New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-17
Russia Studying America.


which attended the Grand Duke Alexis
during his visit to this country.
The Admiral, who is now at the head of
| the department of roads and water com
munications in Russia. took deep interest
| IN American affairs, especially in all that
tended to develop our vast natural re-
| sources. Our great railway and car al
| ssystems, with their still more magnificent
future earnestly engaged his attention, and
| he more than once expressed his regret that
| the shortness of his American visit, and The
| restricted sphere of his duties at that time,
| precluded a more thorough survey OF
| the great works already in existence here,
| and the ones in process OF construction
or projected. Our canals, particularly the
| Erie, were objects OF eager inquiry on his
| par. and he toresaw that Russia, so like
| the United States in her undeveioped re-
| sources, would need at no distant day simi-
AT means OF transpo, tdtioI for her COM
modities, and could learn from 10 better
teachers than the inventive Americans he
I means of constructing them. the improve
| lnents already adopted or to be made, and
| also the faults 10 be stunned, Russia has
| tine possibilities il her water communics-
| tions, but much time, labor and expense
must yet be undergone before they can be
come the blessings to that progressive
| country that they will vet be.
In the early part Of this year the Russian
| consul at this port, Mr.. Waldo mar de Be-
| disco. reported to his government some
| facts regarding steam navigation on canals,
and received The following reply to his com
| munication under date OF ST. Petersburg,
| May :, 1875:
You have had the kindness to accompany
your report Of the thirteenth of January OF
this year with copy OF letter from the
American engineer, Baxter, together with
printed documents concerning steam nav;-
CATION on canals. Having presented this
letter to the Minister of Ways End Comm
nications, his excellency directed me to
express to you his sincere thanks for having
obtained these useful materials, but at the
same time he requests you, if it be possible
to transmit the drawings themselves, with
full explanations Of the steamboat invented
by Engineer Baxter for the Transportation
OF merchandise on canals. Beside, as the
minister has commissioned Engineers
Zviaginzetf and Mchailotf to proceed to
the United State 5 for the purpose of study
ing the system OF canaIization and inland
communications, | take this occasion, bv
order OF Admiral Posslet, to request you to
tender your services to those gentlemen,
and TO afford them an opportunity to ex-
anime the invention of Engineer Baxter.
NJ, Zviag ,nZeh examined one of the Bax-
ter canal boats at its pier the other day,
and expressed himself greatly pleased at
the simplicity OF its mechanism and the
economy OF space effected by the method of
construction of the engine and boiler He
followed closely the explanations OF the in
ventor and proved by his questions that he
thoroughly comprehende3 the details shown
him In conversation as to his STAY in
America and the objects of interest that he
should visit while here, NJ. Zviaginzeff # men
toned that on his list was the dam AT
Paterson, New jersey. of which he had first
learned from the Co.umns of the Herald
AS his movements In America would
,a,,l. s@x,,,. ii
1t best on his arrival some three months ago
TO visit Canada first, thus taking advantage 4
OF the most favorable season to visit thar
section of the continent. The Lach;pe
cana! was the only thing in that portion OF
the Dominion that he has vet visited that
he regarded as worthy OF minute inspection
lie contrast between the appearance and
manners of the Canadians and the citizens
of the United States was all in favor of he
latter, in regard to intelligence and vivacity
as manifested by outward indications.
Boston be has been some days in lately. but
as there are 10 great public works in pro-
gress there he did not think that his stav
repaid him for the expenditure of time.
Concerning New York, it's future and inter. |
est to men of his profession, he spoke with |
enthusiasm. General Newton's operations |
at He'll Gate will be thoroughly inspected by |
NJ Zviaginzet, and the magnificent concep. |
tion of the plan and the important results |
to be effected by it's completion were re- |
terred to by him several times. The pro !
Jected pier system was mentioned, too, very |
properly as one of the desderata of fhe |
metropolis, but concerning this and the |
East river bridge the Russian engineer was
permitted to have the conversation prip-
cipally to himself. NJ. Zviaginzetf PROPOSES
to talse trip through a portion at least of
the Erie canal, and will then visit the We'll
land canal which has much interested him
from ifs lInnOrraDf n inofi inns u-;sl l. ~ |
great West. The Rock Island and Della.
ware breakwaters will also claim a portion
of his time and attention. When he has
finally exhausted the Eastern and Middle
States, he will turn his attention southwark.
but New York embraces so much to interest
him that he will evidently depart from it
Objects with which we are
familiar are matters of surprise and remark
to him. TIE dry docks in the navy yard of
Brooklyn and Charlest6wn compare favor
ably, NJ. Zviaginzef thinks, with ANYTHING
Of the kind that he saw in England for
if not for extent
With the arrival of cold weather in this
latitude the Russian engineer will wend his
way south with the swallows, visiting the
lam on the Appomattox. near Petersburg.
and the canal at Louisville, kentucky, In
New Orleans he will spend considerable
portion of the winter in observing the
progress of the work now being carried on
iuucl Iuo uIISCtlUH "a captain tauS. As |
20 the jetty system and its probable sue
,ess, NJ Zviaginze fl states that his first in
elligent conception of the scheme was
ierlved from description some little while |
fnce in the Herald From a careful read
NJ. OF the details some prejudices that he
lad conceived were dissipated, and he is
low disposed to regard it with favor. al
hough the careful scrutiny which he in
ends to give it during the winter will
nable him to give more decided opinion
Cncerning IT'S merits. With the advent of
pring Mr.. Zviaginzeff will return to the
Worth, and hopes that his stay will be of
efficient length to enable him to attend
he Philadelphia centennial. OF the i'm /
ortance of that event he has a compre- {
ensive idea, and no doubt to a gentleman !
his profession the opportunity to attend .
would be hailed with pleasure.
M. Iyiaginzetf is gentleman of medium
eight. and dark complexion and speaks =
,nglish CORRECTLY, but with deliberation.-
'e,c York Herui9
Il r7yl, 4