American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-05-06
Railroad Across the Eastern
Continent.

The great feat accomplished by the
United States in connecting the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans by railroad across
the United States, says the Scientific
american, is stimulating enterprise in
Europe, and it is now proposed indeed,
the plan is matured-to connect the At
lantic and Pacific Oceans by railroad
through Central Asia. At conference
of the geographers, recently held, Col.
Bsgdanowitz explained some of the de-
tails of the road, which it is expected
will overcome one of the greatest obsta-
cles 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 a railroad
could be of any use. A railroad alone
can develope the resources through
which it would pass; and as the min
Mountains is well known, the explora-
ton and mining of their regions would
be encouraged and their resources de-
veloped. 1t is proposed that the road
shall start from Mimi Novgorod, in
Russia, where is now the extreme east
ern station in the network of European
railroads. 1t will run along the Volga,
the Kama, to Ekaterinburg, on the Ash
attic side of the Ural Mountains; then
enter Asia, proceed in the direction of
Treumen and Omsk at the Irish, cross
the river, proceed by way of Kainsk to
Tomsk on the Tenn, branch of the
Obi, and cross that river. Tomsk is
the principal center of commerce of
Western Siberia; thence the road will
run directly to Irkutsk, at Lake Baikal;
thence the road is to pass to the 'front.'
Ter of China, and thence it is no longer
an exclusively Russian, but an interna-
tional undertaking. The first section
from Mimi Novgorod to Tomsk runs
on perfectly level land (the so-called
steppes), similar to our prairies. Ia the
sesond section from Tomsk to Lake
Baikal the country is rolling and inter-
spersed with rivers and streams; but
the greatest height is only $500 feet,
and largest rivers are but very moder-
ate width and depth. The only serious
as we have said, lie at the |
Chinese frontier, and they are inferior
to those overcome in the Rocky Noun
tains and Sierra Nevada by the Ameri-
can engineers. Russia has raised in
fifteen years more than $1,000, 100000 |
With which to construct Is, 900 miles of
and can easily find $500, O00,-
100 or 100000 900 to construct a line
If such value to all the civilized world.
AN adroit swindle was perpetrated in
Paris the other day. A well-dressed
nan, who passed as Lord c. of
england, and was registered at the
bootmakers and ordered a
,air of remarkably handsome boots.
The boots were to be made without any
egard to cost, and to be sent to the
irand Hotel on the following morning
It IL o'clock, as Lord C. wished to
AVE them at -. A like order was
.iven by him to another fashionable
who was told to bring his
,oots at O'Clock the next afternoon.
IN the following day, when the first
ootmaker appeared, the noble lord
ound the boots satisfactory, with the
reception of the right one being little
ioht. The left boot could be left,
owever, and he would postpone his
eparture another day, and meantime
he tight boot could be stretched. On
IS return he would pay for the pair.
he bootmaker was pleased at his sue
ess, and withdrew with the right boot. t
| similar interview took place later in
he day with bootmaker No. 2, who was
sked to take away the left boot OF his !,
air and leave the other. Not suspect I
ny any thing wrong he did so, promis- C
no to return with it early in the morn t
lg. At IL the next day two disconso- t
ate bootmakers, each holding an odd :.
DOT. might have been seen in the Grand .
Iotel. seeking in vain for their noble II
atron, who had left with his spoils. {