, 1896-07-29
life and A. E. Touzalin of the Burling-

which form the most interesting chap
ter in this history.
REACHED THE CARS EAR.
There was at thai time in Omaha one
NJ. S. Martinovitch, a M~ontenegrin and
a cousin of Nicholas l., Prince OF Mon
tenegro. Martinovitch was greatly in
teresied in the project, and through
his influence and that Of the prince
means was found to reach the cars
ministers, and an outline of the plan.
together with the inducements it Of
fered for imperial favor, was presented
before the court Of 81. Petersburg.
Briefly, the plan contemplated moth
ing more than the securing from the
emperor of the exclusive franchise for
a bridge. tunnel, or other means Of
transportation across the Behrins
Strait, the expectation being tina a
smaller franchise could then be readily
obtained from congress. which then
had, and now has. apparently, very lit
tie use for Alaska in general and Beh-
ring Strait in particular. The ConStruc-
ton of a railroad from Puget Sound to
the strait from the strait to NladivO-
lrkutsk. and from Irkutsk, following
he old aravan route acros The
stcrpes of Siberia, to connect with the
Russian railroad system, which had
nj then passed the Ural mountains,
WAS the anticipated result of tunnel
ing the strait. The franchise for which
one Pacific railroad builder boldly as
serted could be bonded in Holland for
800, 000, 900. if it was not completed for
80 years"
TO JOIN RUSSIA AND AMERICA.
1t was represented to the cars min
is.er-and the Trans-Siberia railroad
now in process of construction had not
then even been dreamed of at St. Pet
ersburg-that the inevitable result OF
the scheme in contemplation would be
the union Of Russia with the United
States by an all-rail QUITE: tina this
"p'l 'illNll my u l. 1 III
relations between the two countries
brought about by the appearance of the
Russian feet at San Francisco at a
critical period of the civil war and,
later on, by the sale to the United
States of the territory of Alaska for a
mere song as a preventative of further
British aggression on the Pacific coast.
that a trans-Siberian railroad would be
of great strategic advantage to Russia
in protecting her China frontier, and
that by it. in case of Indian entangle-
ments. the car could hurl his troops
across the frontier and into British ter
ritory before the English troops and
ships could reach India via the Suez
canal.
The development Of the of
Siberia and Alaska, the interchange OF
commodities between Russian and the
United States. the crippling of British
commerce by an all-rail line. and many
other considerations were set forth,
and. in case the project met with fav-
or, the Russian minister was requested
to secure, for the purpose of recon-
noissance. passports for Mr.. Kent and
party through Siberia and Western
Russia to the imperial capital.
FAVORABLE REPLY RECEIVED.
Within 60 days from the date Of
mailing this communication a reply
was received that fairly took the am
1t covered three sheets of the size of
American foolscap paper. but condensed
to a few words was this: The Russias
were unable with the limited advices
al hand to grasp the full scope of the
project. but were ~favorably impressed
by the proposition. 1t was suggested
most earnestly that instead of going
over the proposed route from east to
west, via Behring Strait and Siberia,
Mr.. Kent should come to St. Peters,
burg, where said the ministerial epis-
tie, you will be accorded a personal in
terview with his majesty, and even if
you should not receive the substantial
support you expect (none was expected
or asked) you will at least be decorated
and made independent for the rest of
your life. Should you continue your
journey said the minister, you will
travel by the e1nperor's own post, and
will be given letters fo the governors
of the eastern provinces (of Siberia)
that win insure you a safe and speedy
passage"
Not wishing to appear at St. Peters,
burg without the prestige of a rams
Siberian journey. the request for trans
ports was renewed, and a second letter
was received from the same authority,
stating that in case it was %expedient
for Mr.. Kent to come to ST. Petersburg,
a commission would, with his sanction,
be sent to consult with him at Omaha.
This was, for certain reasons, as little
20 be desired as an audience with his
majesty, and after some further nego-
tiations the desired documents were
secured, and a reconnaissance made
possible, so far as they were concerned.
AMPLE BACKING AVAILABLE.
The enterprise had now resolved it
self into a question Of ways and means.
More than a dozen years had elapsed
since it was first seriously considered,
and the way at last seemed clear for
an important advance. A half dozen of
the wealthiest and most influential citi-