Louisiana capitolian., 1881-11-22

Russian Entefprise Ii Central Asia
and IN Political Meaning.

- ssW OsASssOs s.-.-sD0
Isondon Times
BY the completion Of the line Of rail-
way from Krasnovodsk to Kill Arvat
the Russian Government have finished
the first section Of Che Transcaspian rail-
way, which Is intended to bring the ter
ritory recently conquered from the Tur-
comans into direct communication with
both the Caucasus aud the interior Of
Russia. The port Of Kill Aryat has
long been one Of SOME Importance, and
during the eventful period Of the last
ten years it has played considerable
part in Russian operations in this quar-
ter, andl now, as the actual terminal
point of this railway, 1T Is not likely to
sink into significance. From Krasno-
vodsk, which after the suggestion ofsev-
eral alternative places, seemed destined
to remain the principal Russian harbor
on the eastern side at the Caspian, to
Kill Arvat, the distance is about 200
miles. The country through which the
line passes is mostly desert, lying be.
tween the two Balkan ranges, and CON-
pletely waterless, save at the few spots
where wells are to be found. Of these,
the principal are those ut Mollack Kari,
Tageer, and Kayanpiik. Although the
scarcity ofwater has hitherto constituted
an obstacle in the path Of on army or Of
. caravan, it is probable that tho Rus
sian.engineers are right in saying that
sufficient supply can always be procured
on route for the engines, while the naph.
tina springs Of the Caspian provide a
cheap and easily obtained fuel
It IS not to be expected that the Rus
SLAMS will remain long content with
Kizal Arvat as the terminus of their new
line especially as brisk trade is likely
to spring up with the Turcomans and also
with the towns Of the northern borders
of Persia. East of KILL Arvat the diff.
culties Of engineering ore very much
less than those that presented them.
selves west Of that place, although even
those were not very formidable, and
have now been successfully overcome,
As Russia has formally annexed the re.
gion up to Ashkabad, which is about
the same distance from Kill Arvat thai
that place is from Krasnovodsk, there
will probably be no further delay thar
financial consideration may impose ir
carrying the line to the capital ofthe new
trans Caspian province. The energy
shown in improving their means o
communication with this new possession
is in striking contrast with the indifier
ence or sluggishness exhibited by the
Russian authorities in other parts o
Asia. While Tashkend remains NOR,
remote from Moscow than our posses
sions at the antipodes are from London
and while the resources Of Siberia ar
undeveloped for want Of railroads ant
canals, the same six months have wit
messed the subjection of o brave rae,
and the connection Of their subtluet
territory with the main lines Of com
municatioD in the empire. To preteni
that this exceptional energy has not {
peculiar significance would be to disre
gard facts, nor, although we may repea
that there is nothing unreasonable il
Russia desiring to bring her latest Cen
trail Asian acquisition into direct com
munication with Tlflis or Derbend
can the plain fact be ignored that tn
first section in line Of railway whicl
must some day connect Russia will
Meshed, and possibly with Herat also
has been successfully laid down ant
opened for traffic. 1t may very vel
be that at some future periods we shal
have to recognize in this peaceful tri
umph of human skill q circumstanc
not less pregnant with important con
sequences to the destinies of Asiati
peoples and powers than the fall Of king
doms and the destruction Of dynastles
.
6'A,,e ~ ian (rurnh