Hutchinson gazette., 1899-07-13
'.. :. WORLD TRIP IN 40 DAYS.
What the Trans-SIberlan Railroad
viii Add to Commerce
THE ROAD ALMOST FINISHED


VAAJ sANftN -
Pierce, first secretary OF the United
States embassy to Russia, has been In
Washington several days on leave OF
absence from his post II has afford
Cd an opportunity for talks with the
President and State department Of
AcIAls on Russian affairs, both pollti-
cal and commercial, and tho lmpart-
Ing OF much interesting information
which could not DO brought by the
channels OF official reports.
Tho Transsiberlan railway with Its
track stretching across 1000 miles Of
the north OF tho continent, was ono OF
MIR PlercO's chief topics OF conversa-
tion. "People outside OF Russia
hardly realize how nearly completed
che Transsiberian railway is," Mr..
Pierce said.
II was told recently by Prince
Hilkoff, minister OF ways OF commun-
ication, who has charge OF this great
work, that he expected TO make a
trip around the world In forty days
during tho coming Paris exposition,
going by way OF tho Transsberian
route, and he had tho kindness to ask
mo to accompany him upon the trip,
Even now the route is almost contln-
uous from Moscow TO tho Amoor river
and thence to Vladivostock, upon tho
Pacific coast, with the exception OF
comparatively short stretch which
has to DO covered with post horses.
Once open, this will mark almost a
commercial revolution, giving high
way from Western Europe to tho Pa
oiAc, and from our Pacific coast into
the far East, aud thence to Eastern
Europe"
The roadbed Ia we'll constructed,
the track we'll ballasted, generally
with stone, and tho grades easy. II
has fvo foot gauge and the cars are
unusually broad and high, Tho
bridges are mostly all OF steel and
tho wooden ones are rapidly replaced.
All along the route the stations are
artistic and equal to those on tho
best American roads, There 10 an
army OF guards Tho road Is divided
into two sections OF two.thirds OF u
mile each For each section Is built
o neat cottage in which the guard and
his family live. II Is tho duty OF the
guard to patrol section night and
day As soon as train passes the
guard steps into the middle Of the
track, holds flag or lantern aloft,
and watches the train until II passes
into the next section, A train Is
never out OF sight OF n guard.
"Tho road is so well along that
trains are run out OF Moscow which
would astonish even Americans as
models OF elegance" Mr. Pierce said,
"These trains have not only baths,
libraries and other modern equip
ments, but complete gymnasium to
beguile the long trip through Siberia.
The original purpose OF Russia was to
mako tho route one for military and
strategic purposes, linking the capital
and other large centers with the naval
rendezvous at Vadivostock, But now
commerce and travel over the road
have quite overshadowod thJ strategic
purpose, and Russia finds that she
has opened highway which Is to be
ono OF the great chanacls Of tho
world, In time, possibly, tho route
will bo diverted southwark through
Chinese Manchuria, to permit ter
minus nt Russia's new and important
ieasehold at Port Arthur But for
tho present, Vladivostock continues
TO be considered its commercial ter.
minus on the Pacific"
Russia offers great field for Amer.
Jean investment, Mr., Pierce believes.
"The relations between tho United
States and Russia" he said, "were
never on more cordial basis than at
present, and the friendship which Is
traditional between the two countries
hnds constant expression in Russia,
not only among officials, but also
among tho people OF all classes 1t Is
not too much to say that from tho
emperor down to the peasantry there
is u sincere friendship for us and do.
Bire to become acquainted with Amer
lean methods and to make use In Rus.
sia Of the skill and ingenuity which
have advanced this country with such
great strides,
"For this reason there is great
opening in Russia for American cap.
ital, and for the introduction OF
American machinery and methods OF
doing business. 1t Is an immense
field, far beyond anything realized by
the people in this country, Russia Is
just entering an era OF tremendous
prosperity-a sort OF commercial and
industrial awakening Here is the
new field for American enterprise and
capital, for, with our Pacific coast
facilities, the Philippines and the
Transsiberian railroad route, there Is
ready access for our goods into the
very heart Of Russia"