The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-29


THE Transvaal question is engaging the
attention Of Great Britain for the time
but Of greater concern TO the British gov
ornment Is the movement OF Russia TO-
wards China and India. England is watch
ing the building of the trans-siberian road
with a jealous eye. That road Is now ape
preaching completion and England Is De-
ginning 10 see what a great advantage
Russia thus has over her steamship lines
to the Chinese ports. The journey by rail-
between london and Shanghai consumes
twelve DAYS. while it requires thirty-thrce
days to make the same journey Via the
Suez Canal The cost of travelling from
London TO Shanghai by rail, including the
cost Of food for seventeen days viii be
forty pounds. or about onc-half the steam
ship fare.
I'm view Of these things &c is not strange
that England should Doe talking about
Fan all-British railway TO ,--.t, and
this question is seriously discussed IN %
recent number of the Nineteenth Century.
THE advantage of such a route says
a writer in the Nineteenth Century, would
provide a rapid means of transit between
Europe. India and China for the huge and
increasing crowd Of civilians and soldiers
whose business compels them TO travel out
and homo. f. y,o,ld SUNNY am eouallv rlpii
ana saIe means OF transport lot m"ls'
while, as regards goods, 10 would enable
the rich and multifarious products of the
nro0 r.oo, hoturo.p ,h.
s''"' 60
Mediterranean and the faclhc-a country
ranging over a hundred degrees of longi-
t,do-to 10 intercbaneed TO say nothing
Oh '"e biN'S" anu ''"'' """'' VIM"
would be eXpediuously conveyed 10 oAha'
India and an the populous regions OF
So,tnor, ,si, I'm less than half the time
,roso,t % Ana
ll taxes 10 eo1'oS '"oi" az
nnally, and most important OF All, proDa-
blv. as the ROWING incentive 10 begin
.r, r.orta form .be natural
~
response 10 lhe SIBERIAN I"A""S anu V'N-
duce enormously to Great Brltains pres
. ra .ouo~-
4" 0a U.s."
says that the lire Of the proposed road
would fall very near the parallel Of 80 de-
North l,titndo to tina head Of the
feIsian Gun, starving rom AieN'l"ii"
or Port said.
Then il would bend toward the south
east. following the eastern shore OF the
Persian Gulf, u from Bundaf Appds, ln
Persia, running west 10 karachi, lndla. All
the territories 10 would traverse up TO thr
point would. of course, pass into the hands
of Great Britain. howeVer her sovereignty
might be concealed. Otherwise she would
no powerful incentive 10 Duild the
road. Even now England considers herselt
supreme IN southern Aslasuc countries
.borderlhs on lne lhulan ocean an" il Is
pIopaoie ulat Nlo.eit changes "VuIu
occur II she acted on that assumption
India possesses "a network Of railroads
and the matter OF connecting points TO IA
cilitate a through line would be compare
lively simple DO the indian government
gave It's appIoNat Wilch IL surrey WouIu-
ln thurman ana assam mere are already
,iov ",nncati,g noi,tr Trom ~
lay. Burmah. across the chinese border TO
kunlons. q line is now under construction.
Ino Diac'.g"' lop'e lot taI,ro"1 down
readv been tborongblv considered ana
mapped out by British engineers. ana an
is to be- done is to build the line. when