The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-07
TUESDAY, MARCH Z, 1899.
TWELVE PAGES.


L
ton or projected are three MAN.
moth railroads. each of which
is designed to traverse an entire con-
tinent. One is to cross Asia from west
to east, the second is to cross Africa
from north to south, and the third is
to connect the United States with South
America and is to cross South America
Russia's great railway is under con-
struction and 1T is expected that 1t will
be completed within three years. This
trans-Siberian railway begins at the
towns of Cheliabinsk, about 100 miles
east of the frontier line of Russia in
Europe. From Cheliabinsk to Vladi-
vostock on the original survey is 4,140
miles and Of that distance the line is
complete to Irkutsk. a distance of 1000
miles. Abaut 500 miles of that distance
have already been opened and rails are
being laid at the rate of about four
miles per day From Lake Baikal the
grading has been completed as far as
Strelinsk, 500 miles east of Baikal.
Since the acquisition by Russia of Port
Arthur and Talienwan the route has
been changed and a right of way Sc
cured through Manchuria. Apparently
the objective point is now Port Arthur
instead of Vladisvostock.
Cecil Rhodes is now in London to
interest the government in his projected
railway through the heart of the Afri-
can forest from Egypt to Cape Colony.
This is a tremendous undertaking, for
much of the region to be traversed has
never yet been fully explored and much
of it is through the territory of hostile
and savage tribes. There is at pres
ent a railroad running up the Nile to
Assouan, distance of about $50 miles,
and there is a railroad about 1000
miles north from Capetown running to
Matabeand.
The Intercontinental railroad COM
mission proposes the construction of a
trunk line connecting the railroads of
the system of the United States with
railroads in South America already
built or building from the chief ports
of Chilli and Peru on the west and
Buenos Ayres on the east. Three
branch lines are proposed, one extend
ing northeast to the Caracas road, an
other east to the Brazil system ter
Eliminating at Rio de Janero and the
third southeast to Asuncion and Mon
tevideo.
This commission was appointed by
President Harrison nine years ago. 1t
pronounces the project feasible and has
made preliminary survey of the pro-
posed route. 1t estimates the cost of
preparing the roadway ready for the
rails at about 75OOO,o 900.
These are indeed mammoth railroad
projects. The one proposed for this
continent is as yet only on paper, but
1t may be completed before either of
the others. for if the project is taken
up by capitalists in this country it is
likely to be completed while other coun-
tries are still thinking. The Siberian
road is mainly a military road 1t
will traverse hundreds of miles of I'M
inhabited territory. The British rail-
road through Africa will cost colossal
fortunes and must be constructed in the
face of untold obstacles For many
hundreds of miles every spike that is
driven will have to be guarded by a
platoon of soldiers. But so far as the
project on this continent is concerned
the only difficulty is the raising Of the
money. Such a railroad will bring the
United States and the republics of Cen
trail America and South America into
the most intimate commercial rela-
1inns