The New York herald., 1879-09-20

Russia in her wish to approach her southeastern
limits OF desire to construct new miiitary roa
through the depths of Central Asia for ambitious ana
aggressive purposes. Every undertaking, they say
which strengthens. in accordance with Peter tue
Greats will the importance OF Russia In the East
threatens the peace of Europe. The country
lying between the Indus and the Oxus, exempteu
for centuries from the collisions OF Europeans Will ~
sooner later, become the arena OF struggle Pc
tween the two greatest Powers sea and on ian
Imperial words addressed to the Russian nation IN
the manifest of the LIST of January 1872 serve as tue
best to the surperfuous apprehensons OF
kussias foes I'VE do not seek now, as we nave
not sought hitherto. for the glitter Of military
Quoting Russia on the road to peacefu ana genera
development"
UP TO THE BORDERS OF ArGHANIsrAS.
Proving how comparatively insignificant are the
difficulties to overcome the Moscow correspondent
OF the Cologne Gazette says that the ultimate object
of the operations in which Russia is now engaged
in Central Asia is not merely to subjugate the
Tekke-Turcomans. but to place her in position to
carry out the long cherished scheme of diverting
the waters of the Amu-Darya back again into
the Caspian. The tributaries of the ANU
Darya are connected with tributaries of the
Csbul River. which again flows into the Indus. and
consequently. if the first named river could be made
to again flow into the Caspian Sea, Russia would be
placed in possession of direct water commInca-
ton to the frontiers of Afghanistan. The Usboig,
the old bed Of tho ANU. begins close to Khiva and
stretches uninterruptedly to the Bachan Bay of
the Caspian Sea. where the delta of the dried up
river is discernible and where tho town Of Kras-
novodsk founded ten years ago. The Turco-
mans assert that il the dam at Kunga-Urgentsch.
where the Anu turns northward toward the Sea Of
Aral. were cut througha work which it is estimated
might be accomplished by 1000 men in few
months-the waters OF the river would at once flow
along their former course. and from surveys and
fhatb bave 1ata made fherei
to believe that the assertion is correct The
idea Of thus opening a central waterway between
Europe and India and China was it Is
well known, seriously entertained by Peter
the Great, and expedition sent
to Khiva, under the command Prince
Tjerkaski. to make preliminary inquiries and sur
veys This exploring party. however. perished in
17l7. and the contemplated enterprise was aban-
doned to be now again taken in hand after the lapse
Of more than a century and half. To complete
this vast scheme Of q navlgable waterway to
Central Asia it is only necessary to make the water
connection between the Black Sea and the Caspian.
GROWTH OF THE PROJECT.
The union of the Black and Caspian also
a favor1te idea of Peter the Great. He thought il
the surest method Of consolidating Russian empire
in the southeast. Science, however. not suf
fciently advanced to enable him to carry out
plans were found in the imperial archives
In 1858 q Mr.. Bergstresser undertook. in
small bark, voyage from the Caspian
Sea into the Sea Of Azof. The merit Of successful
exploration belongs to Edward Blum. German top
ographer in the Russian service, who firmly con
| vnced that the plain Of Manitz formed in pre-
historic times only branch of the two in ques
ton. On this supposition he projected canal, t.
complete which excavation of 1880. 900 cubits o
earth necessary. while for about forty Engisl
miles the canal would have runthrough the river Don
This plan received much attention at the time, bu
its difficulties were too great The present schem
took its place. and ir is hoped that by q system
| Of deepening the channels of the Don, the volg
and their afiuents. and by interlacing the natura
water ways the dream Of the Gear may ut last b
| realized