Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-11-17
An OVERLAND ROUTE.
FROM PARIS TO NEW YORK ey
RAIL.
A Railway Across Siberia, and q
Tunnel Under Behrins Sea.-A
Colossal Underiakinq.

land route; no change OF cars neces-
sary. It sounds absurd, but certain
operations are in actual progress
which brings such an achievement
Just within the range OF future possi-
bilities The main factors towards
this result are the siberian Railway
and Il tunnel under the Behring
straight. The one j. in steady pro-
grcss of construction the other has
only been talked about.
The Tiumen-Omsk section OF the
Siberian Railway, which has just
been openedIfor passenger traffic,
formed the first instalment of this
colossal work which is to dwarf all
the longest continental lines of the
world. 1t is to be 600 miles in
length, and as yet only 500 miles are
in actual use. From Omsk, which
is in the extreme west of siberia, 1t
is to extend in an eastward direction
to Crasnoiarski. a distance of nearly
one thousand miles. The embank-
ments and cuts forming this division
are already made. and work Is al.
ready being actively conducted to-
wards completion. From this point
the road will follow u more southerly
course to lrkutsk. go along the
southern shore OF Lake Baikal and
through the valley of the Seeluig
River, cross the valleys of the Lena
and the Ainur to Lake Colan, where
excellent coal has been found.
Thence 1t runs eastward to the steam
boat station OF Szejetinsk on the
Amur River. and follows the course
81 that stream south-eastward to
Nhabaroifka. There 1t will turn
southwark along the right bank of the
Cssuri. run to Grairsky, and termi-
nate ut Nladivostock, on the Sea of
Japan.
From this port operations have
been commenced in u northwesterly
direction for some two hundred miles,
and the road is actually running 10
Grapska. Thus it will be seen that
about one thousand miles, or nearly
one.sixth OF the entire distance, Is
virtually accomplished. But innum.
cradle and almost insurmountable
difficulties surround the bridging OF
the gap between these two EXTERN.
tiles.
siberia Is big country. 1t i.
twice as large rs the whole Of the
United states. Nine-tenths of its
territory has never been explored
The route of the railroad Is near the
tifty.iifth parallel, that is, rs far north
as Southern Alaska, and consequent.
~ the climate is very cold. The diff
Of nj nd sra NJ In
men and material Is considerable
The iron will come largely from the
Cral Mountains, near the western
terminus OF the road.
One Of the greatest difficulties en-.
countered so far Is the lack Of build
ing stone. In some places 1t has tC
be brought more than three hundred
miles, and where the rivers do no,
serve the cost of carriage Is enor
nous. Ballast Is also very scarce OF
the western part Of the line. Thu
natives, ut best not very numerous
will not 60 far from home to work
and the climate Is such that oper
ations are confined to u period be
tween the middle of May and the enc
of September. Deducting the mum
erous Russian holidays and the rain,
days. this leaves about one hundred
days available for pushing on progres,
each year.
Rails are shipped from England
through the Arctic to the mouth o
the ienisi, u somewhat venturcsom,
undertaking, and from there they
are carried up the river by two steam
boats, one drawing eight feet o
water, and the other, for service on tn,
Augura, which drains Lake Baikal
having draught of only three feet
six inches. These vessels are fitted
rs for an Arctic expedition.
On the eastern portion Of the line
the labor OF convict eXiles Is bein!
employed to u considerable extent
and $50 OF these are said to b,
now at work upon the railway. TIL,
Russian engineers estimate that tn,
cost OF the line will vary from $50, O0'
10 $67. 900 mile, according to tn,
difficulties to be overcome, but tn,
entire sum cannot be less than $500
100000. This enormous expense vii
be entirely betrayed by the imperia
treasury.
1t is not supposed that the roa'
will pay for u great number OF years
but the Gear is fully aware OF 1t
strategical value. 1t will enable hin
to command the northern bound
aries of his political neighbors witt
very much smaller military fore
than is required to-day.
When this railway is completed
and official surmises tx the year 1870
for its opening, journey about eigh
thousand miles long can be mad
from Paris to the Pacific ut Vlad
vostock. 1t will probably requir
about three weeks Of continuou
travel to make it. The BehrnI
Strait is only few miles wide ut it
narrowest point, and the possibilitie
Of tunnel are now being serious
discussed.
our ocean greyhounds may Gu
down their records and annihilat
time as much as they will, they car
not stamp out seaslckness. Their
seems be bare possibility tina
the opening OF the twentieth cen
fury may see timid old ladies, to whor
time is Of no consequence, takin
their annual trip to Europe ov(
nearly fifteen thousand miles
ground instead Of Drawing one-fft
that distance at sea- New lor