Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-05-23
THE SIBERIAN ROAD,
A Railway Seven Thousand Miles Long to
Traverse Rich Region,

traverse u NtCn
The members of the Russian colony
here read with much interest the special
dispatch announcing that the Imperial
Government had determined to begin
work at once upon the Trans-Siberian
railroad. The Importance of the work
both to Russia and to the United States,
on account of our Alaskan possessions,
was the theme of much conversation.
1t was the general impression of Rus
slams here, and of those Americans who
have interests in Alaska or who have
been there, that it WIS work of far
greater Importance than was generally
realized. Much Of Siberia along the
great Amoor, Oh, JeneSel and Lena riv-
ers is described as being much like Ne.
braska and the Dakotas in appearance
and resources. While it is colder, it is
being peopled by a hardy race. Immense
products of wheat, barley, oats, vegeta.
bles and hardy fruits are expected from
it.
Vice President Nicbaum, of the Alaska
Commercial Company, who is also Rus
sian Vice-Consul, is well acquainted
with General Annekoff the builder OF
the Transcaspian railroad, who will
have to do with tho building of the
Transsiberian railroad, and has great
contidence-in his ability. Mr.. Niebaum
estimates that on an air line the dis
lance from ST. Petersburg to Viadivo.
stock is close to 1000 miles, but that in
spanning the space between these
points, in order to conform with advan.
tageous valleys and passes, the road will
traverse from 5000 to 1000 miles. lie
says the project has been before the
Russian Government for many years
and is great financial undertaking, but
that probably the $500, 600, 900 estimated
will complete the work.
Mr. Niebaum thinks that in crossing
tho great Oh, JenoSol and Lena rivers
ferry-boats will be used because they
are very wide and often overflow. The
Jencsol, he says, often overfows in tho
spring of the year until it is sixty miles
wide. 81 think" said he, "thc survey
was made to Viadivostock last wear.
They are now building from Viad.vo-
stock to llankow, where they make
steamer communication with the Usmtee:
and from that to the AMOR"
A boom is expected at Viadivostock
something like that which has been
seen at some of our Pacific ports on tho
completion of a transcontinental line,
although from the difference in people
and resources, it will have another
character. 1t is not expected to be sud-
den or to cause great imitation, but to
be steady and sure. In regard to the
statement that one reason for building
! the road is that thousands of Chinese
are swarming over tho boundary and
taking our gold and precious stones. Mr..
| Niebaum says that some years ago
several thousand Russians and others
crossed over into the Chinese Territory,
established towns and founded novel
republic something like the Transvaal.
| They called the country New Califor-
mia, indicating that Californians were
there; they dug good deal of gold and
built up tlourishing region. The
Chinese were incensed at the invaders,
rose in arms against them and drove
them out Probably, he thinks, it is the
same Chinese who are now invading the
Russian territory.
1t is thought that the beginning OF
work on the Transsiberian railroad will
act as an incentive to private capital OF
TO the United States or Canadian
Government to build road from Van
couver to Behring Straits, thus forming
with the Russian system the last re.
naming part of the railway to complete
tho girdle of the earth.-San Francisco
| Chronicle.