The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-09-06
Rusxis,s Asian RAILWAY.

tKizll Arvat Letter to the London Daily Ncwsl
Coal being very scarce and wood comparatively
navigating that sea necessarily call at Baku where
they take for their supply OF fuel the regs OF refined
naptha and then set out for their different desna-
lions regular service has for long time been es-
tablished between that town and KrasnOvOdsk, which
10 one OF the few ports on the east shore OF the Cas-
posed chiefly OF officials and their dependents,
hardly reaches thousand souls The passage from
liaku to KrasnOvOdsk Ia made In twenty hours
Here passengers aud cargo are transhipped on
small sailing vessels and river steamers, which on
r py sae
little below 800 north latitude.
The so-called roads besides being very open
and shallow are frozen during the severe cold Of the
winter, thus rendering the landing OF cargo ex-
Temely, dlnicult. In addition, the climate ia very
not and insalubrious during the summer season.
The only advantage which made the Russians choose
this roadstead as the starting point Of the railway
was Us comparative nearness 70 XIII Aryal: The
desert without any habtable places, but kind OF
thistle grows which Is much reshed by the camels
and In fact, forms their principal food. XIII Arvit
IL the first place where small running stream and
some little cultivation ANA trees are met with. ON
the south rises small range OF low mountains which
give good pasture for horses and sheep. Formerly
this place was one OF the chef hating spots Of the
Turcomans, where they used TO pass part OF the
year. But the Russians have, since the conquest
endeavored 10 give II the appearance OF village by
erecting various buildings and by planting trees.
hours by railway. Thus the journey from Baku 10
the latter village can In Ordinary times, be done In
about three daya.
Since the beginning OF last spring the Russian
government has been at work 10 continue and COM
pleie the XIII Arvat and Askabad Railway, aud
thus connect the latter place. which IN the seat OF
the Transcaspan government, With MichaelOyski,
on the Caspian Sea. But many things have occurred
In causing delay. This part OF the country IL thiny
peOpled, and In general the IurcOmans are not ac-
customed to manual labor. Their habits OF con-
slant rowing adventure do not agree with this kind
OF drudgery. Moreover, the wages being only from
10 TO d5 kopecks, or from ID. 10 iOd. OF English
money, per day, are not sufficient To enicc them to
work. The Persans OF the bordering disrlcts,
though they take 10 LABOR with more readiness, lind
THIS work unproilabe, ~ they have 10 pay higher
prices f1r food than Ia their own country. lhuB
| they return home after q few days. Accordingly,
Inc number OF laborera rarely reachesa thousand az
time. Tue w0rknen, moreover besides being new
70 the KIND OF work. 40 reluctantly TO their task, and
ry to get through II as azy and slowly AZ they can.
Tie oyerseers dare not force press them, lest they
should leave and return home en- nidsse For these
| reasons, since the commencement Of ast spring,
only few miles have been laid out. Some six
years ago, when The Russians began their campaign
against the TurcOnans, The railway from Michael
oysh 10 Is izl Arya, Notwithstanding many obstacles
ana dlihcultes, was constructed In u comparatively
SNORT time, but then the government spent money
| laslshy, ana Inc very high wages paid To both
mechanics and common labOrers brought multitudcs
from all parts OF caucasla and Iersln. Among the
men RON the former country many were already
Initiated or partly skilled In the WORK. But now, II
business he carried on In the same way az during
the last few months, II Will probably take some years
before Tile railway Is completed To Askabad.