Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1900-03-13
RUSSIA ABREAST OF THE TIMES
Frauds In the Construction of the 81
berian Railway.

berian Railway.
It is not known that those in charge
of the construction of the Siberian
railway were ever under the tutelage
of the members of the American Credit
Mobilier, but, judging by reports that
come from that region, they would
have been apt pupils. They certainly
have trick or two that would put
their American compatriots to the
blush. 1t appears that the different
works have been executed in a man
ner that shows very little conscience.
Every thing, or nearly everything, will
have to be done over again before the
authorities can think of throwing open
this gigantic line to regular working.
In very many places the road gives
way on the passage of train little
heavier than usual or travelling at
speed of more than twenty miles an
hour, and accidents more or less grave
are continually happening. More than
usual courage is demanded of any one
undertaking a journey on this rail-
way. This construction la Russo has
already swallowed up hundreds of mil
lions of rubles, or, to speak more
truthfully, the constructors and not
the construction have absorbed the
millions. People are beginning to ask
how it will finish. There is still more.
Several Siberian journals, which are,
moreover, closely controlled by the
local censors, publish the following
statements: For several months the
navy contractors have not been paid
In cash despite the terms of their
contracts. The engineers 10 charge,
who represent the government, de-
clared that they had no more money
and the contractors must be satisfied
with bonds, which the Siberian and
Chinese banks have for some time
discounted at 81 per cent. Frequently
these bonds were not paid on falling
due, and in consequence the banks re-
fuse to act any longer as intermedia-
rfes between the government engineers
and the contractors. It was only when
one of these engineers, Prince A.
who had made fortune, undertook
to be personally responsible to the
banks that they resumed the functions
of discount brokers. But the princes
guaranty is somewhat costly, seeing
that he claims a little fee of Is per
cent. The contractors are furious, but
they find themselves helpless, owing
to the clause inserted in all the con-
tracts to the effect that disputes be-
SWeen the engineers and the contract
ors of the line have to be settled In
st. Petersburg. To lodge complaint
COCO miles from the spot where the
circumstances have occurred is at least
ineonvenient and would entail years
delay. The position of the unfortu-
nate navvies themselves can be mag
ined from the treatment Of the con
tractors. Their wages are paid very
and always with deduc-
lions. Badly fed and badly lodged, it
is not surprising if they give only half
q heart to the work"
oeIvc uaruener.
Singing in the opera and cultivating
d farm are about as widely different
from each other as two occupations can
well be. Perhaps this is the very rea-
son why Mademoiselle CalYe, the great
prfma donna, retires eveery summer
to spend her vacation on farm among
the Cevennes, chain of mountains in
southern France. The famous singer,
says the Philadelphia Post, was very
Ill and nervous when she went to the
Ceyennes, but this free, open air life
and vigorous exercise soon restored her
to the most robust health, and when
friends asked her the secret of her
cure, she answers, spades and pota-
toes" Last summer she went into her
kitchen garden and cared for her own
No one was allowed to
touch them, and the results were far
better than when her gardener cared
for the things. Mademoiselle Calve
wore a short skirt of blue jeans, sabots.
and linen shirtwaist. She spaded and
hoed and watered her vegetables day
after day, and proudly sent gifts of the
finest fruits of her labors to friends in
Paris.
womanless Town.