Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-09-02
THE SIBERIAN RAILWAY.
Accommodations Rival Those of
American trains for LuXury.

ne correspondent OF the London
Standard writes: "The new Siberian
train which was recently sent to St.
Petersburg for the approval of NJ.
khilkow, minister of ways and COM
munications, returned to-day, after be-
ing personally inspected by the czar.
1t left last night with over 40
passengers, including several English,
American and French. This is the
second train especially built for the
quick service on the Great Siberian
railway. 1t is an improvement upon
the first special built train, which was
already marvel to Russians. The
new train consists of five coaches, two
for secOnd-class and one for first-class
passengers, the Others being a dining
and baggage car. The other construc-
tion is on the newest design, and the
train runs with great smoothness
Besides the comforts of bathroom,
with gymnastic apparatus, a library in
several languages, a piano and selec-
tiOn of music, maps, guidebooks,
albums of view, an ice cellar, and an
arrangement for boiling water in three
minutes by means of steam, which
were found in the first train, the new
one is fitted with plates which indicate
the next stopping station, and, if the
stoppage be over five minutes, also how
long the train stops.
"All the windows are protected from
dust and wind by external plate glass
guards; the last coach is arranged to
serve as an observation car, showing
three views of the country traversed.
A stationary bicycle, with arrange
ments for measuring in minutes and
kilometers the amount Of work done, a
barber, who is also qualified to give
medical assistance, and superin-
tcndent, who speaks Russian, French,
German and English, are among the
other conveniences to comfort of
travelling now provided. The train
will be lighted inside and out by
electricity, and electric cigar lighters
find place in the second-class car, so
as to be available for the enthusiastic
photographer to change plates and
develop in during the journey. Elec-
trio bells and portable electric reading
lamps are in each compartment. The
kitchen is intended to furnish hot
dinner for maximum of 60 people.
Paper and envelopes are to supplied
gratis at the buffet, where hot and
cold drinks of all kinds are to be had
there is no charge for the barber, but
two roubles is the price OF bath. for
which three hours notice beforehand
must be given.
"From Moscow one may now get to
within a few hundred miles of Irkutsk
on the sixth day, and the charges for
this journey under such luxurious cir
cumstances are very moderate. The
Englishmen who cares to undertake
the journey has only to see that his
passport has been properly viseed in
London before leaving, and even if he
he entirely ignorant of any language
but his own he will find no difficulty
in reaching the heart of Siberia by
rail. In all the chief towns, as far as
1rkutsh, one or two resident English or
Americans are to be found, and they
gladly welcome fellow countryman
who brings the latest gossip from town.
The French are already showing their
appreciation of the opportunities
offered for investigating the recources
of Siberia. A special train from Paris
is to leave Moscow for this trip early
this month, the whole time to be oc-
cupied being about one month.
Though have no direct authority
for the statement, have reasons to
believe that M. Khilkow is not alone
among the ministers of Russia in the
desire to encourage foreigners to visit
Siberia, with n view to assisting in
opening up the vast wealth of that
enormous country. The Russian
capitalist is not enterprising, and has
always required lead from foreign
pioneers, who are now coming in
rapidly. A French company recently
purchased for 100000 frances one of
the richest gold mines of the Ural; !;
another has been sold for 100000
frances; and negotiations are in pro-
gress for the purchase of a foreign
company OF the largest platinum mines
in that district. Numbers of English
and American mining experts are en-
gagged in exploring all parts Of Siberia.
pCNCtdl IltNC pttll IlldIN
already, and it seems probable that
great deal of foreign capital will
shortly be poured into the country,
which was, till quite recently, hardly
more than fabulous region with an
awe-inspiring name.
THE Fossil Journal says young
man of that town was bitten on the
lip by a monster trout, while drinking
from spring on the Hall place, the
other day. The Journal remarks that
the trout cannot be blamed for the
mistake, as the young man in question
had visited Antelope on several occa-
sions, and was known to be little fly.
A Catholic church has just been
built at Republic, in this State.