The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-05
RUssIA,s VIEW RAILNATa
Facts About the Great Market Now Open
ing to American Enterprise.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: The prog
ress of railway construction IN Russia is a
matter In which this country has now very
lively interest A large proportion OF the rails
and rolling stock, including locomotives for
the roads building and projected will be OF
American manufacture.
The total length OF the railways now in
operation in Russia Ia 26.750 miles OF those
In course OF construction. 400 miles in all. one
half is being built by the Government and the
other half by private companies. These lines
should he completed within two years. which
will give Russia 3415O miles OF completed
railways in operation in 1901 In addition u
number OF new lines are projected. the con-
struction OF which will be undertaken and
partially executed during those two years
But there cannot be any cessation OF railway
building in Russia for long time to come.
The completion Of the great trunk lines con-
Meeting the e1tremities OF the empire must
necessarily be followed by the construction OF
branches and linking lines In order to faci-
tate tho settlement OF the great wastes OF Asia
and give life to the trade arising from the
growth OF population There Is. therefore,
every prospect that for years to come our
American rolling mills and factories will be
busy turning out material for tho Russian
railways that are to bring the vast territories
OF that empire In touch with civilization.
The figures relating to the Russian railway
tariffs are also Interesting. especially those
nected with tho working OF the zone system.
which has e1erufsed o con siderable in fiuen CO In
increasing the passenger trafho returns. In
1889. before tho application OF the tariff by
zone. tho Russian railways carried 81 1896. 900
passengers. while in 1895. ten years later. tho y
transported IS 900. 900 passengers. The goods
traffic during the same period nearly doubled.
The rates for third GLASS travel are calculated
as follows. com putinG by the rouble OF 100
kopecks. the equivalent of which. In our money.
is about 80 cents: From Ito 100 versts. tho
verst being reckoned at about f1ve-oiehths OF a
mile the fare for each verst lie o37 roubls
but from 100 to 300 versts II 10 reduced to
023 rouble per verst. After tho 8o0th verst
the faro Is no longer calculated by versts. but
by zones the tariff on tho first none OF
twenty-five versts being 90 rouble. and for
each subsequent zone II Is only 4S rouble.
1t must further be remarked that while the
fare remains the same. the length Of the zones
increases progressively. Tho first eight zones
following the 30oth verst are each 25 versta In
length: tho next seven have each length Of
35 versts and those following have q length Of
40 yer1ts up to the 1.6l0th verst Beyond that
distance the zones have q length Of 90 versts
each: the fare remains the same. AZ rouble
Tho second class rate is fixed by Increasing
that OF the third class 30 per cent
The advantage OF this system for long dis
tances is very great. Thus. from st. Peters,
burg to Odessa. q run OF over 200 miles, one
can travel third class for $3.50 and second
class for $40. The journey from ct. Peters
burg to Omsk In Siberia. about 800 miles.
costs only SIS second class.
The result OF the first reductions in tariffs
has been found to work 80 well that the Minis
ter OF Finance. Mr.. Wltte. is constd ertng the
preparation OF another and still lower tariff
In view Of the advantages We are deriving
from Russian railway enterprise. Americans.
certainly. can only wish success to any meas
ure that tends to stimulate railway construo-
ton and travel in Russia. F.
NEW YORK. July 4.