Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-10-27
RAILWAY THROUGH A DEs-
ERT.
Russian Enterprise IN Central
Asia and lis Political Mean
ing.

Ionuon Almccsi
BY the completion Of the line Of
railway from Krasnovodsk to kizil
Arvat, the Russian government has
finished the first section OF the Trans
caspian railway, which is intended to
bring the territory recently conquer
cd from the Turcomans into direct
communication with both the eau
oasus and the interior Of Russia. The
port Of Kizil Arvat has long been one
of some importance, and during the
eventful period of the last ten years 1t
has played a considerable partin Rus.
sian operations in this quarter, and
now as the actual terminal point Of
this railway, it is not likely to sink into
insignifcance. From Krasnovodsk,
which, after the suggestion Of several
alternative places, seems destined to
remain the principal Russian harbor
on Kill Arvat. the distance is about
200 miles. The country through
which the line passes is almost desert,
lying between the two Balkan ranges,
and completely waterless, save at h few
spots where wells are to be found. Of.
these the principal are those Of Moliah
Kari, Tageer and Kayandiik. Al
though the scarcity Of water has
hitherto constituted an obstacle in
the path of an army or of a caravan,
it is probable that the Russian engi-
neers are right in saying that a suih-
cieRt supply can always be procured
en- route for the engines, while the
naphtha springs of the Caspian pro
vide a cheap and oasy-obtainable fuel.
1t is not to be expected that the
Russians will remain long content
with Kill Arvat as the terminus Of
their new line, especially as a brisk
trade is likely to spring up with the
Turcomans, and also with the towns
on the northern borders Of Persia.
East of Kizil AraYat the difficulties
of engineering are very much less
than those that presented themselves
west of that place, although even
these we're not very formidable, and
have now been successfully overcome.
AS Russia has formally annexed the
region up to Ashkabad, which is
about the same distance from Kill
Arvat that that place is from Kras-
noYodsk, there will probably be no
furthur delay than financial cOa-
~siderations may impose in carrying
the line to the capital Of the trans
Caspian province. The energy shown
in improving their means Of commu-
nieation with this new posses
sion is in striking contrast with the
indifference or sl%uggishness exhibited
by the Russian authorities in other
parts of Asia. While Tashkand re-
mains more remote from Moscow than
our possessions at the antipodes are
from London. and while the resources
Of Siberia are yet undeveloped tor
want Of railroads and canals, the same
six months have witnessed the sub
lection OF a brave race and the con
n%eotion of their subdued territory
with the main lines of communication
10 the empire. To pretend that thi:
exceptional energy has not a peculiar
significance would be to disregard
facts, nor, although we may repeat
that there is nothing unreasonable il
Russia desiring to bring her latest
Central Asian acquisition in direc.
communication with Tifis or Derbent
can the plain fact be denied that thu
first section in a line of railway which
must some day connect Russia will
Meshed, and possibly with Herat also
has been successfully laid down anc
opened for traffic. 1t may very vel
be that at some future period We shall
have to recognize in this peaceful tri
umph OF human skill a circumstanet
not less pregnant with important con
sequences to the destinies of Asiati,
peoples and powers than the fall o
kingdoms and the destruction of dy
nasties.