Evening journal., 1888-06-28

lNEkA
ars are native Bokharians, but the enterprise
Is Russian. Originally begun as a military
measure, it has become an instrument Of de
veloping commerec, aud by 1t the almosi
fabulous cities OF central Asia are brought
within easy access Of London and Paris. il
has easy connection with tho railroads OF
Russia proper by way Of tho Caspian sea
by it peace and Russian control have been
established throughout Bokhara. and Russian
influence mnde paramount even TO the Dor
ders Of British India.
To scholars it is Of peculiar interest, rs II
leads to the very cradle Of our Aryan race
and to European statesmen it is doubiy i'm
portant, as since It's completion Russia rule
over 5,0O0,0s0 square miles Of Asia There
had been almost uninterrupted war between
Russia and the semi-ciyilized people at cen
tral Asia for 800 years when, in 1868, the
Russians captured Samarcand and com
pleted the conquest OF Bokhara in the clos
ing years Of that war the Russian Gen. Sko
belefi fought a bloody battle at Geok-Tepee
in the desert region OF Bokhara, and sus
tained frightfui Losses by the failure OF sup
plies, after which this railroad was deter
mined upon as the cheapest method Of paci
flying the country Soon after the khan OF
province was Russianized, and be was made
colonel in the Russian army, receiving from
the car splendid uniform, Of which be is
so proud that he wears it hahitually, having
discarded his national attire The entire
province IS now quiet under Russian rule
ana the road has been pushed forward with
vigor
SO tender are the Russians OF the religion
Of their Mahometan subjects that they have
cars constructed especially for them, and the
trains stop regularly at the "house Of
prayer On each car is q conspicuous notice
in Russian and Turcoman that it Is ''for Ma
hometans exclusively and all adornments
In the line Of figures which might seem idola
trous are carefully excluded Nevertheless
the Mohametans will not make the entire
trip on the train; mot, says the French re
porter, "because Of religion, FOR their fanati
cism is in nothing like that Of the Mussulmans
of Africa, but because they must needs cross
the Amon-Daria on a bridge four kilometres
a,375 yards long and they arc frightened
at q torrent on each side Of the train, rolling
such volumes OF muddy water.n But for this
the faithful could make tho entire holy jour
ney from Merv TO Samarcand on the inhdels'
railroad which tho French writer thinks
would be a good joke on old Eahomet
The Amon-Daria, or Jihon-the ancient
Oxus-rises in the Hindoo Kocsh mountains
and flows west and north to the Aral sea
and the Russians, or rather the French on.
gineers, have modelled their bridge over il
after tho low bridges on the line Of the far
western railroads Of America. In other re
spects the construction Of the road was re.
marksbly cheap. The stout Bokharian dig
gers worked for ten cents a day. donkey
could be hired for three times as much, and
overseers were cheap. Under French en-
gineers the natives did as much as average
Italian laborers. Russian officers have or
ganized and drilled a native army OF 25,O0l
men. a Russian governor is located at Box
hara, Russian agents are in every town, and
European dwellings, shops and improve
ments are springing up everywhere on the
line Bokhara has 400 mosques, old and
new, besides a Russian college and Other
European resorts. The principal mosque Il
very difficult Of access, and has minare
lfty metres high Q6O feea, from the top o.
which persons condemned to death arl
thrown upon tho rugged rocks below. Box
hara is the seat Of an extensive trade anc
manufacture, and .the periodical markets