The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-24
SIBERIAN ROADS GROWTH.
Rapid Progress on Transasiatic
Thoroughfare.
TRAINS MAKING LITTLE SPEED,
Twelve Miles nm Hour the speed of
ffeas Make Only Seventeen-Rus-
sia II I.ing Her Own Materials
show the Country'a Population.


George Muschwek, Bavarian railroad
officer nas contributed To the Journal OF
the German Railway Union some interest
ing particulars concerning the Great S'Se-
rfan line A copy Of this publication.
which has been received by the Post
Intelligence. shows In detail the pro
gress of the great transasiatic line. a
matter in which people of the Northwest
much interested
The work has been conducted directly
by ths government without the media
ton OF contractors. except Tor special
constructions such bridges cul'erts.
etc. The permanent Iaborers are chiefly
from European Russia. and these are re-
infurced by natives of Siberia and gangs
% conyiets. The mechanics, such as ma
sons. are chiefly Italians. Beigians and
Poles. The track-laying Is Done BY the
railroad battalions OF the army. In East
arn Siberia and Mancharia Chinese coolies
ar. employed. Definite information of the
number Of men employed is lacking. but
there is said 10 have been 1900 ON the
line west OF Lake Baikal. on which the
track is nearly all laid and SEQ east of
1t. The engineers are all Russians.
Russian Material Ised.
As far as possible materials are OBJ
tanned from the country on the line The
ties, 2sp per mile. were found at no
great distance and also the great guam
titles of cement used The rails are most
IL from Russia and very largely from
Siberian works, some of which have ex-
listed FOR a long time. 4 shipment of
English rails was taken up 10y way of
the Arctic and M the YenisSei river
h rxr IN f,,x
the European border. bat though IL got
through 10 its destination no more ship
inents have been made by that route. The
rails weigh forsy-nine and "A half pounds
tn the yard and 4i3.ee tons will be re-
auired TO finish the road.
Many streams are crossed. including
some very large ones, and there are or
viii be more than thirty miles OF bridges
Many of the streams are subject 10 over
flow when the snow goes of In the spring
and In 1885, earthworks where no track is
laid are said TO have been damaged TO
the amount OF G,0pa600. The average dis
lance between stations is twenty-five
miles. As the road for long distances
passes through regions almost treeIess
special explorations have been made for
coal inines. and some have heen found
though no, all near enough to the line
to be available. The coal IL said to he
very good.
Less Than Freight speed
The road is cheaply constructed. with
steep grades and sharp curves and does
not admit of high speed The fastest train
at present once "A fortnighi-runs seven-
teen and 4 half miles an hour: the ordin-
airy trains. twelve and one-fourth TIL
costliest part of the road will be that
forming $emi-circle around the south
4f lax. Is..tk ya
minus % fFkutsk The latter city Is on
the river Angara- thr outlet OF the lake
forty two miles from the lake and go
below IT,
Nothing has been done on The railroad
around the lake 1875 miles. except sur
veyS and plans. bat a great deal on The
line east Of the lake. with which s.onnee-
tien IL 10 oe made for the present by a
road fortS-two miles long from frkuisk
Ia the take shore. and II car ferry across
the lake. powerful tee breaker is be-
ing built fer this ferry. The lake is usrl-
ally naytsabie for seven months in the
year. and by means Of the ice breaker
II Is hoped 10 cross IL three months more
and II is possible that track may be
laid across the ice the other TWO months
though the lake ia thirty-scven miles
Wide there. The ferry plant will cost
more than si..so.es
AMOR Line Abandoned
The lire east 90 thc lake 20 the Anoor
valley. eSl miles il called shss Transhsaikal
raiiroa5- Work has been prosecuted on
IL since lSn and IL il 10 be completed
this year AT least as far "a the River
onoB. ~ miles from Lake Baikal where
che Chinese Eastern railroad begins Tho
construction OF railroad down the
smoor valley l.S1s miles. which was the
plan before tac right 20 b9ild through
Asnchgria had been secured seems den
nitety abandoned i-itfic hal been done
en- II except some preliminary surveys
Steamboats, navigate the stream in sum
snef ami regular Hines Of siclghs run over
the }ce So winter
TIE whole length az ms, lfn.. tron, C'tel-
}ab'nsk. near the turonean border
through Nanesuria. 10 XIadienssok in
ciJstiiug a circuit ~ Lake Naikaf will bc
&iN miles and CheiJabinSk Is - miles
frem fhe tire between Russia aaa Ger
many and aeoui Itss miles rrpu the Eng
iiSh ehannei
Large Town. I'm Rout~
Thaf she siberian railroad - not through
s4ca a rev ana untnh@lated country as
gaas garo0gA The Union and Central IA.
etae railroads. hWilt thirty years age. may
sse gathered frgsus shs population q ss,ysas.
81 tas. towns nw the }sNs F'esroga0lavxs
~ miles fraau the western terminus has
n - gaaaAitAHgS. ofslsk tSa rallies F,sr-
theg easf. a. -. Marsia~k t&ea. Tarass
IN a or8uca. e. $50 hcASg33arsA. gs(ss
fekaEsx aewsA
TIE hne as Far aS lrk#ssS IS zfs@ gsiler
ion9 iseyen6 ifkufsk, ou thN original
roase tAsre can @e said g, De sgsATfely
auv -0wu sus rgeS< es this vuut~ seems
a. - definitely gwen up ard sass mi
reSe Eastern ratiyraa Na}ca taxes Hs
rfaae vfH pass k{Tts 7 afsse snsaEstAnts
ass.l osh s- tSwr< N}as}Vnsfos tne pa
esAe srreatwas * cy~3ise1 NH Zee gss~-
sss&aqss tssizA s8fzntS. besides 4 military
xArsissss averaging r. ssz
~s-ss--s
<ufItE IN MARINERS