The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-05-10

An Enterprise which. It Il Claimed. VIII
Greatly Advance stberiA's Develop
ment.

The Russian Government will soon
begin TO build lis great railroad across
Siberia. and dispatches from ST. Peters
burg announce that the work will
start simultaneously at Vladiyostock.
on the Pacific. aud at the present east
ern terminus OF the Russian railroad
system. Gen. Annenkofi. TO whose
capacity as a builder of railroads the
transcaspian line across the deserts Of
Turkestan Is monument. has been
the steadfast promoter OF this greater
project. His plan for the road was APP
proved last winter by commission Of
forty-five engineers. and there Is little
doubt that il he had not inspired the
experts and authorities with his own
faith that the scheme was not only
practicable but also economical the
formidable undertaking would have
been deferred for years TO come.
The enterprise has met with much
opposition In Russia from part OF the
newspaper press and nobility. Prince
Mestchersky in his own newspaper
awhile ago said he could see no use for
the road except TO reduce the price OF
oranges in Siberia from ruble TO ten
copecks each. The opponents of the
scheme have charged that the road
would bring Russia TO the verge of
bankruptcy. and that It's only enthusi-
astic supporters are thousands of con-
tractors who expect TO make money
out OF IT, On the other hand. the
friends of the project assert that both
in its military and its commercial as
poets the road will be a great success;
that IL Is necessary for the protection
of the Pacific possessions, which are
now almost completely isolated from
the mother country. and that 1t will
give great impetus to the develop
ment OF Siberia's resources.
Since the world began to realize how
immense are the agricultural possibili-
ties Of the rich black soil OF South
western Siberia. aud that there is
plenty of treasure slowed away among
the mountains of the southeastern
regions, there has never been any
question that this railroad 4, 800 miles
long, would be built in time. The en-
cheering problems are nowhere for
midable. though some large bridges
will be required. and some mountain
ranges must be traversed TO reach the
Pacific. For many hundreds of miles
Gen. Annenkoh proposes that the road
shall follow almost a straight line,
some distance south of the fifty fifth
parallel. Not an unnecessary ruble Is
TO be expended in ornamental buildings
OF things that are costly and not es-
sential. Everything is to bee lcriiiced
10 the line itself and IL is intended To
make this rs straight level, and strong
as possible SO that one locomotive may
draw long train. After the ground
was surveyed aud the plans prepared
Gen. Annenkon said he would engage
To build the road for about one-half the
first estimates of the Ministry of Public
Works; and even his figures make the
cost of the railroad and its equipment
over 1920, 000,0O0
II may be many years before Russia
disburses the entire cost of the road; and
perhaps the Cars idea that il should
be advanced gradually aud in sections
will be followed. Gen. Annenkoff
says. however, that he eau complete IL
in three years and n half. The Gov
eminent Processes TO believe the road
will ere long pay fair interest on the
investment Ii is remarkable fact
that the transcaspian road in the first
year after its completion TO Samarcand
paid all its running expenses and wear
and tear. and then had over 800, 900
left in its treasury.
But the great interest OF the Siberian
railroad for the world at large will be
the fact that il will vastly shorten the
time between the Asiatic shores OF the
Pacific and the Western nations. Ii
now requires forty days or little
more to travel from London To Picking
by way of Brindisi aud Suez When
this great Siberian line is completed
me may. If Gen. Annenkon's time-ta.
BILE Is accurate. reach Peking from
New York IN twenty-five days seven
days to London. fifteen TO vladivostok,
and three thence TO Picking.
Perhaps, however. the next few years
will witness even greater feat OF rail-
road building "A line from the Mexi-
can roads cutting through Central
America and skirting the Cordilleras
until il JONES the lines from Buenos
Ayres. which are pushing north. This
project was once laughed at, but now
1t Is attracting the serious attention of
sensible men.-N. Y. Sspg