Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-04-01
A MIGHTY ENTERPRISE,
A Railroad Across the Eastern Ceutineus..,
A Great Work for Russia.

The great feat accomplished by the
United States in connecting the Allan.
tic and Pacific oceans by q railroad
across the United States is stimulating
enterprise in Europe; and it is now
proposed--indeed, the plan is matured
to connect the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans by railroad through central
Asia. At conference of the geogra.
pliers, recently held, Col. Bogdanowitz
explained some Of the details Of the
road, which it is expected will overcome
one OF the greatest obstacles to the ex-
tension of civilization, namely, the
separation Of large part Of Asia from
Europe by vast deserts, in which no
means Of transit hut a railroad could be
of any use. A railroad alone can de-
velop the resources OF the many lands
through which it would pass and as
the mineral wealth OF Siberia and the
Ural mountains is we'll known. the ex.
ploration and mining Of these regions
would be encouraged, and their re-
sources developed.
It is proposed that the road shall
start from Mini Novgorod, in Russia,
where is now the extreme eastern station
in the network of European railroads
it will run along the Volgs, the
Kama, to Ekaterinbourg, on the Asiatic
side OF the Ural mountains, then enter
Asia, proceed in the direction of Treu-
men and Omsk at the Irish, cross the
river, proceed by way Of Kainsk to
Tomsk on the Tenn; a branch Of the
Obi, and cross that river. Tomsk is the
principal center of commerce Of western
Siberin thence the road will run di-
rectly to Irkutsh, at Lake Baikal
thence the road is to pass to the frontier
Of China, and thence it is no longer an
exclusively Russian, but an international
undertaking.
And here, also, the only serious en-
gineering difficulties commence, at the
mountain range Of Kioghan, which, in
its northern part, is crossed by the
Amoor river. This range is the greatest
obstacle, and it will be necessary to pass
by the Mantchooria, and to lay The
road from Baikal to Verhneoudinsk,
through the valley of the Selenga.
Then the best route by which to reach
Pekin, tho capital of China, near the
Yellow sea "a bay of the Northern Pa
cific ocean,, has been found to be that
of Tehita and Dolounor. At the south |
ern end the famous great wall will be
crossed; it already lies in ruins in many
places. The whole distance from Mini
Novgorod to Pekin will be $500 miles,
of which 1880 run through Russian
territory.
When this plan is closely examined,
according to known Typographical data,
the apparent difficulties dwindle down
to nothing, when compared to those en-
countered in the western section of our
Pacific railroad. The first section from
Mini Novgorod to Tomsk runs on per-
feotly level land (the 80 called steppesl
similar to our prairies. In the second
section from Tomsk to Lake Baikal the
country is rolling and interspersed with
rivers and streams but the greatest
height is only $500 feet and the largest
rivers are but Of very moderate width
and depth. The only serious difficulties,
as we have said, lie at the Chinese
and they are inferior to those
overcome in the Rocky mountains and
The Sierra Nevada by the American
engineers.
Russia has raised in fifteen years more
than $1,000, 600, 900 with which to con-
struct $1,000 miles of railroad, and can
easily find $500, 600, 900 or $40O. 900, 900
10 construct line of such value to all
The civilized world.