The sun., 1890-01-15
The Railroad Across Siberia.

The Russian Government will begin next
spring to build its great railroad across ST.
IBERIA, and dispatches from st. Petersburg
announce that the work will start stimuli
taneously at Vladivostock, on the Pacific,
and at the present eastern terminus OF the
Russian railroad system. Gen. ANNENKoFF,
to whose capacity as builder of railroads
the trans-Caspian line across the deserts OF
Turkestan Is monument, has been the
steadfast promoter of this greater project.
His plan for the road was approved last win
ter by commission of forty-iive 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 formi-
dable undertaking would have been deferred
for years to come.
The enterprise has met with much opDOsi-
tion In Russia from part Of the newspaper
press and nobility. Prince MEsTCHERsKY
In his own newspaper n while ago. said he
could see no use for the road except to re-
duce the price Of oranges In Siberia from n
ruble to ten copecks each. The opponents Of
the scheme have charged that the road would
bring Russia to tho verge of bankruptcy
and that its only enthusiastic supporters are
thousands OF contractors who expect to
mako money out Of It, On thc other hand,
the friends OF the project assert that both In
its military and its commercial aspects the
road will be great success that it is nee
essary for the protection Of the Pacific pos
sessions, which arc now almost completely
isolated from tho mother country, and that
II will give u great impetus TO the develop
ment of Siberla's resources.
Since the world began to realize how i'm
mense are the agricultural possibilities of
the rich black soil of southwestern Siberia,
and that there is plenty Of treasure slowed
away among tho mountains of the south
eastern regions. there has never been any
question that this railroad, about 1900 miles
long. would be built in time. The engineer
ing problems arc nowhere formidable,
though some large bridges will be required,
and some mountain ranges must be trav-
ersed TO reach the Pacific For many hum
dreds of miles Gen. AYEENKorI' proposes
that the road shall follow almost straight
line, some distance south of the fifty-ifth
parallel. Not an unnecessary ruble Is TO be
expended in ornamental buildings or other
things that are costly and not essential
Everything Is to be sacrificed to the line of
IdiiS it9oh' "Hu ~ 10 AHbo'ueu W MANI till9
rs straight, level, and strong as possible SO
that one locomotive may draw a long train
After tho ground was surveyed and the
plans prepared, Gen. ANNlHKoFF said he
would engage to build the road for about
one-half the first estimates 9f the Ministry
of Public Works; and even his figures make
the cost of the railroad and Its equipment
over 1920, 100000.
1t may he many years Gefore Russia dis
burses the entire cost Of the road; and per-
haps tine Cars idea that it should be ad-
vanced gradually and In sections will be fol-
lowed. Gen. ASNENRoPP says, however,
that he can complete It in three years and a
half. The Government profess 10 believe
e :. -. - Al. .i..Al.n..l-