The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-10
RUSSIAN RAILWAYS.
Extraordinary Activity of she Govern
meat In Constructing Lines.

London Transport
There is no country In Europe to which
the general question Of railways and COM
munications are OF greater importance
than Russia. This Is recognized by the
fact that she alone among the powers
has ministry OF ways and COM
munieations. To an empire comprising
one-sixth OF the territorial surface Of the
GLOBE. stretching over large portion OF
its northern regions, and approaching
very nearly ia extent 70 the vast domini0ns
owning the sway Of Great Britain, Il Is
essential to her prosperity that the facili-
ties for intercourse and communication
should be Of the most advanced type.
Extending from the Rattle 90 the shores
Of the Pacific ocean, and from the A-ctio
seAs 10 the Danube. the very vRstasss Of her
territory Of 10 poor and ill-sdap'ed
tor the growth of products Of commercial
vaiae. and some OF it subject 30 climatic
conditions which are distinctly unfavora-
bic 70 any kind o. development such as
Sudden and violent transitions from ex-
trrmes IT heat Snd cold-may have IRE
vented Russia keeping pace with other
European countries IA The extent ~ her
rsil NaY mileage. Moreover. the surface Of
Russia has its disadvantages as well a.
some advantages. - far - railway build
ing IS concerned loN. rocky ranges Of
hills ere aprca1 over much Of Ffrta,a
Olincts and Russian laplant. The NalIat
plateau. on the south % ST. petrrsbvrr
where the N0iga has its source
Is 81 comparatively tgis.rr eleva-
ton. bnt 10 Is ~ vstv lfr,tsef
extent Spurs from the frontier Urs,.
diversity the country "a that direction.
objects stretch Gus from the mighty chain
at the Caucasus, and = bold mountainous
trspk occupies the southeast coast OF the
Cvimca. But IN many parts the souu-
rs is dead level, comrr.sirr
natural forests. aOoaless steure-
dresry noor,Ands and extensive marshe.
in which the cultivated coll seems like
patches Although there are about a
doren RIVER basins Il important magni.
tuae. aud the country is bounded IN parts
~ vast eKpanses az ocean and sea. these
ocean highways are rendered periodically
uaserviceahle by climate and thus the re-
latjons of the country wlth she great m.r-
kets Of the world have been erippied.
A. 10 the railways. have before me =
refaru which shows that on January !.
l>9t the total length Of The lines belong
tas % she government exclusive ~ tie
transcsspian and Ussuri lines. amounted
Sc ti.6t2 VESTS 9.006 mUcsl Waite the
length ~ private railways. Including
tae Nosco s. Nasan t.ne, was L. 193 verSts
t>>et mNssA md that during
tue tast year the activity 81 the minister
~ ~ays end communication was IN
European Russia mostly directed 20 the
Improvement Of tae existing systems:
ahat considerable attention hss keen de-
voted 80 the m2tter Ct modifying rates 81
eaFriaEe, and taat \ Eocd deAl has
bewa dove IN she way cf purchasing
private haes ot railway ON behalf az the
eFoHw. sita tas 0eNe>: Of diminishing the
hnrisa imposed on the unancxs ~ the
eeoatFYs ~ the payment of the xuAran~
tssa m5ainBm Interest ca these railways.
tha management of Nhich was SrneraaIy
astFlEsantai - she interests q tas
seoen. Daring the rear iS3 tho govern
sa@af tsgS nxeF ths Moscow hursS line,
81 aslsss "a .sagsai the OrenbuFg Aas.