New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-29
RUSSIA'S NEW RAILROADS.
ORIENTAL COUNTRIES TO BE REACHED
BY THREE GREAT LINES.
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES OFFERED By THE
TRANs-sIBERIAN-A ROUTE TO CHINESE
TURKEsTAN AND ONE ACROSS

TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES OFFERED By THE
Ns-sIBERIAN-A ROUTE TO CHINESE
TURKEsTAN AND ONE ACROSS
PERSIA.
Washington, May % (speclaD.-Russa. the Trans
Siberian Railway and their relation TO the trade OF
the Orient In competition with the United states
are deliberately discussed the current number OF
THE Summary OF Commerce and Finance. Just
prepared by the Treasury Bureau of Statistics The
fact that tho TransSberian road which VIII pring
the products OF Russias fields forests and factories
to the doors OF China. is nearing completion and
that Russia is also pushing for combined ran ana
water route TO the Orient through Persia and the
Indian Ocean seems Justify study OF the rapid
ly developing Industries OF that great nation
Discussing the question OF Russa's trade relations
TO the Oriental market. in which the people or
the United States now feel especial interest the
report calls attention 10 the fact that Russia ike
the United States has such variety OF soil. climate
and minerals that she Is able TO produce within her
own borders large proportion OF the necessaries
and comforts OF life Corn, wheat, barley and rye
furnish ample supply OF breadstuffs; vast Stock
growing produce cattle. horses hogs. sheep
wool hides and provisions in abundance; beet sugar
is produced in great quantities.: hemp and other
nbre plants flourish in certain provinces: cotton Is
successfully grown in the extreme south; virgin
forests promise enormous lumber supply; coal.
iron and other minerals required for manufactures
plentiful and cheap that II Is freely used ms fuel
and is also becoming serious competitor with our
own in the markets OF Europe and Asia.
STRENGTHENING HER INDUSTRIAL SYSTEM
With these natural supplies of all materials re-
CURED for manufacturing. she is strengthening her
Industrial system. following closely the lines
marked out by the United States, and now manu-
factories Of cottons and woolens, iron and steel
and their products, machinery lumber and other OF
he Of her
lished and increased. Foreign capital is encouraged
TO contribute to this activity and with her 12ovN"S
OF Industrious frugal people she likely to In
crease her ability to supply her own markets. and
in certain lines may also increase her exports.
When to these developments in the producing lines
are added the new transportation routes by which
these supplies may be sent to the markets OF Asia
and Europe and. indeed. Of the world, putting rail-
in competition with water and water again In com
petition with railway lines controlled and owned
by the Government, and all these combining 10
bring undeveloped and resources into develop
ment their importance 10 the commercial world
and to the commerce of the United States seems
worthy of consideration.
With the completion OF the Russsn-Chinese rail-
way system (see Commercial China" in Summary
OF Commerce and Finance" for March, 1890 the
question naturally presents itself. What are the
chances OF Russian competition in this immense In
ternational market, where the standard OF wants
is be sure. low yet but where expansion OF
pean methods. and where there is now growing
demand for products Of the United States?
The Trans-Siberian road is now complete from
its junction with the railway system OF European
Russia on the western border OF Siberia TO Lake
Baikal nearly wo-thirds the distance toward the
Pacifc and the construction of 600 miles OF track
eastward from Lake Baikal will bring Trans
and Amoor rivers. which flow into the Pacific, and
put into operation complete rail ana water h system
with the Pacific. and thence to n the ports OF the
The Russian Government. however. will not rest
content with the mere connection Of the trans ms
AMOR and shika. but viii push the railway itself
along the banks of the river to connect with the
pairing to construct a line through ManchuTa to It's
thur. in China. -.i-
COMPLETION OF THE SIBERIAN ROUTE.
The total length of the Trans Siberian line is 1880
miles and the date originally set for Its completion
was 1915. 1t Is expected. however, that through
transit will be had much earlier than that date by
utilization of the rivers already named and that
the shorter line connecting the system with the
ice-free ports OF Port Arthur, and Talien-Wan may
also be completed earlier than the original date OF
from European Russia eastward as far as Lake
Baikal and across this by steamer leaving at the
present moment only 600 miles for transportation
by wagons or sedges. Construction is now goinG
ing the character OF the territory through which
from St Petersburg to vladivostock now require
forty-ve days by tho usually travelled route OF the
way of New York, San Francisco and across the
Pacific the time occupied is thirty-hye days 1t IS
completed the time occupied from st. Petersburg
to or TIP Port AThT in shps viii be
10 Nladyostock or Port arthur by the c0mpiet 3
miles or about twice the distance from New-York
Two other routes TO the commerce OF the Orient
appear also be the subject of active consideration
by the Russian Government at the present mo-
ment. One Of these is an extension OF the Trans
Caspian rail system to the western border OF China,
where it will touch the great caravan route ex-
populated section Of China proper, a route along
which Chinese telegraph lines are e, a sC IN
railway system is now projected. WIN the rus
very western border OF China midway between the
Trans Siberian road and the Indian Ocean. and the
lines eastward toward that same point. second
great intercontinental line TO connect Central
the Pacific is at least suggested by these recent
developments.
LINES THROUGH PERSIA.
The third route OF direct communication from
Russia China is by way OF a Russian railway
connecting its system In the south OF Russia across
Persia with the Persian Gulf and the waters OF
the Indian Ocean Two railway routes are. &C
cording recent reports. projected across Persia
by the Russian Government, which. II is said, has
obtained from the Persian Government a conces-
ieges OF railway construction from the borders OF
Russia through Eastern Persia to those ports one
OF proposed lines. according TO the published
reports. connects Russias Trans-Caspian system
with the port OF Bander Abbas. on the Persian
Gulf while the other, upon which II is said the sur
veyors are now at work. through Western
Persia also connecting the Trans-Caspian railway
system with the head OF the Persian Gulf IL these
reports be true It would appear that Russia Is about
TO realize her long-cherished ambition of a direct
outlet to the Indian Ocean. connecting there with
a water transportation system to the Orient.
These three great systems II contaminated and
put into actual operation, would carr, RUSSIAN
products OF all classes to the markets Of the Orient
by three distinct routeS-one across Siberia by an
ail-ran system owned and operated by the Russian
Government; second. rail and water system
through Persia and the Indian Ocean. also con-
trolled by the Russian Government, and third, a
rail system tapping Chinas trade on the western
border by way OF the caravan routes
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