The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-02
THE NEW SIBERIAN RAILROAD.
A Great Work which Is Being Con-
structed i'm a SubstantiaI Manner.

structed In Substantial Manner
Mrs. Bishop. in st. James's Gazette.
After returning to yladivostok / made
the trip, as far as 1t is at present open,
by the Ussuri railway (the eastern section
OF the transsiberian line) to this hamlet on
the Ussuri river. Few things in Siberia
nave surprised me SO much this rail-
road and the country through which 1t
passes. The eastern terminus is close to
pier below. the town. The station is large
and very handsome, of dark gray granite
doors n ned bro 8u tne sna a e ane
are in efficient working order. The admin
istrative offices are also of stone, and very
spacious and handsome. At present only
third and fourth-class cars are running.
the latter chiefly patronized by Cinnamon
and Coreans. Each third-class saloon is
divided into three compartments, with
corridor, and has a lavatory and steam
heating apparatus. The backs of the seats
ing. and as the cars are nine feet high,
they admit of broad luggage shelves above
these
The engines which run the traffic at pres
ent are old American locomotives. Those
which will shortly be introduced, along with
a Battle aso are thu ra
the iron bridges. the water tanks, all the
iron-works required for stations, and all
stantial houses for artisans have been
erected at the prosperous town of Nikol-
skoye, sixty miles from Vladivostok, for
the repairs of rolling stock on this Ussuri
section. and are always in full activity.
There is nothing about this line of the new
ness and provisional aspects which dis
tinguish American lines. not even excepting
some parts of the Canada Pacific railroad.
The track is already balasted as far as
Ussuri. about 1856 miles; steel bridges span
the minor streams; substantial stations.
either of stone or decorated wood, with
well-kept buffets, at fixed distances, sue
cesSfully compete as to stability and APP
pearance with those on our branch lines.
The tank houses are of hewn stone. The
houses for the employees, besides being
decorative, are most substantial being built
of logs and cement, painted with five coats
of solid masonry; telegraph wires accom-
pany the road. which is worked strictly on
the block system, The crossings are well
laid and protected.
remarkab BILE. Even the temporary bridge
here over the Ussurl, 1850 feet in length
trestle bridge of heavy timber to resist
the impact of the ice-is so solid and mas
sive as to make the great steel bridge, the
granite piers for which already built,
appear work of supererogation. Up to this
bankments and the gradients are easy. The
cost of construction is $4,000 roubles "a
ruble now equals a dollar) per verst (3,500
feet) This includes rolling stock, stations.
etc., and all the bridges, except those over
the Amur, Yenesei, etc. The Amur bridge
is to cost 100000 rubles. Convict labor has
been abandoned, and Chinese act the part
of navvies, earning about so cents day.
The work is to go on throughout the win
ter, and at this moment about two hundred
men are working here in a severe snow
storm.
The line as far as Nikolskoye. 102 versts,
was opened thirteen months ago. and
earned within year 100000 roubles. The last
lob versts have only been open eight weeks,
and speed is strictly limited, averaging
nine miles an hour. Engines and wagons
are now running fifty versts further than
UsSurf, and this distance will be ready for
traffic in March. At present, 327 versts are