Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-11
SIBERIAN WATERS NAvIGABLE.
Captain Wiggins's Twenty Years
Struggle TO Prove the Fact.
(AcadenVD

(Academy)
In paper on his explorations of ST.
bcrian rivers. read recently in London
Captain Virgins said that Il was now
twenty-five years since he had COM
menced his first voyages TO the Kara
Sea and the estuaries Of the great rivers
Yenesei and Obi. Merchants and CAPT
talists, both in England and Siberia Isl
dorov, Trapeznikoy, Sboriakoy), had
gradually become convinced of the cor
Tectness % his assertion that the Kara
Sea was open for the navigation Of yes
sells especially adapted for this work,
and If the Yenesei and Obi are navigable,
even during a short period Of the year, 1t
would create extensive trade relations
between Europe and the whole Of Ash
atic-Russia- The gigantic area COM
prised under the general term Of "Asiatic-
Russia" would be brought into com
mcrcial relation with the rest Of the
world through the medium of the i'm
mcnse network Of waterways all flowing
with the exception Of the AmuC from
south TO north. His first voyage was
on the Diana, a yacht specially adapted
for this work. and manned by a picked
crew Of the best Scotch whalers. He
set sail from England on June 8, 1874,
and entered the Kara Sea through the
Iron Gates on June 2ith where the large
quantity of ice he met with convinced
him that he had arrived six weeks earlier
than was necessary. The ice moved
nOrthward owing 10 the Gulf Stream,
and the water Of the White Sea. the Pc
chora, and other rivers flowing into the
Kara Sea through three straits. the
Matovchkin Shar. the Iron Gates, and
the Nukorsk Shar. The presence Of this
warm water was shown by thermometer
cal observations made on the surface.
and also its inner depths, in the vicini-
~ Of the Kara Gate. where the tenn
perature of A. degrees Fahrenheit.
Observations of the magnetic deviation
OF the compass proved deviation of 30
degrees TO the east in the northern por-
tons of the Kara Sea. The accuracy Of
the old Russian charts was confirmed,
and does credit TO the Russian travellers
or photographers. A series Of sound
inss and measurements was made Du-
ring the whole course Of the voyage. as
far as 200 miles inside Of the Gulf of Obi.
the depth was not less than six fathoms
This was the beginning OF August, and
everywhere the sea was free of ice.
Having spent two months In the Kara
Sea, he returned home with the convic-
ton that it was accessible for navigation
even further north than the mouth of the
survey Of the various eypeditlons-twenty
five in Misunderstanding from 1874 in
which not less than thirty seven different
vessels have taken part, accomplishing
voyages TO the mouths Of the Obi and the
Yenesei and also UP these rivers He
enumerated the voyages made under his
command. and was convinced that no
shipwrecks were due 10 the influence of
the ice. but should be ascribed 10 fogs and
other causes, which might be met during
navigation in any quarter of the globe
He next enumerated the expeditions OF
NordenskjOld, Gardner, Sidorov, SiDiria-
kov. Baron Knoop Trapeznikov and
German expeditions TO Nadim. Not less
than twenty-four expeditions, composed
In all of thirty-seven vessels (of which
five were sailings ships. quite unsuited TO
such voyages, safely trayersed the Kara
Sea without any misadventures or him
ORANGES from ice The trading vessels
sailing on the Kara Sea during the past
twenty years, including Norwegans and
those which formed part of the above
nGmGl expeditions, number altogether
go. Steamers OF ordinary construction
should be conveyed by a steam vessel
Of special type and build Cor investigating
the shape Of the ice and indicating the
course over the Kara Sea, and. in case
OF need for affOrding necessary asss-
lance. Up river the fuel used on the
steamers Is wood. Of which there is an
abundant supply. An immense timber
trade IS in store for enterprising ex-
porters.
The natives are robust and superior
80 the Esquimaux. Reindeer furnish
the Samoyeds with everything they need
food. clothing. shelter. and the means of
transport. They purchase tea and other
mxuries from the Russians, and altoge-
Their lead an independent and happy life
As a rule, the summers are fine. with an
abundance Of wild fruits and flowers
while the winters are as clear as in Can
ada With regard TO gold mining. the
greater part Of IL was conducted IN a
very primitive manner. simply washing
the earth IN q shallow tray and letting
the refuse escape. The late Emperor
Alexander III. took a warm interest in
this question OF a Kara Sea passage. In
reference to the grand Siberian railway,
he said IL would connect the Baltic ports
with the Pacific Ocean. covering the i'm
mense distance Of 1900 English miles
The construction Of this railway com
pletes the railway belt around the world.
The honor Of forging this last link has
fallen to the lot OF Russia. The railway
will create new life, by attracting popu-
lation and developing the industries and
wants OF the inhabitants. All bulky arti-
cles. such rs grain. timber. &C.. requiring
p cheap freight, would, as a natural con-
sequence be transported by the immense
waterways OF Siberia. and find an issue |
toward the sea. The case would be the |
same with the importation Of machinery
and other bulky articles. The wealth OF
The Siberian gold-mine owners is proverb- /
Ial; therefore their capital, which IS now
lying semi-dormant. viii circulate a thou
sand fold. labor in this, FL Dorado being |
The only thing required. When the |
straits and entrances 10 the rivers have |
been exactly determined. and improved |
maps published vessels from all euro
pean ports-Russian and foreign alike
will establish a lively trade, and COM |
bne their efforts with those of the |