The Russian government has exercised supreme
power on large scale in mapping out conpre
hensive plan for the construction OF roads, and
while taking in the commercial and social inter
ests OF the Empire, 1t embraces system which
in military point Of view mas a tendency to rem
der the country almost nvinclble. The i'm
mense advantages resulting thereirom In
point OF strategy are astounding. An army
could be brought into the field from the vicinity
either MOSCOW or st. Petersburg to any given point
and could cross the Prussian or Austrian borders
simultaneo usly on six or seven different roads
II, on the other hand there should be an invasion
Of Russian territory, the invading army would
find Itself exposed at every point 70 flank move
mcnts.
| Russia, in carrying out her commercial mission
\ does not confne herself to Central Asia. The
progress OF development in Eastern Asia is even
| Of weightier consequence from the fact that Rus
STA has conquered immense tracts Of land which
were formerly controlled by the Emperor Of China
and that her relations with China are by ne
means Of an uniriendly character. The AmooI
River can scarcely be considered the
southern boundary OF the Russian Empire
since steamers have penetrated the neighborinl
rivers into the very heart OF MaDchooria. From
Petun-Chotan, one OF the principal trading points
in these regions the distance OF the boundary line
OF China proper comprises barely forty miles
while Pekin Is only 100 miles further on. With this
proximity to the Chinese wall, the opportunities
Tor scaling that Celestial defence are confessedly
! extremely tempting. Advancing slowly and al
ways advancing, and that steadily, Russian prog