Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-01
SIBERIA'S RAILROAD
The Longest and Most Important in
the World.
TREMENDOUS OBSTACLES OVERCOME
Will Open Up Wonderfully Fer
tile Country.
ITS STRATEGIC. VALUE
Copyright. 1900, by E. Mels.l


Russia POSSESSES today not only the long
| est railroad in the world but also the most
| important-unless all portents and omens
be wrong. The railroad in question is the
TranS-Siberian line from st. Petersburg to
Vladivostock, on the Pacific coast Ala
| miles long which is now practically COM
pleted. Hitherto the American transconti-
mental lines have held the record in this re-
spect, but Russia has eclipsed them by
| more than 800 miles.
AS for the Importance of the Trans
Siberian line. that is self-evident for its op-
Grafton means the opening to civiizati ton of
enormous tracts of fertile land, the ulti-
mate civilization of the greater part of
Asia, and last, but not least the tremen-
| dous preponderance of Russia in the affairs
of the world. This road will enable Russia
to dominate Asia absolutely, for she will be
able to whirl troops in all directions with a
rapidity that will shatter one of the dearest
| of oriental tradtions-dignity
1t was in 1851 that Shrewd American
! named Collins. approached the Russian gov
eminent with proposition to construct a
railroad from Irkutsk in central Asia Chita
with view to ultimately extending it to the
Pacific ocean. The white car permitted
him to survey the route of the mythical
Amur railroad Company. but he did not
allow him to build it. Today the Trans
Siberian railroad is practically completed
along the route surveyed by Collins and
Russia owns a road Of enormous strategic
importance-so much so that she controls
the far east. even though Germany and
Great Britain may form paper combinations
in opposition.
When the first surveys were made the as-
timated cost of the road was $500 900 Opo
but, owing to the numerous unforeseen oh
stacies, the final expenditures will bring the
total to twice that sum.
Route of the Great Road.
As regards the engineering difficulties
only those who have travelled through ST.
IBERIA can realize all that confronted tho
builders of the road. In order to facilitate
construction the road was divided into
seven sections:
1.-The West Siberian, from
Cheliabinsk to Obi. $50 miles
2-Central Siberian, from Obi
to IrkutSk. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1l62 miles
3-Circombaikalian from Irkutsk
to MySaWaya Observation-Disclosures. 1914 miles
Reconsideration, from My
sawaya to Strietensk. ..... CO. miles
5eAmur, from Strietensk to
Khabarofski :....:......:::.... 1925 miles
6-North Ussurian, from Khab-
arofski to Graphska. 80 miles
7-South USSurian. from Graph
ska to Vladtvostock. 253 miles
While the road begins nominally at the
bridge over the Volga river at Samara, in
east Russia, the real start is at Chelia-
minal of the European railroad system
Shortly after the road passes Z,atoust, the
center of the Uralian iron industry, where
is situated the famous white Monument
Of Tears which marks the dividing line
between Europe and Asia and bears these
two names on opposite sides. 1t was here
that the wretches doomed to exile in ST.
| beria with all that this portended, were
wont to throw their arms about the marble
shaft and kiss the name Europe" a final
farewell
Toward the East.
Leaving the boundary, the road passes
down the eastern slopes of the Trails in
due eastern direction, to Omsk where it
crosses the Irish river over bridge four
miles long, supported by enormous piers
to withstand the ice jams, which are of
such size and force as to be almost ir-
resistible. In order to obviate the necessity
for rebuilding the bridge every spring the
engineers placed huge stone prows on the
upper side of each pier for the purpose of
splitting the ice, as 1t rushes down the
river
Strange to say, the road does not touch
Tobolsk the Siberian capital Qt is connect
ell by a branch line), but passes in a
southeasterly direction to Lake Baikal,
the largest lake in central Asia. 1t is as
long as England. and contains 1890 square
miles of surface. Up to this point those in
charge of building the road experienced no
great difficulty, but the lake caused them
by precipitouS mountains, covered by i'm
mense forests, and as, owing to the extreme
depth of the water, bridging was out of
the question. long detour had to be made
around the southern end of the lake. From
Lake Baikal the road ascends to Khakaro-
kaat, an attitude of 3.412 feet above sea
level, the highest point reached, where it
extends into three branches, one to Via
divostok. one to Newchwang and the other
yet unbuilD to Corea.
Siberia a Fertile Country.
Contrary to general belief, the road does
not pass through a sterile. barren country.
Siberia. except in the far north, is i'm
mensely fertile. For hundreds of miles
along the road stretches prairie land COW
cred with grass which often reaches a
height of six feet. Millions of cattle Craze
there. A little further north are beeohWood.
forests. whose richness is, alculabie. VII
lagos and towns are springins up every
where with a rapidity of growth that is
truly American. The paternalism of the
Russian government Is responsible for. this
for 1t has determined to turn the, waste
lands of Siberia into the granary of the
world. Every train carries hundreds of
settlers. every male among them supplied
with deeds to tract Of land, free trans