The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-23

NEW YORK. Feb. 23.-The Russian Gov
errment, according TO private advices just
received from St Petersburg, has decided
to build a new military railroad. to be
called the Observation-Disclosures Iagoves-
chencsk- Onon-Chita Road. The route VIII
be about 1 700 miles long and is expected
to cost $15O. 600 900.
When the great Trans Siberian Rail
road scheme was first mooted it was con-
templated to continue the road along the
banks Of the River Amur to Khabarovka.
the most important Rus sian military sta
tion in the Far East. After the survey
ing parties had been over the ground,
however, the idea was abandoned, as it
was found that the hilly and rocky coun-
try presented many engineering Difficult
ties
The Chinese Eastern Road - vladivo-
stock was therefore decided on in view Of
the intervening nat land permitting of
cheaper and quicker construction
While the Manchurian road is regarded
as suitable for all commercial interests
and purposes, the Russian authorities look
upon it as very inadequate for military
uses. as it does not touch Khabaroyka.
This city. which is situated on the River
Amur, about 400 miles north of YIadivos-
Muscoyite troops. In order to re-enforce
the same under existing circumstances it
would be necessary to transship the West
ern Russian troops at the Trans-SIberian
Railroad OF Chita onto the Chinese East
ern system running to Hardin, from there
onto the Yladiyostock branch and then by
Oussuri road TO KhabarOyka.
The lessons derived from the recent Chi
nese troubles have clearly demonstrated
to the Russian War Office how vitality i'm
portant it is to have a through route over
the Trans Siberian system from St Pc
tersburg to Khabarovka without the ne
| cessity Of touching Yladivostock. The pro-
/ posed road would mean that Khabarovka
would be nearly Loco miles nearer to St
/ Petersburg than via Hardin and VladiYos-
/ took. 1t would enable 6habaroYka to be
/ fed with additional troops Irrespective Of
/ the long formation Of ice at Vladivostock
and would preclude the pos
sibility OF that Far Eastern
/ port being taken By an enemy. BY the
! destroying OF nearly 400 miles OF the Chi
nese- Eastern Road by the Chinese Kha-
| baTOYka was. during the late war entire
| " cut OF from railroad communication
with European Russia
! The projected line viii be built from one
/ of the stations On the OIon branch Of
/ the Frans-Siberian line in an easJerIy
/ direction, as the crow flies, to Aigun. the
town recently destroyed by the Russian
/ soldiers Such route will be about 700
miles shorter than if it followed the ShiI-
/ ka and Amur rivers between these points
( as was originally planned.
/ The road viii then be continued 800
miles along the Amur River to Khaba-
/ royka L viii then 60 south to the sta
/ ton OF Imam, where II viii be united with
/ the OUssuri Road running to VIadiTos-
/ took
There will De quite half dozen large
rivers To span with bridges a lot of tun-
neling work viii also have TO be accom-
pIished-
Negotiations are said to be nearing com
/ pletiOn for the building Of another road in
! that part Of the globe. Private Russian
parties are stated to D. about to sign pre-
! liminary papers for the construction Of 4
direct railroad between VIadivostock and
Port Arthur. The line viii be 500 miles
in length. A sea voyage between the two
seaports takes eight to twelve days