The San Francisco call., 1897-11-21
Extension Of the Trans-Siberian
Road From Vladivostok
West Cuts a Figure.
SHORT .LINEg AROUND THE GLOBE.
When Russia's Great Railway Is Fin
ished Jules Verne's Ideal Record
Will Be Gut in the Middle.

The Klondike is not the only place on
earth where great discoveries OF gold have
recently been made. 1t takes a long time
to get authentic intelligence from the in
terror of Siberia, but if half the stories
coming from that region can be estab-
lished as truthful prospecting parties viii
soon be Quitting in San Francisco for a
voyage to VIadivostok and a journey
from that seaport to the affluents OF the
Amoor River.
A year ago last summer Russell E.
Dunn, a mining engineer of this city. was
summoned to Paris by cable to consult
with French syndicate regarding quartz
mining in Siberia. 1t was determined
that be should go to the ledges in the far
away Siberian territory He made q jour
ney of 1000 miles by rail over the recently
constructed Trans-Slber ian Railroad. At
Irkutsk he went in a vehicle commonly
used in the country and drawn by three
horses to a point 2000 miles farther dis
tant on one OF he stream flowing from the
mountains into the Amoor River. There
he found miners delvlng in the richest OF
placer mines. Some idea may be formed
of the wealth of the region in precious
metals when ii Is considered that gold o
the value OF $40. 600 600 had been taken
from one gulch or raYIne not over two
miles long.
Mr.. Dunn ascertained that the Russian
methods Of mining, while thorough in |
the way OF obtaining all the GOLD. We're |
old-fas ioned, expensive and tedious. In |
the development of quartz mining little !
progress had been made, as the German |
engineers did not seem 10 understand |
how to handle the ore.
As a MINING replOu the COUDtrV differs |
from California and resemb bles the Upper |
Yukon districts in this, that no sign of a |
secondary upheaval of nature is visible. !
The placer leads show that the gold de- !
pOsits are the result OF glacial action with |
out subsequent volcanic dis; rbance.
Mr.. Dunn. the engineer, returned 10 /
Paris and submitted an elaborate report |
and extended noies OF his expedition. |
The syndicate determined TO proceed with |
the work of development, and so EN- |
glneers were again dispatched to Siberia. |
Mr.. Dunn went with the party. Expe |
rience OF the first trip taught them that |!
tile route across the Atlantic 10 New |
Y ork. thence bv rail TO San Francisco and |
by the Pacific Ocean TO VIadivostok, |
thence by rail over the eastern division |
of the Trans iberian Railroad, is shorter |
ard better than the route through Europe |
and via Irkutsk to the great gold fields
In the construction of the road across |
OASSAANt SO4AASS'-S6 ~ L CtOi oOhi anu |
Vladivostok, work is progressing from the |
latter point westward and from Irkutsk |
or thereabout eastward. Russian engi- |
neers estimate that the entire work will |
be completed within three years. When |
completed it will be by far away the |
longest line of railroad IN the world, but |
Will make, IN comparison with existing |
lines of travel, a short route from San |
Francisco TO st. Petersburg. The road is |
now in operation some 400 miles from |
Vladivostok west. Travellers proceeding |
10 the interior OF Siberia take river steam |
ers at the terminal station and go farther |
into the heart OF the country. Mr.. Dunn |
and his associates expected to get on |
board the last steamer going up the river |
this season. From the head of naviga- |
tion the travellers will go by Russian ve-
hicles across the country to the gold
Ing region.
Sailing vessels can run from San Fran |
cisco to Vladivostok within forty DAYS.
Steamer time should not be more than |
twenty days at the outside. As soon as |
the trans-SIbe berlan road is finished ana |
opened for travel the Russians will esta b. |
lish regular line of steam ships to ply |
between San Francisco and Vladivostok. |
It is highly probable that this city will |
derive many commercial advantages by |
reason of Siberian DEVELOPMENT. The |
country is known TO be rich in all kinds |
of mineral and other 10 aterial resources
Tourists of wealth and leisure, who find |
their keenest enjoyment in selecting new |
lines of travel in journeys around the |
world, will appreciate the new path OF |
travel from San Francisco to st. Peters |
burg.
Should the owner of a high-power swift |
steam yacht fancy a run around the world |
against time he might travel from San |
Francisco to Vladivostok in fifteen davs, |
charter special and go to St. Petersburg
from Viadivostok in eight days, then
allow four days time from st. Petersburg
to London. six davs across the Atlantic,
five days from New York to San Fran
cisco, and thus complete the trip in
thirty-eight days, knocking forty-two
spots from Jules Verne's ideal record OF
eighty day.