Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-25
THE SIBERIAN RAILWAY.
How 1t VIII Probably Affect the United
States I'm the Future.

From the San Francisco Bulletin
1t is 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. It has been hereto
fore reported that American capital and skill
would be largely drawn upon to carry out the
enterprise. The line will open country SINH
lar to our northern tier of states and Southern
Canada for distance of over 1000 miles, be-
side its western connections and lateral feed
ers. 1t is expected that branch will be run
southwark into Manchuria, and thence to Pek-
ing, to join the Chinese system which has
already been commenced to connect the capital
with its port Tientsin, 20 miles distant
That will give the road two termini one at
Nladlvostock the other at Tientsin, with the
practicability of extensions to other Chinese
trade centers and ports. The opening of the
line from I1entsin to Taku was accomplished in
the face OF much official and popular opposi-
ton. short time ago it was announced that
the conservative party at the Chinese court
had succeeded in stopping further work. but
since then more liberal counsels have pre-
vailed. The death Of Prince Tun. one of the
young emperors uncles and an influential con-
sentative. probably contributed to that end
The road will now be pushed to Pekin without
delay. 1t is known that i'll Manchuria, near the
line 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 Semipal-
atinsk and Vladivostock will run near the north
ern base of the Altai range. which separates
Siberia from the Chinese domnions Around
the headquarters of the Irish river near Semi
paatlnsk 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 several
hundred miles is in part covered with valuable
forests Of pine, fur, larch, poplar and hard
woods. Along the rivers wheat and other
grains, tobacco, vegetables, &C., grow well, and
the grazing is excellent. The fertility of the
great population of the Caucasian race will fill
this country and reach out to trade with the
United States. There are many products which
this state could furnish them better than any
other part of the world. In many ways this
opening of 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 important points on it. The effect
which the building of this road is likely to
have upon China is also a most important fac
tor IN forecasting the future. England's In
dian railway system is gradually encircling
the empire on the south and west the Rus
sian line will stretch along its northern border
and when it starts for Peking it is not I'M
likely that China will yield to the inevitable
and enter upon career OF railroad develop
ment