The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-10
GEOGRAPHICAL HODGE PODGE.
A Remarkable Map Purporting to SHOW
the Route Of the Trans-SIberian Railroad.

Nv HOute " tue ITbnssStDttthn puuEVso'
One Of the ~pers misled by som
cruel rumor. announces that the Trans
Siberian Railroad has been completed to
Vladivostok, and prints amap three columns
wide. showing the alleged route. Both
the description Of the road and the map
illustrate the ludicrous results Of applying
msinformation to the discussion Of i'm
portant matters.
Between Stretensk on the Amur River
and Vladivostok the map maker lays
down the route To suit himself. without
consulting the Russian engineers He
carries the railroad across about twenty
mountain ranges that are almost unex-
plored. His line il far north Of the route
along the Amur Valley, through which
tho main line will some day be built. II
was never contemplated to extend the
railroad through the region shown on this
map and il never will be built there.
When building operations on the main
line were suspended near Stretensk In
1890, IL was Thought that the road might,
never be completed through the Amur
Valley TO the Ussuri River. To continue
the line along the Amur River, 1t was found
would involve great engineering diff
culties. This valley IL Hooded every year
by the overflow of the river and the I'M
Ell Ntl Nlbtl "or INV ~ NtV
railroad against the floods. n the road
was most theoretically continued down
the Amur Valley II could not be completed
before 1905, but not a stroke Of work has
been done toward extending the road down
The valley since operations were suspended
two years ago. Naturally, therefore. the
alleged connection by rail bet ween Moscow
and Vladivostok has not been made along
the Amur route.
According to a report from X. T. Greener,
our commercial agent to v~ladiyostok.
written in. July last, the Russian Govern
ment has ecide to complete the line "a
originally projected along the %tortuous
Amur in spite OF the expense In
volvsd. or course the line cannot be COM
pleted on this route for years to come.
The owes it's mudd led report
and map to the fact that IL has entirely for
gotten the short cut line to V~ladivostok
across Manchuria. A railroad, already
partly built, is 10 extend from the Trans
Siberia south through Manchuria TO Port
Arthur; a branch road will connect
il with Vladivostok making the rail
routs from Moscow to Vladivostok
about $50 miles shorter than by way
Of the road down the Amur Valley. Before
the recent troubles in China the building
Of this shorter route 10 the Pacific was far
advanced and trains were running over the
completed portion. Russia's excuse for
rushing troops into Manchur1a was the
necessity for protecting this new enter
prise. Work was resumed on this branch
some months ago and 1t was reported that
the line would be completed to Vladivostok
this fall. The report which the newspaper
in question got hold of related OF course
20 the M~anchurian extension, though
there IL not the slightest indication In the
article or map that II had any knowledge
OF the real facts in the case. Desiring TO
| locate tho road somew here II made a myth
| ical line north Of the Amur,
II il not probable that the Manchurian
branch has yet been completed TO Nladi-
vostok; az least no other newspaper has
information 10 this effect, II IL known that
| before trains from Russia can reach Nladi-
| vostok the tunnel in Manchuris through
| the Chingan Mountain Range (Chingan
| Pass must he completed. We have not
heard that this great tunnel has vet been
driven through the mountains. Mr.. Greener
wrote In July last the tunnel could scarcely
he completed under the most favorable cir
| cumstances within a year.
The newspaper. therefore,. has succeeded
| only in completing the great railroad along
| a route which II seems 10 have evolved
from it's inner consciousness. and IL en-
| tirely ignores the actual route along which
Vladivostok will. before a great while, be
Joined with Europe by rail.
A. il well known. Nladivostok has for
many months had steam overland com
muuicatIions with Europe by means Of the
~Trans-Siberian road TO S~tretensk. Amur
River steamers between Stretensk and
Chabarovska on the Issun and the tssurl
Railroad 20 Nladivostok.