Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-07-20


sod of the great Trans-Siberian rail
road. ! The work was pushed from
both ends of the line last year. From
NladivOstock compress of the ORIENT,
whose sanguine inhabitants delight to
think that their little town will yet
become another COnStantnOple, the
line has already been carried UP the
JsSmi branch of the Amr river, near
ly 300 miles. At the west emo OF the
line track1aying is advancing slowly
toward Omsk, and 1897 has been pro-
claimed as the year when the longest
railroad in the world, 1850 miles in
length, shall be completed, though it
is more likely that it will only be I'M
der good Roadway then, and that at
least IL decade will elapse before the
last nail is driven.
Though Russia has talked for years
OF this SrandioSe project and the pre-
liminary surveys have been for some
time completed, the enterprise in its
practical aspects really did not take
definite shape until this year, says
Cyrus G. Adams in the st. Louis Globe
Democrat 1t was only in January
last that the car appointed the final
commission, headed by the minister of
finance, 10 take charge OF the work.
Thirty mine millions Of roubleS, or $40,
$4,000, were appropriated for this
years expenditures and Il large sum
OF money was set apart to stimulate
immigration into western Siberia; for
colonization and road building are to
go hand in hand during the progress
OF the work. 1t is estimated by the
russian officials in charge that the
entire road will cost 35O,OOOOOO
roubles, about one-tenth of which, they
s",, vii be expended every year until
the great work is finished, ten years
from now.
AS Il business venture the western
part of the line may undoubtedly be
made profitable, but no one knows
whether the whole line can ever be
made to pay its operating expenses
anu IaIr return of the enormous
& capital invested. The road is certain
to be heavy drain on the state treas
Ntry, and 1t may not be operated at a
profit for Il century to come; but the
RUSSIAN government and nation have
heartily committed themselves to the
colossal work, for they feel that in
uG1y ways its fartreaching results
will rebound to the enormous advant-
age of the empire. The colonization
of Siberia, the development of its
mines and agriculture, the opening of
markets for Russian industries, the
heightening of Russian influences in
East TurkeStan, Mongolia, and Man
,uurlil, ana The diversion of Il part of
the trade Of China, Japan, and COrea
TO Russian territory-these and other
l.a.lJS are among the great ends for
44sa..l the empire is striving. Let us
examine briefly some aspects OF the
undertaking upon which, without
doubt, the future of Siberia depends.
The extreme western section of the
line now building starts from the little
town of TchelyabinSk, on the eastern
slopes of the Ural mountains. The
town is already connected or is soon
to be joined by rail with the two Rus
sian lines that push through the heart
On The iron mining region of the South
DIR road Is extending east toward
Omsk, 495 miles away, the capital OF
western Siberia. Good things are OF
ten far to seek, and so the Siberian
road toward the land Of promise mus
at the outset push across the DarreI
tt.ll& Almost useless waste, Slirting fol
nearly half the way to Omsk the north
a, ,h of Inn
dnSE1 (white tomb), the home Of the
Siberian cattle plague, and in wide
areas utterly destitute OF timber anC
soAtccC surlace water. The Russians
however, cherish the hope that this
region nearest their doors may some
day be reclaimed; and last year {
commission that had been eXaminin:
Tie ,iucatun vi water supply and thu
possibility Of colonization in this par
good water might be obtained by IL
teSian wells and the land lifted TO
agriculture by irrigation.
North of this barren region ant
along the railroad line between Omsl
and Marlinsk and in the wide area
around IJumen, kurgan, JalutorySk
TobolSk, Barnaul and Blisk, is a portion
of western Siberia that will, in time
become a garden. In area it is as larg
as France, and it is capable of supply
ing as large a population. Here ar
millions of acres OF the black earth
that gave surprising fertility to grea
regions in southern Russia until crOpI
ed to death and made thirsty by dc
forestation. Here live to-day 100000
people, mostly pure Russians who
within two centuries, have been voluI
tary emigrantS from the motherlanG
There are swampy reaches along tn
water courses, but most of the Ian
is well adapted to become one of tn
granaries of the world; and RuSSi
needs this now almost inaccessibl
region; for it has been found, thirt
years after the abolition of serfdon
that agricultural population has
some districts Of Russia increased ia
beyond the ability to secure freeholds
and this is one of the causes Whic
aggravated the two past seasons {
famine in that country.
The policy of the government toda
is to encourage and facilitate the I,
mova1 of the superf1uous populatio
from those parts Of Russia that. al
most likely to suffer from failure {
crops and consequent famine. TIL
fertile areas of western Siberia nee
Ghis surplus labor and the Cars go
eminent urgent seeks by means {