The New York herald., 1878-11-13
GREAT IMpoRrANox or THIS NEWS.


The Amou Darya Oxus has for several centuries
discharged itself into the southeast of the Sea
of Ara But geographers had proved to the sstisfac
ton Of all students Of the question that In the
fifteenth century it stin preserved its original and
natural course to the Caspian Sea. Intimately con
nected with the Amou question that Of the past exist
Of the Ara Sea- which is known at various periods
to have been to great extent converted into =
marsh. and which its existence principally
70 its two river feeders the Oxns and the Jaxartcs
not simple rs 1t would appear from the question
whether its true ontle is in the Caspian in the Ara
for there yet remains to decide which Ia Its ancient
bed to the former The more probable view is
that ii was that known the Oghuz, which, skirtng
either Al Balkan Or Mehse Bsy That bed s re
mains clearly traceable from Khiva to the Caspian
and with the object of diverting the Oxus to
ment of Industry and Commerce" started soInc
eight years ago. under the special patronage Of the
Grand Duke Constantine and Prince GortschakoD
GREAT UNDERTAKING..
The scheme is grandiosc one. and In order to
carry it out to successful conclusion would nccessi
tate an expenditure and an amount OF labor that
could not be applied without rumor of it reach
ing ears. At the same time it is wise to recog
nizc that If this design accomplished, II would
give Russia immense advantages, of which not the
least would be direct water way from the Volga to
Chsru on the borders of Box hara and the Turcoman
country. There is also another abandoned channel
known as the southern branch OF the river. This
breaks off at Hazarasp south Of the city of Khiva.
Kuren Dash. II entered the Caspian probably In the
vicinity of the Atrek River at place still
known Aktubbe. II consequently passed
close to Kizil Arvat the Turconisn post which
tho Russians appear to have permanently
seized. Strictly speaking, these the only two
original beds OF the Oxus, but il is highly i'm
probable that 1t is to either Of them that the River
Oxus has reverted. II such were the case, II would
not only lead to Russia reoccpying Khva, but also
to her acquiring possession of the whole of Kara
Kun. and the centre of her power in Central Asia
would at be shifted from Tashhent to Krasno-
vodsk and the shores of the Caspana revolution in
present circumstances in Central Asia which must be
obvious to every observer.
A MIsAPPREHENsION.
II is more probable, however, that the change ie not
of this startling character aud that the refers
only to the Laudan Of the river which is the
most western branch of 1t, and which should fow
into the marshy lake Of Albughr, the southwest
crn corner Of the Aral Sea. This arm
damned up abont fifty years ago. and it's waters
diverted to another but since il has dis
played constant inclination to return to its former
with each year that the task would not have been
n dnic ult one Of removing the dam altogether and
thus restoring the Laudan branch its original bed
This s, probably, what has occurred 1t may also be
the first step toward the completion of the greater
design Of hooding the Oghuz channel; but to effect
that gigantic scheme much remains To be done. IL s
necessary 10 remember that tho greate~t ru1h of
,uater at present towSrd the west, because the
canals for irrigaton &C., all constructed the
left bank Of the river This fact must facilitate the
task of restoring the Oxus 10 its old be The Rssan
probably mean by the phrase ''reoccupying Khiva'
that they will seize the Landau mouth Of the river.