The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-03
Russia as It Is,

most interesting book intended for
private circulation has recently been
issued by Ex-Governor Bookwalter, Of
Springfield. O., entitled siberia and
Central Asia" 1t is the journal of a
journey which Mr.. Bookwalter took
last year over the route of the partly
completed Trans Siberian railroad,
from Moscow to Nladivostol;, a dis
tance Of more than 5000 miles one-half
of which, from Moscow to Tomsk now
has a regular train service making the
round trip every twenty days
Most American readers are already
familiar with the political importance
of this great arterial highway bsecting
the enormous hulk or European Russia
and siberia. |; will mean ultimately
the conversion to modern civilization
and The development along progressive
lines Of a country greater in area than
the whole North American continent
a country already inhabited by 1870 OOO,-
600 vigorous people, eighty per cent. of
whom follow pastoral pursuits along
primitive methods and one whom ma
ture has equipped to nurture in fine
style perhaps thrice that number of in
habitants. But the average Yankee
will perhaps learn with some surprise
czar is proceeding in it's work of rail-
way construction and planning.
When Mr.. BoOkwalter was in Russia
he was shown a train i'm course of prep
aration which, when completed, was to
be one of many designed to traverse
the entire route. 1t will, says he be
composed wholly of sleeping, parlor
and dining cars an elegant salon oc-
cupying fully one-half OF each car at
the middle, having a piano, writing
tables, maps library, etc Besides the
usual toilet room there is an elegant
bath room WhC'e, at nominal cost the
passenger can have hot or cold baths
in any fashion. Theg- is also to be q
room fittsi up especially for gymnas-
tic exercise, with dumb bells, friction
al apparatus for muscular development
and all the newest appurtenances Of
such an establishment. The train will
be of the vestibule type, with electric
lights and signals, air brakes and all
other first class accessories; there will
be a porter and special guard for each
car, in addition to the general director
or conductor; owing to the broad
gauge employed-five fect--the coaches
are much wider and higher than our
own and the compartments corre-
spondingly more roomy; and for all
these conveniences the charge for fare,
including everything except meals, is
\ less than one cent and a half per mile.
q Unusual precautions are taken for
= safety, Every verst Gess than a mle)
there is track guard whose duty is
20 go over the line before and after
every train, to make sure that nothing
is wrong. He is provided with a cot
aSa alongside the track and must new
fr be absent from his beat without
leave. The track has stone ballast;
its bridge constructions are Of the
finest steel put together under the su-
pervision of efficient engineers and the
stations are neat. commodious and
well arranged. In America the aver
age railway restaurant Is a public
crime but according to Mr.. Bookwalter
this thing is different in Russia. "It
is perfect delight" says he, "to take
n meal in a Russian railway restau-
rant. They have a most agreeable Gus
tom of furnishing meals. On entering
the dining room, you will find at one
end an immense sideboard literally
groaning under a load of newly pre-
pared Russian dishes, always piping hot
and of such a bewildering variety as TO
range through the whole gamut of hui
man fancy and tastes. You are given a
plate. with a knife and fork. Making
your own selection you retire to any
OF the newly-spread tables TO enjoy
your meal at your leisure, The price,
too, is a surprise TO one accustomed to
metropolitan charges. You can get