The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-15

Discussion--Cars Built on the Ameri-
can Plan.
Russian diplomacy is almost, if not
quite, the ablest in the world. 1t never
for one moment loses sight of the econo-
mical interests of the empire; and when
an opportunity for betterment of any
sort is offered it is seized upon to the best
advantage.
This is well illustrated by Russia's
promptness in using to the furtherance
of her own interests the recent regulation
of Oriental affairs.
Thus it was that she established the
Russian Chinese Bank, with privileges
and organization that give her financial
supremacy in the Celestial Empire As
to political supremacy, the entrance of the
Trans Siberian into Monchooria, the
penetration of great Russian national
railway into one of the most precious
provinces of China, assures that definite
".
At the same time this shorter and more
direct route, which has just been laid out,
makes possible the saving of enterprise,
the achievement of which will, in any
case, require the expenditure of vast sums
and hard labor.
These are the points which have been
discussed, for the last fortnight, in all OF
the political journals. However, there
are even more interesting phases of the
subject to consider.
A short time ago M. Levat, one of the
most distinguished of French engineers,
returned to Paris after second journey
across Siberia.
10 furnish some very good descriptions,
which, in addition to his rough map of
the section through which the road passes,
gives US a clearer idea of this gigantic
work, and the manner in which it is be-
ing executed, than any we had hitherto
been able to obtain.
There is one especially noticeable fact
title of national that the Russians
have given it, for everything about it is
Russian. Our friends have made strides
in that sort of thing since the time Michel
Chevalier, a French engineer, laid the
first rail that ever covered their soil
Their engineers of today are graduates
OF national schools; their iron comes from
the Ural mines. and they mould it in
their own manufactures They ask no
aid of the foreigner for any part whatso-
ever of their material. In this immense
enterprise of the trans-Siberian every
thing is Russian, everything will be Rus
sian, and at the same time everything
will be done according to the latest breath
of progress. This is not in the least an
Siberian it is not merely hackneyed
phrase; it is strict accuracy.
From st. Petersburg to Vladivostok
lie tracks extend for 500 versts, more
han co 0 miles.
The French traveller, as he passes
through our provinces on his way from
Paris to the Mediterranean cannot subdue
feeling of pride at the greatness of his
country. What, then, must be the senti-
ments of the Russia MS when their loco
motives carry them from ST. Petersburg
to Vladivostok, a stretch of almost 7000
miles?
The TRANSIT Pacific, from New York to
San Francisco NJ. Levat tells us, is not
SO long by one-half; the Trans Caspian,
precursor of the Trans-Siberian, the
difficulty as well as the rapidity of con-
struction of which excited our admira-
ton a few years ago. is only $50 miles
long. 1t seemed then as if it would be
difficult indeed to exceed such a record
for work, as tracks 6o0l miles long, cross
ing two continents at stretch, are not
numerous on our planet.
The real head of the line is at Tchelia-
binsk, the first large Siberian city one
reaches after leaving Moscow, the trip be-
tween the two cities taking so hours.
The rails are actually laid as far as
Nijnisudinsk, just beyond Krasnojarsk,
in central Siberia, which is half the en-
tire distance. The journey to Tchelia-
binsk, the actual terminal point, con-
su1nes from 200 to $50 hours.
There has not been as yet much traffic
along this road, but Western Siberia has
had regular train service for long time
There are trains running east and west
three times a week, and stations have
been erected all along the line, which
are tending rapidly to promote CONNER
cial life.
The trains are well arranged with bag
gage cars and lavatories for all classes.
The coaches, which are distinctly Ameri-
can in plan, with central aisle running
tine entire length, are very comfortable,
even those of the third class. The sleep
ing cars have single berths, one for each
passenger. Before the end of this century
or at the latest the first year of next we
may in this way be able to travel luxuri-
ously, without a break, from Paris to
Vladivostok, the great Siberian port of
the Japlnese Sea. A.
Russian engineers have indeed distin-
guished themselves by the extraordinary
rapidity with which they have laid their
railroad across the steppes, over rivers
and through forests and mountains. To
make a dctour OF $50 miles or SO seems