Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-01-16
TIE TRANSCASPlAN.
RusslA's NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY
TO SAMARCANO.

An Important Event In the Old Worlds
alstory-Asia to Reawaken to CONNER
ciaI Activity Modern Civilization Reach
! ing the Orientals.
/ An important event In the Old Worlds
history has been the completion by Russia
of narrow gauge railway from Oren
| burg in the Transcaspian province, to
Samarcand the holy" Mohammedan city
of Bokhara or western Furkestan The
shrill shrek OF the locomotive within $50
miles OF the gates Of Herat and within
too, about 600 miles OF the northwestern
military frontier of British India. is an
event to give pause to the observant pub
licist In al. lands. just as surely as it will
arouse another spasm Of terror and de
SPAR among our British cousins. especially
OF the lingo faith in politics
The appearance by rail Of the Russians
within comparatively easy campaign dis
tances Of Herat, the gateway Of Afghan
Btau and of Teheran the capital of Per
STA Is unquestionably as affairs stand,
menace to the British Indian empire II
is perhaps an even more direct menace to
the great Chinese kingdom and power II
certainly threatens as near possibility,
the Independence of Persia. and If so, the
Z
chistan on the Persian gulf But the
military character OF the situation will be
found. when analysed to be tho smaller
factor In 1t
Without doubt Russia has driven this
little track across the Merry desert to the
east Of the Caspian sea and over the fer
tile plains or praries of Bokhara for
military purpose But on its existence
Russia can have but slight hope. as any
one can see who has any experience In
military matters OF making II the means
OF precpitating operations against the
British power IN India There is in the
Russian Caucasus but one railroad and in
the nd jacen, parts of European Russia
but one other well equipped road on which
troops TO any number could be moved to
the shores Of the Caspian The feet on
that inland water is quite large and could
be rapidly made available for military
transportation 1t has been reported that
at least one thousand vessels navigate
that sea OF which one bali are steamers
Of considerable tonnage The railroad
east OF the Caspian. which is now at
Samarcand 500 miles beyond the sea and
the petroleum fields which have created
its large marine Is but poorly equipped
road 1t will not carry over fifty
tons per train. according to David Ker
and other travellers Its cost is said not
to have exceeded 5000 roubles per mile
that is To say about $4,000 in our
money bare statement of the fact
that this Samarcand Caspian road is Of
the character indicated shows quite plainly
that the Russian war office, which is ably
directed and understands of necessity the
science of logisties especially In view of
the territorial difficulties they must over
come In all their movements can have
no idea of precipitating an army on Brit
lsh India All Russia can do now in a
hostile sense by means of this new rail
road of hers Is to annoy the Anglo Indian
empire. and prevent perhaps, that full
/ concentration about Constantinople which
/ British statesmen are now likely to deem
most desirable
In other and more Importantly perma
neut ways the entrance OF the locomotive
into the ancient capital OF Timour, the
Tartar Is matter Of first class import
ance 1t Is far more likely to tell, and
very early too. in favor of the peaceful
and material development and rehabiia
tion OF central Asia than TO the provoking
OF more bloodshed 1t will of course con
centrate Russian power by its existence,
and il will also focalize the diplomacy of
intrigues which its ambition created at
this new center one thousand miles be
yond tho Transcaspian province. n>w
wholly secure In the hands of it's perma
nent army of 100 600 Russian soldiers
From Samareand will go and to it will
come the agents who will bring all Turk
ish nomads to the Russian standard who
will plot and eahal in Persia, who will ex
plore Tibet aud the great Himaayan
plateau who will press forward into the
northwest among the Mussnlman Chinese
OF the empire OF China, and also those
who will IN one way and another creep
into British India with the view of TO
mentin2 diSailectiou there among the vast
native population which it is conceded
by all is sufficiently disturbed to be good
material for such operations
All this presupposes that neither the
sagacious and able Anglo Indian soldiers
and statesmen, nor the very astute rulers
OF the vast Ceiestia! nationality. will do
anything to prevent or counterfeit the eX
pected movements of Russia Ii also
Ignores the largest factors in the problem
which the railroad exploitation of central
Asia and Siberia must produce Those
factors are involved in the new industrial
and commercial relations aud conditions
that are constantly being evolved Cen
turtles since all this central Asia region
was the seat Of powerful and prosperous
peoples We imagine that they have al
together passed into what might be in
nocuous drsHctudo IN these respects
but the traditions and some OF the forces
OF then former power and activity have
not been entirely oblterated The ex
perlences OF Blcycist Thomas Stevens in
his journey round the world have proven
his
The Samarcand Caspian railroad will
finally conquer "A new development and a
fresh power for native races OF Asia The
commercial prize for which Russia con
tends is u greater one than the territorial
acquisitions to which OF necessity She yet
aspires Sue wants to get to the India
ocean and Great Britain will be wise tc
allow her TO do SO 10y means of road
through Persia and Beelochistan New
York Graphic
81. Louis Improvement.
In some St Louis restaurants the waltt r.