The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-24
TRANS SIBERIAN RAILWAY
Half Of 1t Already Surveyed and
Work to Be Pushed
Rapidly.
All the Energies of the Russian
Government Conferred in
the Enterprise.
Political and Commercial Advantages o
the Proposed Line-Its treat Length
Preliminary Work,

The government of the czar Is pushing
forward the work Of the Siberian railroad
with all possible speed. IT announced
early this year that all available money to
be derived from this years budget would
be devoted to this work. The road will be
twice as long as any of the American trans
continental lines. The government has
ceased to carry on other public works and
railways. These enterprises must for some
time be conducted by private companies
without state aid.
The government has resolved to open the
road to traffic in 1896. Many engineers.
however, are doubtful that this can be done.
and some of them say ten or twelve years
will elapse before the road is in operation.
1t is probable, also, that the total failure of
the crops in large districts of Russia and
the necessity for government aid mey in
terfere with the progress OF the railroad
enterprise.
Why is the Russian government in such a
hurry to build this great railroad? As a
matter OF fact, the car is afraid that the
Chinese have designs on the rich and fertile
valley of the Ussuri, which forms the east
srn boundary between Manchuria and the
AAAo dkOAU5 dV L 0hlu 10.
ported late last year that the Chinese gov
eminent. influenced by certain western
powers. intended to build a railroad from
Pekin to the Amour, through M%anchuria;
that much of the route had already been
surveyed by English engineers, and that
China's object was to better establish her
authority over Manohuria, and also to
enable her to advantageously defend it in
case of war. Work on this railroad has
actually begun, though its southern ter
minus is to be Tientsin instead OF Pekin.
If China has trouble with Russia such a
railroad would also enable her to threaten
and perhaps to cut off the Ussuri province
from the rest of Siberia.
The Importance of building the Siberian
railroad is n question upon which public
men of all shades of opinion in Russia are
united. In a letter written by Minister dc
Glers early this year that statesman quoted
the opinion of the minister of war that in
the event Of hostilities with China it would
be very difficult to defend the Amour dis
orlct.. DE Glers endorsed this view, and
added that if the Chinese Mt any time enter
talned hostile intention against Russia the
possessions of Russia in eastern Siberia.
caJ OH as they now are seven months in
every year, would be in an exceedingly pre-
carious position. The Immediate reason
for building the railroad, therefore, is a
political one; but there are many who be-
illeye that the line is vastly more important
in a commercial than IN q political sense.
The whole of the route has been manned
ont. but only one-half of it has been iron.
erly surveyed. The other half has been
partially examined. and n fresh party of
engineers was recently sent from ST. Peters
burg to carry on the work. The SURVEYED
portions are o continuous, but embrace
long stretches of the road on different parts