Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-01-25

wien the RUSSIdn papers, uelu OOWn
by the weight of censorship, criticise
the new Siberian railroad, it may be
assumed there is something the matter
with it. R. T. Greener, commercial
agent of the consular service at Vlad-
livestock, h sent in two extracts from
Russian newspapers in which the
shortcomings of the road are set forth
in unvarnished terms. If what they
say is true, the road will have diff
Guilty in earning interest on the in
vestment, and will be anything but the
commercial success which has been
represented. The Dalny Vostok is
quoted as saying:
Opinions about the great Siberian
railroad vary widely; we think that its
general plan is excellent, but there is
room for improvement. On account OF
economy. the road was built very
light. little ballast being used in many
places: rails, on the western half Of
the road, especially. weigh not more
than "a Kilograms (52.9 pounds) to the
meter. thus making it dangerous for
speedy travelling Further, the engi-
| neers thought it advisable to lay the
line on marshy ground instead of on
the neighboring highlands, where the
ground is solid and firm; and In the
near future it will have to be relaid.
In some districts, again, mistake was
committed in the choice OF direction
of the line Tomsk, the capital of
western Siberia, was left eighty
versts (fifty-three miles, on the side,
and connected with the railroad by
bad road. Further, in order to foster
home trade, the movable supplies and
rails were ordered principally from
Russian ironworks in the Ural district,
and they cost twice as much as il they
had been obtained in England. A great
| deal of material was provided in ad-
vance and rotted before 1t was used"
This paper goes on to enlarge upon
the cost of the road per mile, but con-
sidering the character of much of the
country through which the line Is con-
| structed, the figures do not seem ex-
cessive. It is said that:
The general cost of the Great Sibe-
rian railroad is estimated to be $780,
000,0 900 rubles $3.50 250, 00O), including
lis, 100000 rubles ESQ, 700, OOo) for the
construction of the Amur line from
Stretinsk to Khabarofsk, which project
has been changed by the building Of
the Manchurian line. The last Will
cost 100 900, 900 rubles (s51, 500 00O). It
| is true that the Manchurian railroad is
constructed by joint stock company,
| but, as most Of the shares are in gov
eminent hands, the greater part of the
| money must come from the govern
ment treasury. The cost Of one mile of
railroad is calculated at about $4,000
rubles (s1S,025) for the West Siberian
division; $4,000 rubles (s25,75O) for the
Trans-Baikal and Ussurian line. The
| construction OF the railroad in North
America under similar circumstances
| would cost great deal less than the
aforementioned sums, and yet these
are calculated for 1891. The real cost
will probably be increased to about 49,
900. 900 rubles (s2060O 0O0) more, or
$1,000 rubles (s34,505) per mile for the
Trans-Baikal line"
| AS to travel and freighting over the
line, the Dalny Vostok thinks that
there will be good competition in the
| Siberian line for passenger traffic, as
it will be quicker and cheaper, but that
it will be quite unable to compete for
| freight business. The argument is as
| follows:
when the Manchurian line, which
is about 200 miles long, is finished, the
distance from ST. Petersburg to Port
Arthur will be SITS versts Is S19
miles,; from Berlin $3.50 versts 1881
miles,; from Paris, 1860 versts (7,060
miles,. This distance could have been
traversed in one week, but such speed
! is impossible on the Siberian line at
the present time. At speed Of 25 miles
an hour, it will take two weeks to
traverse the distance between London,
Paris, and Berlin to Port Arthur or
| Vladivostock. When the road is i'm
proved, this can be shortened to about
I eleven days. AS soon as the road is
| finished, it will be the shortest route
| between Europe and the far east; from
Paris one will be able to go to the cap
| ital of Japan-Yokohama- seven
teen days. At present there are two
ways Of communication between Eu-
rope and the far east-west, by way of
| Canada; east, by the Suez canal. The
| first takes twenty-five days, the last
thirty-four days. The center Of oriental
| trade-Hongkong-w be reached
| in twenty days, while at present it
takes twenty-five days by way of Suez
and thirty-four days by way of Amer
lea. Not only will travelling by way
of Siberia be quicker, but it will also
| be cheaper. The fare now from Lon
don or Paris to the ports Of the far
east is, first class, 1900 to 1910 francs
| (s367 to 1879; while in Russia, thanks
to the lowered passenger tariff on great
distances, one will be able to travel
| from the German frontier to Port Ar
thur or Vladfvostock for 107 rubles, or
2S5 francs $50, in ffrst-class accom-
modations, and with a special train
one will be enabled to travel from
Russia to the far east for $50 francs
$3.50. The total cost of travelling from
the west to the farthest point In the
east will not be more than 800 or $50
francs Cs174 to S1S3)-less than half
what it is at the present time. Some
are Of the opinion that it will be very
uncomfortable to sit in the car for two
whole weeks: but everythipg that can
add to the comfort and welfare Of the
passengers will be provided in the spe-
cial Siberian trains that will leave
Paris weekly. These trains will be