New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-02
ICEBREAKERS IN ARCTIC REGIONS
a GREAT RUSSIAN COMMERCIAL SCHEME
A POSSIBLE ROUTE TO TIE POLE.
Sd. Petcrsburg dispateh to The london riEneg.


ST. Petersburg dispatch to The London Times
Very prompt attention is being given by the
Russian Admiralty to Admiral Makarof's
scheme Of ice-breakcrs for the Gulf of Finland
and the frozen ocean, which has already been
mentioned in The Times in connection with
the sca-tradlnS route to Siberia. 1t is seldom
that the Russian Government goes to work 50
bound to say that many very practical persons
are inclined to regard Admiral Makarod's ideas
on peagc ce-breaking as fantastical. The fall
ure Of Admiral PopOffs circular ironc.ads and
turbot-shapcd yachts and the waste of money
which they entailed are facts still remembered
to the detriment of other Russian innovators
Vice Admiral Makaroff. however. is no mex
perienced dreamer. He has held high command
in the Mediterranean and Pacific and is recOg-
nized one Of the abest officers in the Russian
service few years ago number Of foreign
experts present at a trial Of armor plates in one
Of the suburbs Of St Petersburg were much
impressed by the superior penetrating power
Of a new capped, or so-called magnetic, shell,
which was attributed to the invention Of Adj
miral Makaroff. who superintended the tests
His startling idea Of cutting through Polar ice
in order to reach the Pole surpasses in audacity
the aeronautical flights Of Herr Andree. For
the immediate future. therefore, he wisely in
tends to confine the application Of his theories
to the Gulf Of Finland and the Kara Sea. In
the latter region it seems almost impossible
to provide for payment Of the enormous cost
OF construction and working but this difficulty
is not ar insuperable obstacle at the mouth OF
the ice-bOund Neva, where the authorities in
tend to deal with the problem first. Apart from
commercial advantages. the Government might
he enabled to get it's warships IN and out of
CrOnstadt Harbor during winter
Captain Sverdrup, Of Dr. Nansens ship the
Fran. has arrived here at the invitation OF
Admiral Makaroff 20 take part in a consultation
the subject at the Department of the I'm
peral Admiralty, and this looks like serious
business 1t is also stated that a credit of
1,!OO,OW rubles is to be forthwith opened for
the construction Of large ice-breaker and a
vessels
by various firms are already under examina-
ton. 1t is proposed to be ready TO make the
first experiment in the winter of 1S93. Irac-
tcally, this means increased facilities and an
increase Of English trade with cronstadt ana
st. Petersburg, and perhaps with Siberia al
times Of the year when British ships are now
kept back or frozen in by the ice; besides when
the building Of these powerful ice-breakerS IS
likely to be undertaken only in England. unless
the engineering dispute continues TO ruin the
chances Of properly executing foreign orders.
In an address delivered in the Marble Palace
before the Grand-duke Constantine and few
selected guests, Admiral Makaroh explained
that the construction of 4 couple or lce-Weak-
eTs Of six thousand tons and ten thousand
horse power eacn would require more money
than could he found for the pursuit of science
alone: but there were two more practical aims
recurring the use Of such vessels. Sea com
munication with the Yenisei was now carried
on in a casual. desutOry kind of way ony once
a year. whereas by means OF zee preakcIs a
regular service Of boats might he maintained
and a voyage made every fortnight. beginning III
he first week Of June earlier when the
mouth Of the river is free from ice. SIBERIA Is
SO rich and it's population increases so fast ny
natural growth and colonization, that plenty
of cargo would be found to support a more
regular course OF sea traffic between Siberia ana
the rest Of the world The idea had been hIst
suggested bS the Grand-duke Alexander Mi
khailovitch at Il lecture some years ago by
CAPTAIN Virgins. and its realization was only
a question Of time. Another and more pressing
want which could only be satisfied by means
Of ice breakers was felt nearer home odessa
Nikolaieff Reval Vladivostock and other Russian
ports were all cleared Of ice in this way wmie
St Petersburg the capital Of the Empire, and
the nearest port of access to the great manu-
featuring districts of Moscow. still re'nal1lcd
closed to ships throughout the winter rms
could only he rcrnedicd by an ice-breakcr o'
ten thousa nd horse power which WOuId ne aDit
to cut through ice Of the Finnish Gulf at a rate
of five TO seven knots.