Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-03
Acros. the Khiva Desert by Rail.

ACROSS the sAEiya Desert by Ekdiss
Correspondence Of the New York Times.
Russia's browning achievement beyond the
Caspian is unquestionably the new military rail-
way across the Khiva desert, about which it
may be worth while to say word or two in
passing. On the opposite shore of the Caspian
sea. due east from this great headland upon
which we stand, lies deep pOuCh-shaped gulf
sheltered by two projecting capes known to
Russian geographers as "Mikahailof Zally."
(Michaels bay.) From the crescent-Shaped
ridge that rises around it to the east. shutting
1t OFF from the ghOstiy sOlitudes of the terrible
khiva desert, q few half-cad Yomuts had looked
down upon it for many q day. without ever
dreaming that these quiet waters and silent
shores were hereafter to take a leading place in
the history of Russia and of the world. But at
length. one bright morning late in the autumn
of 1869, the wondering eyes of the hillmen saw
Russian fOtilla heading straight for the mouth
OF the bay and presently numbers ofmen began
TO pour out of the vessels on to the northern
shore. and lines of huts and tents grew ~ as if
by magic upon the lonely beach. and the Russian
flag fiuttered jauntily overhead. and little by
little the rude encampment developed itself into
the pretty little town of krasnOvodSk whittier
weekly steamer now runs in few hours from
Baku.
For time. however. the ''tovn OF red water
Gas its name implies) was simply remote mill
tary outpost. without any token that it would
hereafter become the starting point of Russia's
Central Asia. Even the famous expedition
against Khiva in 1873. which called into short
lived Importance so many obscure spots on the
eastern shore of the Caspian. ignored krasno-
vOdsk altogether. Col. Lowakin's column
started from kinderli bay to the north of it.
Col. Markozofs from Fort Tchikishiiar far away
to the south. This latter place. indeed, which
lies. close to the southeastern corner OF the
Caspian, and is also visited by the Baku steam
ers, was formerly the recognized starting point
OF all Russa's expeditions against the TurcO-
mans, on account of its abundant supply of
fresh water But Gen. LaZaTeffs experience in
1879 showed the folly of using as base of oper-
atoms an open roadstead whence all vessels had
to stand out TO sea on the first sign of wind
from the northwest. The general failed utterly
to collect the stores required for his project cd
expedition. and the Russian military admins
tration. looking round for 4 fresh point OF de-
parture. fixed upon krasnOvodsk and began
to consider the feasibility OF constructing rail-
road thence across the khiya Gesert.
The characteristics of the new fort exactly re-
versed those Of the old one. Tchikish,iar had
offered an ample supply of water, but no anchor
age. krasnOyOdsk possessed safe and COM
modiOus anchorage. but not q drop of fresh
water Moreover. the tract extending from the
southern side of Mihailof bay (Whence the rail-
road was to start as far as kaZanchi1 was mere
waste Of shifting sands. waterless. and burn
ing as the Sahara itself Russian military crit
les laughed to scorn the very idea OF railway
across such region. .'How is it possible"
they cried, ''tO lay any durable track upon q
surface as unstable as GuichsaGd? And Of
what use are locomotives in region where
neither fuel nor water can be had? But even
were all this possible. who could face the sand
storms which, during our last expedition across
these deserts. choked up and rendered useless
the very rifles OF our Cossacks? The camel. the
ship OF the desert is the only possible means
Of locomotiOn in a country like this
But the Russian authorities, remembering
that three-quarters of Col. MarkoZoff7s camels
had persisted during his abortve advance upon
khiva In 1873. and that in Gen. Lazareffs Tur-
conan expedition six years later o. 400 camels
had died out of 10000, thought that the ship of
the desert was beginning to prove unseaworthy
and decided in favor of the railway. Energy
and perseverance speedily vanqushed all OBJ
stacles- The condensers furnished by Messrs
Nobel K Co.. the great petroleum manufac-
turers-whOse works we inspected the other
day at Baku and Balakham-turned out 20 OOO
gallons of excellent water daily. Sea water
brought up in tanks, was sprinkled over the
slopes of the cuttings and embankments, which
IT bound together with firm crust of salt as ic
dried. Stiff clay from the neighboring marshes
was employed to consolidate the sandy portions
of the line. while the sand was used TO dry and
stiffen the muddy spots. Light hurdle shields,
such as those which protect the railways OF
European Russia against their five months snow
were employed with equal success to check the
drifting sands Of the desert. A small rocky
island in Mikha;lOf Bay furnished the ballast
required for the line. and SO ably was the work
carried on that even the terrible sand-storms
OF September and october never delayed the
traffic tor more than three hours.
By September. 1850. whep Gen. Skobelefl
was preparing TO start for'the Caspian sea-
board on his memorable campaign against the
Tekke TurcOmans of Geek Tepe. the new rail-
way was already open as far as Mua Kari Ca
distance OF 49, miles) aud 20 more were trav-
ersed by horse tram cars on the French De
kOrval system. Since that time both the line
itself and its accessories have advanced rapidly.
One may now cross the Caspian in one night by
steamer from Baku and travel eastward BY train
the next morning over the wide waste OF gray,
liieless sands beyond it, TIL at length you
reach the spot where big, newly built Russian
barraek stares out of countenance
the crumbling walls Of the ancient Persian
fortress or kiZii Aryat. But although the
trains run no further at present the track is
being vigorously pushed forward in south
easterly direction toward Askabad the capital
Of Russia's new province on the northeastern
border of Persia. Once at Askabad the rail-
road will have only $50 miles further to go In
order to reach Herat itself (the key of western
AfghaDistan). trayersing on its way the now
celebrated 'oass of Merv" and the very spot
where Moore's "Veiled Prophet of Khorassan'
led such Jolly life nine centuries ago. The
whole Of this distance up to the very gates OF
Herat. has been recently surveyed by Nj. Lessar
and other competent Russian engineers. and 1t
Is now satisfactorily aseertained that the first
200 and the last 80 miles OF the projected track
would require no earthwork at ALL and that on
the middle section of 100 miles there would be
no more earthwork than upon an average rail-
way in European Russia
E~cy yruwry IN A Cuyc ,. co n ,ypr ~, nry