The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-12-16
NEw u SSitN RiILWAy ~ ASA.
4 Proposed Iine FROM To'kcstsn to Han
kow on the tanstsc-kianr IN china.

The late great enterprise planned hv the
Russian Government In Asia Is the prolonga-
tlon If Tia, central Allan RAILWAY hrough
Chinese Turk .stan and outhcrn Mongolia
To the head 81 the navigabie waters Of the
IIoang-ho In China nd thence Ia Iinnkow
on the Nangts"-ktaug The starting point
would be the present eastern terminus of the
Transca,pitn Railway at And an In Russian
Turkestan. From there the lire would be
carried to kashg1r In Chinese Tutk estnn. "A
distance ~ 800 niles Of somewhat difficult
country, requiring one or two considerable
tunnels. There has been some doubt rs to
the direction the continuation from there
should take. but IL is stated on apparently
good authority that the more southcrlv of tho
two lines considered will be followed. That
would carry it through Yarkand to Khotan
towardthc polu Pass. which leads in to Thibct.
From khotan the line would take "A bend
10 the eastward to the head waters OF the
Chcrchen Daria. which discharges Into one
OF the lakos come 't"u WIN me famous i.3D
Nor, from the uetghborhood OF which the
celebrated swedish explorer, sven Hedln.
was last heard from. From tho Lot. Nor the
line would pass through the Altvn Mountains
on 20 the Ts1idrm plateau 10 the head waters
r. Would follow TO Ian-rhow on the most
southerlv bend of tho upper Hoang-hO. From
there the road could he carried on ~ SinRau-fu.
the present RESIDENCE Of the. Chinese Court
and Inc IhFrlll fNIFlNll III ' UlIll, ana li'Hho
10 anv poirt on Tho pesin-lianGow Railway
that might be determined On.
70 rhe ,1 ,o}ai ,"o Edni i be- lar l, rgnc fTGm .n Anfl Ian
about ?,2OD rlilcs. tharchalvk in the. Lob Nor
district At the foot Of tho. Altyn. Mountain
being about tn" centre Of the line. Three
hundred miles nearly due north Of Charchalyk
IL Trumtsi. the seat Of IN" CliuPse Govern
mcnt Of western MONGOLIA end one of tho most
Chinese Empire, caravan routes from every
direction meeting there.
a moment when Russia Ens aircndy so mary
other great enterprises II a similar chqrac-
gun and Which will eventually form the link
connecting the great Central Asian railway
TEN ~centring at Moscow BY this route
mails and passengers could be carried from
western Europ,e, soy from Pnris or Berlin
quicker than by any other. either existing
or concentrated, In the present condition
cial advantages of this route are the least
important. It. is the political and military
signineance of IT thft 'sis ia n nItgn n
and Manchuria firmly secured by the rail-
way across the northern part Of Asia. Russia
]tentacle into the very heart Of China across
the centre Of the contipcnt. Tie territories
through which the railway will PASS after
populated and scantily cultivated away
from the banks of the rivers and lakes, but
there are traces IN many n1Tt- 81 u l'TNl'r
ciyil,zauon and poprlous cities. The success
that has attended the Russian railway iolicy
In central Asia 50 far, j. an cnCourH cement
10 continue in the same direction. Tie mill
tarv advantage of a great trunk line into
western China. starting directly from Nos
COW. wound be immense. u would be at all
points Of the route practically safe from
Hostile attack, and with the siberian and
Mauchurian railways already in their hands,
the Russians would be ia n position 10 die
tate the destiny II Asia north OF the Himh-
layas and 1ndu-thina.
To achieve that end. however. some years
Of peace yot are necessary. The fact, there
fore. that the Russian Government Is entering
on these enterprises which demand time for
their completion Ia n gnarartee that its rolicy
Resides the railway descn, ed. the other
most important from n political point Of view
IL that which Is being constructed from
Alexandropol In the southern Caucasus to
in the frat instance; The line passes by
Nakhr chovan. near the Persian frontier. In
the neighborhood Of which are extensive
mineral d~cnosits. such as Iron, copper and
coal, only requiring capital for their develop
nen,. TO tho wealth and energy In these
to their inacccssibility, the Russian railway
will bring lite and activity, for the Persian,
unlike the Turk. Is in his way q Keen man of
business aud quick to seize opportunities,
When this railroad reaches ,Tahreez the trade
that now passes on carvel back ana on pack
animals through tho Turkish. territory by
Erzeroum to Trehizond on the Black Sea
will be tappci NJ its source. and the region
that has boon already rendered desOlate by
tho massacre and flight Of it, Christian popu-
lon ger traveIscd by tn" long trains OF animals
Tint are 70 be met with Mt all seasons Of the
wear on what was once one OF tie greatest
trade routes of antiquity.