The evening times., 1898-08-20
THE NEW RUSSIA.
Luxurious Tra~ el Now Possible in
Siberia
(Moscow Correspondence London Standard }

(Moscow Correspondence London Standard)
The new Siberian train which was re-
Gently sent to st. Petersburg for the ap-
proval of NJ Khilkov, minister of ways
and communications. returned today aft
er being personally inspected by the Czar.
1t left last night with over forty passen-
gers. including several Englishmen.
Americans and Frenchmen. This is the
second train specially built for the quick
service on the Great Siberian Railway. 1t
Is an improvement upon the first specially
built train, which was already a marvel
to Russians. The new train consists Of
five coaches. two for second-class and
one for first-class passengers, the others
being dining and a baggage car. The
construction Is of the newest design, and
the train runs with great smoothness.
Besides the comforts of a bathroom with
gymnastic apparatus. library in several
languages a piano and selection of mu-
sic. maps. guideboOks, albums of views.
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 arrangements for
measuring in minutes and kilometers the
amount of work done. a barber. who is
also qualified to give medical assistance.
and superintendent. who speaks Rus
sian. 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 dining-car. A lavatory has been fit
ted in the second-class car so as to be
available for the enthusiastic photogra-
pher to change plates and develop in dur
ing the journey. Electric bells and por-
table electric reading lamps are In each
compartment. The kitchen is extended
to furnish hot dinner for maximum
of sixty people Paper and envelopes are
to be supplied gratis at the buffet, where
hof and cold drinks of all kinds are to be
had; there Is no charge for the barber,
but two rubses Is the price of q bath for
which three hours notice beforehand
must be given
from Moscow one may now get to
within few hundred yards of Irkutsk
on the sixth day. and the charges for
this journey under such luxurious circum--
stances are very moderate. The Eng
iishman who cares to undertake the Jour-
ney has only to see that his passport has
been properly vised in London before
leaving. and even IL he be entirely igno-
rent 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 Irkutsk. one or two resident
English or Americans are to be found,
and they gladly welcome a felIow-coun-
N r,ha ha Iatr
town. The French are already showing
their appreciation of the opportunities
offered for investigating the resources of
Siberia. A special train from Paris is to
leave Moscow for this trip early this
month. the whole time to be occupied
being about one month.
Though l have no direct authority for
the statement. l have reason to believe
that NJ. Khilkov is not alone among the
ministers of Russia in the desire to en-
courage foreigners to visit Siberia. with
view to assisting in opening up the
vast wealth of that enormous country.
The Russian capitalist Is not enterpris-
ing. and has always required lead from
foreign pioneers, who are now coming in
rapidly. A French company recently
purchased for eight million francs one Of
the richest gold mines of the Ural; an
other has been sold for five million
francs: and negotiations are in progress
for the purchase by a foreign company
of the largest platinum mines in that dis
crict Numbers Of English and Americas
mining experts are engaged In exploring
all parts of Siberia. Several have been
there many months already. and 1t seems
probable that a great deal of foreign cap
ital will shortly be poured into the coun-
try, which was, till quite recently. hardly
more than a fabulous region with an
awe-inspiring name.