New-York tribune., 1894-04-05
RUSSTA'S GREAT RAILROAD.
IT WILL CROSS SIBERIA AND OPEN
NEW COUNTRY TO SETTLEMENT.
TO BE BUILT AND OWNED BY THE czAR's Gov
ERNMENT-OF GREAT IMPORTANCE fRoN
BOTH A MILITARY AND A CONNER
CIAL POINT OF VIEW.

CIAL POINT Of VIEW
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE,
Washington April 4-Although very little mas
been said about 1t in the United States the con-
s,ruc,,on OF railway across Siberia from east 70
vest by the Russian Government Is considereo inc
most important event Of this decade as concerns
the commerce and industrial economy OF Europe
and the political relations OF two OF tne sfea.
powers-Creat Britain and Russia. 1t Is even Oh
greater Importance to the world than the con-
struc,,on Of the transcontinental railways OF the
United States.
This road which was begun about two years ago
and is advancing rapidly. will be between 4'"o ana
5000 miles long, reaching from Nl)ni-NoVsoroo'
Oronburg and ports on both the Black ana the
Caspian seas to Vladvostock, on the japanese Sea-
and Okhotsl on the bay of the same name "nich
Is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean. The cost is es-
timated at about s3OOC00o)0 which VIII be entirely
furnished by the Imperial Treasury. IL IS not eA-
pected that the road will pay expenses Tor long
term OF years. but Ii Is an investment by the 1oV-
ernmcnt for economic industrial and military pur-
poses 1t is expected to aid in the development or
that vast territory. much Of which Is sthi uheN.
nlored but whose mineral, agricultural. pastoral
and timber resources are incalcuable, TO make ac-
cessible regions which are now beyond the reach
of immigration. and have no means OF gettine p9
thcir products market, and to furnish the Rus
sian Government with facilities for commanding
the northern boundaries OF ITS pontcal nrls,'ua5 s5
with very much less military force than Is redureu
to protect them to-day In its strategic Vaiu aie %
Russia could afford to put SHDVNVJV INTO this la'i
road without regard to the other advantages II
offers. ,.,.o,
desert extending from the frozen Ocean h on mi This ia
to the burning sands OF the troPSs pu' nN,s %
nearly 100000. There are several cities WIN @ =
population exceeding 5000 The agricultural proc, prod
portion of the whole. valued at an average OF
$1,000 year Ihe &c 9HpG5 fp o Hd m 'nT annnay and the
rs fish, skins and other products tnat &C come on m 9 op
t6 90 this DODulaOn S scattered over an
enormous area. 1t is only partially civilized The
aspire to the production OF anything more than is
necessary for local consumption The means o.
communication and transportation are lacking ana
as productive Industry Is measured in the European
countries and America IT may be saia s1, tha' '"o-
The proposed railway will open an area Of about
100000 square miles. not including the sterile as
bic for agriculture or pastoral pursuits But the
greater part Of the area thus SPenes or IS
available for the cultivation OF all the staples Of the
P se z0pG S wnSus IS snd
go. but that Is less than one inhabltant for l..D
encourage emigration as far as possible from Eu ,S
| ropean Russia by Offering inducements that tne
ha ther" WIN viii o be any EXTENSIVE emigration
other portions OF Europe, for obvious reasons ne ne
| introduction or Chinese into the country "ou'u 10
| more probable
From a commercial point Of view, the importance @ 1s
nsh means OF transportation for the Chinese Jap
anesc and Indian trade 70 Europe and divert tne
vans from the lines II follows further south. The
strategic value OF the road can be realized only oy
| those who have made study OF the elatons that
have existed between England and Russia 30 long,
the constant friction on the boundaries OF their si,
| colonies In the East, and the apprehension with
| which each has regarded the slightest movement
the other has made in that Objection. England has
been and will still be compelled 10 comnunicate te
with her eastern possessions by sea but Russia
can shift her troops from place TO place by railway
when this road Is done and divert immigration
toward the borders where her supremacy Is the
most difficult 10 maintain. -
In connection with this subject, II Is learned that
a party OF engineers, accompanied by Clarence Weo-
! stcr a Chicago newspaper man. intend TO sail for
| Nladivostock early in April. TO follow the line OF
the railway for the purpose OF making scienuic
survey OF the country II will pass through Mr.
Webster is how In San Francisco and while await
Ing the departure OF the party IL employed In the
! Hawaiian exhibit at the Midwinter Fair. The Rus
| sian Government has a fleet OF twenty-five steam
! ers some of them purchased in the United states
| and some In Europe for the purpose OF carrying
supplies to Vladlvostock and Transporting men and
| material for construction. II is said that much or
| the labor for the railway construction Is TO be