Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-11-26
RAILWAY THRoUGH 4 DESERT
Russian Enterprise In Central Asia
and ifs Political Mesnfns.
London Times

/
London Times.
BY the completion Of the line of raj
way from Krasnovodsk to Kill Arv,
7 the Russian Government have finishe
! the first section Of the Transcaspian raj
! way, which is intended to bring the to,
ritory recently conquered from the TUT
comans iAto direct Communication wit
> both the Caucasus and the interior {
Russia. The porS of KILL Arvat ha
long been one of some Importance, an
during the eventful period Of the las
ten years it has played q considerable
part In Russian operations in this quar-
ter, andy now, as the actual termina
point of this railway, 1T is not likely t,
sink into significance From Krasno
vodsk, which after the suggestion Of sew
erai alternative places, seemed destined
to remain the principal Russian harbo
on the eastern side at the Caspian, t.
Kill Arvat, the distance is about 20t
miles. The country through which tn.
line passes is mostly desert, lying be
tween the two Balkan ranges, and com.
pletely waterless, save at the few spots
| where wells are to be found. OF these.
the principal are those at Mollack Kari
Tageer, and Kayanpiik. Although the
scarcity Of water has hitherto constituted
an obstacle in the path of an army or Of
caravan, it is probable that the Rus
slan.engineers are right in saying that a
sufficient supply can always be procured
en- route for the engines, while the naph.
tina springs of the Caspian provide a
cheap and easily obtained fuel.
It's 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 are 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 Asbkabad, which is about
the same distance from Kill Aryat that
that place is from Krasnovodsk, there
will probably be no further delay than
financial consideration may impose in
carrying the line to the capital of the new
trans-Caspian province. The energy
shown in improving their means of
communication with this new possession
is in striking contrast with the indiffer-
ence or sluggishness exhibited by the
Russian authorities in other parts Of
Asia. While Tashkend remains more
remote from Moscow than our posses. |
slons at the antipodes are from London,
and while the resources of Siberia are |
nndeveloped for want of railroads and
canals, the same six months have wit
lessed the subsection of brave race |
ind the connection of their subdued
,errltory with the main lines of com.
in the empire. TO pretend
hat this exceptional energy has not
peculiar significance would be to disre-
ard facts, nor, although we may repeat
hat there is nothing unreasonable in
'ussla desiring to bring her latest Cen
raj Asian acquisition into direct com. {
with Tlfis or Derbend ;
al. the plain fact be ignored that the s
rst section in a line of railway which 6
lust some day connect Russia with s
.eshed, and possibly with Herat also.
as been successfully laid down and
oened for traffic. 1t may very well s
that at some future periods we shall
ave to recognize in this peaceful tri-
nph of human skill circumstance
1t less pregnant with important con
quences to the destinies of Asiatic Il
copies and powers than the fall of king e:
ms and the destruction of dynastles. ST