Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-02

iron have to come from there Some Of 1t
is shipped from the west. That for the
eastern section is being taken around
through the Suez canal by sea, and there
is another lot which is shipped down into
Siberia, 1 am told by the Arctic ocean.
The road Is being constructed in the very
best manner. The rails weigh eighteen
pounds to the foot. The bridges are of
wood, and the road is well ballasted. The
greatest distance allowed between the sta :
lions Is thirty-five miles. and ii is pro-
posed to equip the road with enough roll
ing stock to form three sets Of army trains
every twenty-four hours. The road is to be
to large extent a military line, and Rus
STA will probably use it to satisfy her Gar
stations are built of wood INF the interior,
though some Of the larger ones are of
stones. The depot at Vladivostock is a big
two-story stone and brick building. 1t is
well constructed, and it would be re-
spectacle depot in the United States.
A Siberian Railroad Ride.
shall never forget my ride over the
eastern section of the Trans-Siberian rail-
road. I had my permit from the chief of
police, and through this was able to buy
a ticket to Nikolsk, which is about seventy
miles from Vladivostock. Only tllird-class
trains were running, and these had been
opened to passenger traffic only a few days
before, and SO 1 practically took the first
trip over the new route. I was accompanied
who spoke Russian and English and who
acted as my interpreter. I was living on
board the steamer in the harbor, about
three miles from the railroad. The train
started at IL p. m, and great storm came
up about 6. The harbor was full of white
caps and the waves ran high. The wind
was blowing, and a cold misty sleet ran
down into our bones like so many cork
screws as we left the vessel and started for
the shore. I can't describe the severity Of
this wind. 1t almost split the scalp when
1t touched the back Of my head, and cow
cred down in the sampan which I had en-
gagged, while the Chinaman in a water
proof coat sculled US through the darkness.
The night was Egyptian in its blackness.
A wall Of light rose out of the sea in the
distance, where the great barracks, with
their thousands of Russian troops, covered
the sides of the hills. Here and there out
of a mist sparkled the lights of a great,
black. monster steamer. and we rowed right
under the shadow of black hulks which
Island of Saghalin We narrowly missed
getting the train. We left the steamer at
$50, jumping into the boat which rose and
fell like a bolt of paper upon the waves,
and we had worked our way almost to the
shore when I found I had forgotten my
passport. The possibilities Of a Russian
prison came over me, and insisted that we
must go back to the ship after it. Both
my Japanese guide and the Chinaman OBJ
jected, but we finally turned back, and in
the end reached the land. with only twenty
minutes to make the train.
At the Station.
Hiring a droschky, with two horses, we
drove on the gallop through the mud to the
station. This was filled with soldiers and
police. There were common soldiers in uni
form, army officers in heavy overcoats and
guards by scores who marched up and
down with bayonets and guns. There were
police everywhere, and the station looked
mere like barracks than railroad depot.
At one end Of 1t was a restaurant, and at
the other end was the ticket window. At
ter showing my passport and my police
permit, I was able to buy ticket to
Nikolsk. The distance was, as have said,
seventy miles, and it cost me 50. 95 in silver.
The ticket was Of about the size of small
business envelope. 1t was white and no
thicker than note paper. Upon it were
printed the date and distance, and the
names of the stations. Showing 1t, pass
ed out of the door to the train, going by
more guards and police as I did So The