The New York herald., 1879-09-20

chan.
PROGRESS OF RUssIA's SCHEMES FOR THE TURN
ING OF THE AMU-DAH1A INTO ITS OLD BED
TURNING THE COURSE CT TIE ATTRAK-THE
WATERWAY TO THE FRONTIERS OF AFGHAN
1sTAN.
On September the announcement WAS made by
cable that arrangements for the expedition to Gen.
trail Asia investigate the pracicabity Of divert
ing the Amu-Dars and causing it to flow into the
Caspian Sea havo been completed. The expedition
has been divided into three detachments Of which
two will DO sent to Krasnovodsk and
Khiva respectively and the third will ex-
amino tho river and delta. The latter has already
started but the departure Of the others has been
postponed until January in consequence of the dis
turbed condition Of the Turcoman steppes." The
task appears to be not difficult would appear at
the first glimpse. The Russians work with marvel
lous energy. only the other day the Moscow Ne,rs
published letter from Tchikislar. showing the
character Of the work the Russian expeditions in
Central Asia occasionally employed in. The
River Attrak 1t is therein said "has reverted to its
former channel In former times this river fell into
the Caspian not far from the Bay of Hassan- Kulin
about twelve versts from Tchikisar but nine years
ago. in consequence Of the Russians having taken
possession of Krasnovodsk, the Turcomans. with
enormous efforts. constructed dixie dam near
Bent, at a distance of about sixty versts
from the mouth of the Attrak. and by this means
diverted 1t through the region of their
winter quarters. Some months ago. however, Gen.
eral Lasaren sent out an exploring party under
Colonel Shelkovnikoff to examine the old river
channel. the result being an order to dig through
tho Bent embankment to the end that the Attrak
might return to its previous channel. About two
thousand men from Turcoman tribe interested
also In the restoration OF the stream to
its former course for perhaps compelled thereto
by the Russians). were set TO work, ana in
four days in The second week of June last sue
cecded in removing the obstructing dam. The
Russians hope that the Attrak may at some future
time even be brought to Tchikislar; but the circu
stance at any rate. that the river is flowing in
its previous channel greatly facilitates the eastward
or Merv-ward advance of the present expeditonary
force by obviating march of several days through
q watorless dosert.'
TURNING THE ANUS COURSE.
The difficulties in the way of turning the Of
the Anu are apparently comparatively small. In the
Daiip Ners of August 80 we read:-"A pamphlet has
been printed it is not published and cannot be pro-
cured through ordinary channels) at samara which
bears no signature and Is dedicated to the Grand
Duke Constantine. president OF the Imperial
Russian Geographical Society. The pamphlet
Uzboi. Tho authorship of this work is generally
attributed to q and impulsive relative of tho
august president, who sent time ago to
recover his health at Oronburg, and from thence to
samara. he has been very actively engaged In
xploring the country and marking out routes for
the great Central Asian Railway. Tho pamphlet.
which originally the light at samara,
contains its first page q portrait Of Peter
the Great, who likewise entertained the
idea OF the possibility of connecting tho
waters Of the Caspian with those of the Oxus by
means of the old bed (Uzboi). Tho overfowing of
the oxus which took place last year and which de-
stroyed several dams leading into tho old bed filled
portion of 1t with water. Tho Russian press dis
cusscd the matter very fully. and, IL they did not
convince tho general public, appeared themselves to
be all agreed that very little artificial aid wanted
to real 20 this long wished for question" The author
says:--
There can be no doubt that the waters of tho
Oxus may be diverted into the Usboi. From tho
data, however, which Se possess IL cannot be def =
ntely asserted whether this project will result In
naygable route over the Turcoman stcppe, when
steamers will replace camols or whether 1t will only
serve to create several rich oases In the desert.
There is reason suppose that both these objects
may be attained simultaneously by damming the
waters theOxus and diverting the stream Into the
object be gained, 1t is high time, without sparing
either trouble expense. to set about final decs
ion of the famous Oxus question. with which Is
bound up the development of Russias trade and SUI
premacy in the East. IL may be that the pres
ent reign. 80 rich in great deeds, is
fatcd to realize the will of Peter the Great
that the oxus should diverted into its old
the Caspian Sea with those OF the voga and the Aral
Undoubtedly there many prominent people ia the
West who, true 10 their old convictions. suspect