The new North-west., 1888-11-09

MAP OF THE ROAD THROUGH SAbEhAA.
and will be cheapened and facilitated by the
railroad The present method is by drome-
daries, which are dependent on the grass
crop of the Mongolian pastures When the
grass crop fails this method Of transporta-
ton fails In 1885 the crop failed, and I'M
mense numbers Of dromedaries died for want
of sustenance.
There is also political feature connected
wit1 the building of tho railroad. The Chi
ncse boundary is at present unprotected,
and it would be impossible for Russia to
place an army at any point east OF Semi
palatinsk. Vladivostok is the only harbor
Russia possesses on the Pacific coast, and Is
at present Of very little value. Tho railroad
will not only follow the boundary, but will
unite the COAT station with the Russian cap
ital. It is a question, however, IT tho road
would not be better for Russian military
purposes if built further north, inasnuch as
on tho boundary it will be exposed to. the
Chinese.
The engineering difficulties in the way are
tho bridging of the large rivers OF West
Siberia and passing the great swamps. But
tho country is level, therefore there would
be no steep grades. The distances are very
great. From Tynman to Vladivostok the
distance Is $3.50 miles, while tho whole dis
tance from St. Petersburg Is estimated at
6COO miles, Tho time for accomplishing the
Journey would bo from sixteen to seventeen
davs The Journey, therefore, from Asia to
Enrone instead of occupying thirty five days,
which are now required for steamers to go
from China to England, might be effected
in twenty-one days. The length of the road.
however. is 50 great, and Siberia is such
Wild country that it is questionable whether
tho road would for time take the carrying
trode from the steamers going by the Suez
canal route
One disaprecable feature in Russian policy
would doubtless be abandoned by the build
;no Of this railroad For years Siberia has
been known only as a place of exile Tor po-
l;tical prisoners. Many who have been used
to hearing of the territory in this connection
regard it as a region perhaps as large as
c;nc,o American state. Siberia is larger
than all of Europe. Being under tho con-
trol of tho Russian government, unlike
C,ina. whose people are so jealous of Euro
mean influence, this vast territory may %
developed at any time governments sees ns 70
onen it as through route. The greet TIDE
~ civilization hos rolled from Europe west
ward until it has reached the western coast
If North America There it is stopped by
n, ocean broader than the Atlantic. Doubt
less now it will roll from Europe eastward,
md in the next century there may be the oe-
Ginning of new empire in quarter OF tho
globe hitherto neglected, as hundred years
eeo there was the founding OF new wor!u
in Australia. II the present car OF lsass'a
succeeds i'll effecting this great work, he VIII
10 as much for Russia as was done ny us
,reat ancestor, Peter the Great.
leo Hills Of tho Arct.cs.
Ady;ces fro,, the fishing village OF kerseh-
taranza. in tho Kola Peninsula, on the
White sea, describe a wonderful phenomenon
new in Arctic annals, which took place on
Ian 5 last, At o'clock in the morning
tho inhabitants were awakened by a series OF
heavy. dull detonations like distant artillery.
shortly afterward great ice wall to the
northwest, several hundred feet high, was
seen to bc moving toward the village doaosr
less in consequence Of the pressure OF ocean
ice outside The leo hills came slowly ous
irresstibly onward and passed over tne
Village. which they completely erased ara
lcnt onward for mile inland Inc 'ee
traveled a mile and q half in four n2n.s 1.se
Tho villagers saved their lives, but hes'o
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