The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-11
A Mighty Enterprise-A Railroad
Across the Eastern Continent.
,E,om tho scientific American

from the scientific Americana
The great fea, accom- ii,hed by the United
States IN connecting the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans by a railroad across the United States
il stimu a,ing enterprise in Europe, and 1t IS
now proposed-indeed, the plan Is ma.
tured-to connect the Atlantic and Pacific
ocears by q railroad through Central Asia.
At conference Of the geograpbers recently
held Colorel Bogdanowiiz explained some
of the details of The road, which, it is ex-
pected, will overcome one nf the greatest
obstacles to the extension Of civilization
namely, the separation Of a large part OF
Asia from Europe by vast deserts, in which
no means of transit but railroad could be
of any use. A railroad alone can develop
the resources of the many lands through
which 1t would pass; and as the mineral
wealth Of Siberia and the Ural mountains Is
well known, the exploration and mining of
these regions would be encouraged and their
resources developed.
1t is proposed that the road shall start
from Njui Novgorod, in Russia, where Is
now the extreme eastern station 10 the net
work of European railroads. 1t Will run
along the Voiga. the Kams, to Ekaterln'
bonrp. on the Asiatic side of the Ural noun
taiDs then enter Asia. proceed in the direc'
ton Of Treumen and Om>k at the lrtlsh,
cross the river. proceed By way OF kainsk 10
Tomsk on the Tenn. branch Of the Obi, and
cross that river. Tpmsk is the principal cen
ire of commerce OF Western Siberia. Thence
the road will run direc ly TO lrkutsb, at Lake
Baigal; thence the road is to pass to the
frontier of China, and thence 1t is no longer
an exclusively Russian. but an international
undertaking.
And here, also, the only serious engineer.
ing difficulties C mmeuce, at the mountain
range Of K,oghan, which in its northern
part Is crossed by the Amoor river. This
range IL the greatest obstacle, and 1t Will be
necessary to pass by the Mantchooria, and to
lay the road from Bsikat to Verhneoudinsk
!. through the Valley of The Salepga. Their
IA the best route by which to reach Pekin, the
M capital Of Chins, pear the Yellow Sea 70 bay
2 of the northern Pacific OCEAN, has beer
found to be that OF Tehita and Dolounor
At the southern end the famous great wal
will he crossed; It already lies In ruins ii
many places. The whole distanre from Min
Novgorod 10 Pekin will be 1850 miles, o
which 1880 ruu through Russian territory
When this plan is closely examined, &C
cordiDg to kcowu geographical data, tht
apparent difficulties dwindle down TO no.
thing when compared to those encountered
in the western section Of our Pacific railroad
The first section, from Mini Novgorod to
Tomsk. runs on perfectlyly level land (the
socailed steppes). similar to our prairies-
In the second section, from Tonsk to Lake
Rsksl, the country il rolling, and inter.
Spelsed with rivers and streams; but the
greatest height is only $500 feet, and the
largest rivers ore Of bot very moderate width
and depth. The only serious difficulties, as
we have said, lie at the Chinese frontier, and
they are interior to those overcome 10 The
Rocky mountains aud the Sierra Nevada by
the American engineers.
Russia bas raised In fifteen years more
than $1,000, 900 QUO with which TO construct
IL. 900 nies Of raiIroSf, ard can easily fiDd
$500, 900 900 or $4U0 000, 900 to construct 8
line of such value to al, the civilized world.