The Globe-republican., 1899-07-13
| World TRIP N 40 DAYS.
What the Trans-Siberian Railroad
Will Add to Commerce.
TIE ROAD ALMOST FINISHED.
4 Few Channel for American Enter
H91b0-naborato Trains With Gy mn1-
soa0s Run Across Asia What an
AAssiean Says OF the Undertaking

WAsHINeToN, July 11.-Herbcrt D.
Pssree, first secretary of the United
8eates embassy to Russia, has been in
Washington several days on leave OF
shssnoe from his post. It has afford
Il IN opportunity for talks with the
Rsszident and State department Of.
Asfals On Russian affairs. both politi-
al and commercial, and the impart-
ing Of mach interest ting information
which could not be brought by the
channels Of official reports.
1he Transsiberian railway, with its
1xaek stretching across 1000 miles of
4hs north Of the continent. was one of
:1lE Pierce's chief topics of converse
iaseaL People outside of Russia
hardly realize how nearly completed
H. Transsiberian railway is" Mr..
Fierce said.
Il was told recently by Prince
HfIko6, minister of ways of commun-
isaaioo. who has charge Of this great
weEk. that he expected to make q
trip around the world in forty days
during the coming Paris exposition,
going by way OF the Transsiberian
ss1ts. and he had the kindness to ask
- % accompany him upon the trip
1Vsa now the route is almost contin-
ss0 from Moscow to the Amoor river
a.a thence to Vladivostock, upon the
RasiAc coast, with the exception of q
so0paratively short stretch which
Aas TO be covered with post horses.
Onoe open, this will mark almost q
sumnercial revolution. giving q high
way from Western Europe to the Pa
ai1e. and from our Pacific coast into
H. FAR East, and thence to Eastern
EWope."
J Tha roadbed is we'll constructed,
tAs track well ballasted, generally
with stone. and the grades easy. It
las . i've foot gauge and the cars are
.nssnally broad and high. The
.rSdgss are mostly all Of steel and
The wooden ones are rapidly replaced.
Al along the route the stations are
.esistic and equal to those on the
Aosa American roads. There is an
army Of guards Tho road is divided
into two sections of two-thirds of
nile each. For each section is built
. neat cottage in which the guard and
lii family live. It is the duty of the
gard to patrol section night and
day. As soon as q train passes the
guard steps into the middle Of the
track, holds q flag or lantern aloft,
sDd watches the train until it passes
into the next section. A train is
oever out of sight OF a guard
-The road is SO we'll along that
trains are run out Of Moscow which
would astonish even Americans as
.sodels of elegance" Mr.. Pierce said.
These trains have not only baths.
libraries and other modern equip
Dents. but a complete gymnasium to
beguile the long trip through Siberia.
The original purpose Of Russia was to
mako the route one for military and
purposes. linking the capital
and other largo centers with the naval
.endezvous at Vladivostocx But now
sonmerce and travel over the road
overshadowed tn, strategic
porpose, and Russia finis that she
has opened a highway watch Is to be
aDe Of the great channels of the
world In time. possibly. the route
will be diverted southwark through
Chinese Manchuria, to permit a ter
minus ut Russia's new and important
leaschold at Port Arthur But for
sAs present, Vladivostock continues
- b considered its commercial ter.
minus on the Pacific"
Russia offers a great field for Amer
iean investment. Mr.. Pierce believes.
-The relations between the United
3atss and Russia" he said, ''were
Dsvsr on a more cordial basis than at
present. and the friendship which is
traditional between the two countries
fods constant expression in Russia,
no& only among officials, but also
sDong the people Of all classes It is
not too much to say that from the
V.kSo1Vt AO"u w GtC pCdS0uSTy tuCEc
. = sincere friendship for US and de-
sire 20 become acquainted with Amer
lean methods and to make use In Rus
ssa Of the skill and ingenuity which
have advanced this country with such
great strides
'AIor this reason there is . great
sPsoing in Russia for American cap
kal. and for the introduction of
ADrican machinery and methods of
Aciag business. It is an immense
Sid. far beyond anything realized BY
shs people in this country. Russia is
j.st entering an era OF tremendous
lEusperity-a sort Of commercial and
zodastrial awakening: Here is the
nsw Geld for American enterprise and
04ital. for, with our Pacific coast
ABILITIES, the Philippines and the
1kanasiberian railroad route, there is
ssaay access for our goods into the
-