New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-09
RUSSIA'S ASIAN RAILROAD.
EFFECTING A COMMERCIAL REVOLUTION
THE THRONE AND THE PEOPLE.
Txryr * OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE

showed the world how to overcome difficulties
which have always been considered insurmount-
nble That road was built over the sandy desert
of Kara-KoOmi. II connects the Caspian Sea
with Samarkand, the ancient capital of Tamerlane,
and has opened to scientific inquiries such highly
interesting countries the lands of the Turkomans
the ancient Margian and the SOgdian. 1t is said
that scientific researches making progress
there very favorably; but of course, the advance
mont of science was of the least consideration
in the building of the road, which has cost uhe
Russian Government an enormous outlay OIL
money. II is safe TO say that no such ROAD coulu
be built in any country where railroads are con-
structed by private enterprise 1t Is primarily
a strategic road, built for military purposes ior
the sake of obtaining the needed faclIlues lol "
speedy mobilization of the army 10 Vhe DiI'isH
dominions in India; the interests OF cIVlhz"Iion
and of commerce entered the scheme as secondary
considerations yet, after all. these were the hIst
ones to be promoted by the opening OF the new
road.
The Transcaspian road affords new and an
extremely important outlet for Russian manu-
features and as such has been instrumental in
producing condition of things of great interest
N all thoughtful observers. Inquiries about the
working of o railroad would meet with few if
any difficulties in the West Of Europe or in the
United States Not so in the Cars Empire.
Russian railroads run by private enterprise
scarcely ever issue reports of the movement OF
freight over them, while the Government roads
never publish any such reports at all; and the
Transcaspan is owned and managed by the
Imperial Government. 1t is TO the private
enterprise of one of the Russian engineers
stationed at Tchardiuy-M. Rodzevitch-whO had
all facilities for getting at the official railroad
books that | am indebted for the first account
of the transit over the Transcaspian, from which
/ borrow the following figures In the course OF
the year 1SS7 the transit of merchandise over
the said road amounted TO 3,70l ,G53 puds, In the
year 1888 to 5,5S6,1s4 puds, and in the first half
of 1889 to 1851, l2O puds. Russian pud being
equivalent 10 26I13 English pounds. Thus it is
seen that during the year 1889 the freight transit
over the Transcaspian Railroad must have been
considerably over 25O,OOO,OOO pounds. The
most considerable object of export from Central
Asia into Russia was cotton, and next TO ii grain,
though it had always been supposed that the
Transcaspian regions were barely able 10 raise
grain enough for home consumption. Apart from
these it is mostly raw material that Is imported
over the road from Central Asia, such as wool,
silk skins and hides, rice and dried fruit During
the same period of time Russia has shipped over
the road 10 Central Asia chiefly sugar, manu-
featured goods. alcohol and kerosene. Up TO the
last wear the Russian manufactures used to con-
sumo from 2GO, 000, 900 to 400,OOO,OOO pounds OF
cotton yearly-all of which was imported from
America. East India and Egypt In tie course
of the wear 1887 alone cotton was imported INTO
Russia 10 the amount of 06,437 900 roubles, or
nearly SAS, 100000 worth. Now, however,
all this is 10 be changed. This years import of
cotton from Central Asia over the road IS
estimated to amount to more than 100000
hounds. and much of that is cotton raised in
Russian dominions of Central Asia. Ia tie Prov
ince of Serghana alOre over 10000 acres oil H:s-
class land is to be given up the coming spring to
the planting of cotton from American seed eA-
clusively. Large tracts of land are also to De
devoted to the raising Of cotton In the oasis OF
Merry, and on the enormous estate of Murghab, he
longing 10 the Gar In fact, it is confidently
expected that the time is not far distant when
all the cotton used by the constantly grow
ing Russian mills will be Of home production.
All this cannot fail to be highly gratifying 10 TIE
Russians; and in fact, Notwithstanding constant
rumors of Nihilistic plots against the Gar me-
il is reasonably safe 10 say that the country ioi
many years back has not been 50 well satisfied
as it is at the present time.
Apart from abuses inherent TO a despo,ic fom
Of government, the rule Of Alexander the Third
has. 10 q great extent been wise one and must
be given full credit for one thing. most unusual
in a Young monarch he. has not even attempted
10 use his power 50 as TO assert his own person
alty, to gain fame and name in history at The
expense Of the peaceful development Of the
country Then, again. his policy has Teen
thoroughly consistent No one expects any
liberal reforms 10 be introduced by Alexander
the Third but capital has gained confidence
and commerce and industries are on the increase.
the people believing that the Emperor is strongly
averse to war. The finance, Of the country have
been greatly improved in the course Of tie last
two years The Russian roubles has increased in
value, and that is an important factor in keeping
The more selfish AMI wcll-tJ-do classes IL good
humOr
In considering the condition Of the Russian
people at present. there is one fact % be kept
constantly in mind tie Gar has openly declared
that he holds the nobility 10 hc the CHIEF sup
porters Of the Crown. and that as such they are
TO he favored and strengthened as class br the
Crown as much possible. Now. the large
landed proprietors of Russia are 10 a great extent
manufacturers also To this course they were
forced by sheer necessity. Most of the Russian
railroads have been built from strategic con
sderations alone. and the enormous majority Of
larga estates lie far away from railroad stations
The transportation Of grain by horses over tracts
of land of ten. twenty or thirty miles does not
pay therefore rich landed proprictOrs have long
ago built distleres. rcGncrics and factories on
their estates, on which they consume most Of
their grain, beef and potatoes in making alcohol,
sugar and starch, which are easily transported
Thus, the interests Of the more powerful and
Independent part of the nobility must 70 a great
degree coincide with those of the merchants and
mill owners who, of late years are also increasing
their establishment and getting ready 10 double
their successful competition in Central Asia against
more expensive English goods. 1t may be said
even that the great bulk OF the Russian nation
The peasants-are satisfied. 4 certain pcIccutaoe
of misunderstanding, Woodworking and rather IN
scrupulOus-grow richer with every wear and
promise in time TO develop into class Of farmers
,,Il 10 va crowded On! p,io I.,.,t.I