The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-26
ANOTHER BIG CANAL.
Russia Still Planning to Con-
struct a Great Canal.
LARGE CITIES ALONG THE ROUTE
Important Changes the Proposed Ditch
VIII Make In the NAVAL status Of
the Cars Empire.

New York.-A cable to the Press
from St. Petersburg says; Russia s
disarmament proposition and the war
talk which keeps all Europe busy just
now are responsible for the ctsthat an
immense Russian undertaking has
been kept from the outside world,
though it il 50 enormous in its possible
results that it may mean a revolution
in the industrial conditions in Europe,
and, indeed, in the whole world, and
complete change in the naval pro-
grammes of the powers.
The project is nothing less than a
ship canal across the empire which
shall connect the Baltic sea with the
Black sea, so the largest battle-ships can
pass through it at reasonable speed.
Great as the plan is, it is so simple in
its engineering aspects and also from a
financial view that the only wonder is
that the work has not been done long
ago. Though the waterway will be ten
times as long as the Suez canal, the
territorial conditions are 30 favorable,
and existing waterways are so large
and deep and convenient in their
natural direction, that only about 80
miles OF the 1000 N les will need to he
dug, and comparatively little dredging
will be required TO complete the naval
ability of the natural waterways.
Perhaps the most direct interest for
Americans is in the fact that this ship
canal will open a cheap and quick
route Of transportation to the wheat
growers and petroleum-producers of
Russia. They can reach the Baltic and
Mediterranean with equal facility and
economy, and thus supply Asia and
Europe and Africa more quickly and
economically than can the Americans.
The canal passes through the best
petroleum territory. Russia expects
the facility OF intercourse which the
canal will furnish will give great i'm
petus to many industries which are
prosecuted at present only for home
purposes and which could be extended
enormously when the markets of the
entire world are open to them. What
this means can he estimated from the
figures that show the wonderful growth
of population Of some of the cities
which will be ports on the canal when
it is finished
There is Ekaterinosav, near Kher-
son, for instance, which has doubled
its population in less than twenty
years. Odessa, with 404, 900 inhabi-
tants, and LODI, with $4,000, have
grown with a rapidity that would be
remarked, even in the United States,
the country of rapid urban growth.
Riga has 282, 900 inhabitants, and is
growing at a rate which promises to
double this number in ten years.
Kiev has $50, 900 inhabitants. All these
cities and half dozen others, with
more than 100, 900 inhabitants, will be
in easy communication by water, the
cheapest of routes, with the markets
of Europe and America.
In the efforts to drive American
petroleum out of the Russian markets
the Russian producers always have
brought all possible influence on the
Government for reduction of freight
rates, because they saw that only in
this way could they fight the petro-
leum from the United States refiners.
The Government helped them several
times and the rate now is only about
Ia cents gallon, throwing a heavy
burden on the roads, without apparent
ly any great corresponding benefit to
the shippers. The ship canal will be
the one thing that they need. The
Russian navy will gain UNNECESSARILY
in effectiveness from the new canal.
Its fleets are separated hopelessly now.
The Black Sea fleet is shut in by the
Dardanclles and could not make con-
nection with the Mediterranean feet
except by breaking through. Even ii
the two did manage to combine in
that way they would be penned in
sea, both exits OF which are held by
Great Britain-Gibraltar commanding
one and the Suez canal the other.