Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-06-16
ANOTHER RUSSIAN RAILROAD.
A Branch to be Built In Asia Toward
Afghanistan.

Afghanistan.
St. Petersburg Cor Of the London Times
The following description of the route of
the new Kushk Railway toward Herat is
given in the Sviet, of st. Petersburg: THE
railway will run TO Kushk, the fortified
post on the River Kushk. which is sit
uated Dos miles southwark from Merry, six
ty-seven miles from Tssh-Kupri, the scene
of tho Russian attack on the Afghans in
March. 1885, six miles from the Afghan
frontier post Of Kara-tepe, and ninety-four
miles from Merat by the most convenient
bent will approach he Murghab below the
oasis Of Talkhatan-baba and run along the
left bank Of that river. 1t will then in
road through the Ardevan and Seng Koal
passes. The new railway, leaving Merv,
will intercept the irrigation system of the
Otamish clan of Tekke-Turkomans, and
after avoiding the dam of Kaushut Khan
tersect the irrigation canals of the Yolotan
Sarik-TurSomans and proceed more to the
west of the main Yolotan canal. At the
dam of Kazakli Benu the line will again ap-
proach the left bank of the Murghab. 1t
will then pass along the left bank of the
Kushk at the confluence of that river with
Tas-Kupri. and so on across to the right
bank of the Kushk TO the bridge five miles
above Tash-Kupri. Along the right bank
of the Kushk the line will pass through
the GASES of Akcha-Kaya. Mar-Kala. Guz-
Kahn and Chaman-i-Bede. and thrugh
the Russian colony of Alexeifsky to the
Kushk post, which is to be the terminus.
Altogether the distance is 200 miles.
This new line. besides its military inn
portauce, which is evident, will have some
commercial significance. AT present our
trade with Northern Afghanistan, especial
" with the wealthy district of Herat, is
greatly interfered with by the intrigues of
the English against us in Afghanistan. This
obstruction is caused by the request of the
English that Russian trade with Afghanis-
tan be not allowed. and by their payment
of a large yearly sum to the Ameer as
compensation for the loss Of what would
accrue to him from the duties on Russian
trade. Under the new conditions introduce
ed by this railway the advantages to ABB
durrahman Khan Of a development OF a
trade with us that the English will prob
ably he no longer be able to make up for
the loss by adding more to the subsidy.
The writer of the latter comment is evil
IDENTIFY unaware that Anglo-Indian trade
with Afghanistan on the other side is not
rendered a bit easier by the duties and reg
uiations established by Abdurrahman Khan
and that the proposed Increase OF Russian
trade might induce the Ameer TO reap extra
profit from II In such a way as to interfere
considerably with its expected Importance.
The economical or commercial importance
OF the Merv-Kushk railway. however, Is
open to very much doubt. while Its military
and strategical significance is beyond
question. In point Of fact. it is stated that
the Minister OF Ways OF Communication
objected to undertake its construction on
that very account. 1t will therefore. be
built. like the trunk line OF the Central
Asian Railway. of which 1t will form a
branch. by the Minister 70 War. The prep
aration OF material for further extension
of the line right into Herat in case of ne
ceSsity is naturally not referred to in the
Russian press. although it forms very
important part of the scheme.