Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-20
THE SIBERIAN RAILWAY.
How 1t Will Probably Affect the United
States in the Future.

From the San Francisco Bulletin.
IL IL announced that the Siberian railway
scheme has been approved by the commission
appointed to consider it, and that the road will
be completed in six years. 1t has been hereto
fore reported that American capital and skill
would be largely drawn upon to carry out the
enterprise. The line will open a country SINH
lar to our northern tier of states and Southern
Canada for distance Of over 1000 miles,
beside its western connections and lateral
feeders.
1t is expected that a branch will be run
southwark into Manchuria, and thence to
Reking, to join the Chinese system, which has
already been commenced to connect the CAPT.
tai with its port Tientsin. 20 miles distant
That will give the road two termini, one at
Viadivostoch, the other at Tientsin, with the
practlcabllity OF extensions to other Chinese
trade centers and ports. The opening of the
line from Tientsin to Taku was accomplished
IN the face Of much official and popular oppo-
sltion. A short time ago it was announced
tnat the conservative party at the Chinese
but since then more liberal csunsels have pre-
vailed.
The death of Prince Tun, one of the young
emperors uncles and an influential corserva-
tive, probably contributed to that end. The
road will now be pushed TO Picking without de-
which connecting road would naturally take.
rich gold deposits exist. They have been
worked to some extent by Chinese and whites
from Siberia, but there has been no adequate
development of the country
The Russian trunk line between Semipala-
tinsk and ViadivOstock will run near the north
ern base OF the Altai range, which separates
Siberia from the Chinese dominions Around
the headquarters of the Irtlsh river, near Sem
ipalatinsk, deposits Of silver and copper have
been discovered and gold and lead in small
quantities. In the Yablonnoi mountains the
section of the Altai just west of the Amoor
country, where the range breaks down to an
undulating plateau. gold, silver, lead. zinc an
timony, iron, and arsenic are found, and en-
erald and topaz mines of great value exist.
The country along the line for width of sew
erai hundred miles is In part covered with
valuable forests Of pine, fur, larch, poplar, and
hard woods
Along the rivers wheat and other grains, To-
bacco, vegetables, etc, grow well, and the graz
ing Is excellent. The fertility of the Amoor
region is well known. Some day a great popu-
latlon of the Caucasian race will fill this coun-
try and reach out to trade with the United
States. There are many products which the
state could furnish them better than any other
part OF the world. In many ways this opening
of a new route of travel around the world will
be OF especial significance to the United States,
which must of necessity be one of the most i'm
portant points on it.
The effect which the building of this road is
likely to have upon China is also most impor-
tant factor In forecasting the future. Englands
indian railway system is gradually encirclng
the empire on the south and west, the Russian
line will stretch along its northern border. and
when 1t starts for Picking it is not unlikely that
China viii yield to the inevitable and enter
upon career of railroad development.