The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-21

imagine that she has been impeled forward in this
direction by the lust OF conquest Russia is pc
culiarly situated. She Is great landlocked power.
1t has been manifest to the minds OF her rulers
that If she to benefit by tho wealth OF Asia
it must be by overland routes. The maritime Ma,
tons of Europe could reach India China. Japan and
even Persia by sea. Russia must make such con-
hecuoh py iana. Ms1ress OF iurhes'an, sie
would be able to- tap the wealth or Persia,
and through Afghanistan the wealth of India
on the south and southeast. and on the east she
would make a direct connection with China. with
this end in view she has labored for generatlons In
the prosecution OF her self-imposed task she has
spent both labor and sacrifice. Difficulties have
multiplied at every step of her onward progress;
but in spite OF them all she has steadily won her
way. Khokan has been practically extinguished;
khiva has'been conquered and subjected in great
part to Russian rule Bokharai is in similar condi-
ton. and Turcomania will soon have no choice but
submit to the rod To consolidate these conquests
and to make them useful much hard work has yet
to be done and great enterprise is necessary There
not fully alive to the opportunities which
are opening up to her, or that shs
she labors, for the contrary signs OF life. energy,
enterprise are abundant Not since the years which
immediately followed the Crimean has there
been seen on the part OF the Russian governments
such spirit for enterprise with view to CONNER
cal advantages. With view directly to the devel-
opment of this new region. and to turn it to the
advantage Of the Empire at large, the schemes are
numerous and of the most gigantic kind. 10 begin
In the west railroad has been projected to connect
the upper and lower Caucasus, and by permission
OF Persia it is intended that this line branch OF
this ne shall skirt the southern shores of the Cas-
expedition under the famous Danilof is
veying the region OF the Caucasus. with a view to
canal which shall connect the Caspian and tho
Euxine: Within three years this survey
must be completed. submarine cable has
just been laid i'll the Caspian from Baku
to Krosnovodsk. Preparations are made to connect
this cable with wire which shall reach tn Astrabad.
place within easy distance OF Teheran. railroad
Is projected from Orenberg to Tashkend, with
branches to Samarcand and other points. From
Sainarcand from Tashkeud the distance il not
great to the Chinese frontier. In the event of the
cana Ia n
success there will be concentration of railroad
enterprise. with depot ut some suitable point on
the eastern shore OF the Caspian. 1t IL also pro-
posed to convert the waters OF the ANU into their
old channel and to turn them into the Caspian.
These are not the only encouraging indications al
ready visible. BY ceding Kuluja Russia has not
only put money Ill her purse-lnoney which Will DC
useful in carrying the work of improvement
she has also made peace with China and paved
the way for the establishment OF commercial rela-
tions with that vast Empire. This however, Is not
all. As an earnest Of business intentions she has
made arrangements to establish permanent con-
suar service i'll the Chinese provinces which border
on Central Asia. Four agents are contemplated
one at kuldja, one ut Iuhugutchuk, one at Kashgar
and another at kobic.
Such is the prospect It is thus seen that tho
whole of Turkestan is destined to come under Rus
sian rule, and that the horities at ST. Petersburg
will exercise the controlling power over the whole
region Of Central Asia. It is further that by
her teegraphs, her railroads and her proposed Cas-
pian-Euxine canal. she will not only revolutionze
Central Asia aud change its character for the better
but will cause the wealth Of interior Asia to flow
into and through Russian channels. 1t is unneces-
sary say that such enterprise which is in perfect
modern civilization, is an honor at to Russia
and to the nineteenth century. It Is not possible
but that the result of such enterprise will be gain
to interior Asia. gain to Russia and gain to the
world at large. With such movements ahead trip
from Paris by way of st. Petersburg, to Pekin, by
rail- is among the probabilities OF the early future