The Washington times., 1901-10-20
RUssIA's GREAT RAILROAD.
It's Progress md influence ns n Rus
sian Possession.

In 1891 the first coupons were issued for
the building of this railway. In Decem-
Der. 1892. the work was begun. y highway
was to ne pushed from St. Petersburg to
the Pacific, a band of steel 5,S52 miles
long, binding the extremities of the en-
pire and over its polished track affording
an unrivaled route for the commingling
of East and West and of their measure
less products. From Paris to Vladivo-
stock the journey by passenger and traffic
was to be made in twelve days. and later
On in ten. From Paris to Peking in thir-
teen days, to Hongkong in seventeen days,
diminishing the expense in money and in
time by third or a half.
This railroad was to be financiered. con-
structed and administered, not by private
enterprise, but by the State. Hence its
object was not by financial returns 10
swell the revenues OF giant corporations
or individual capitalists. The profit and
loss account on its pecuniary side was
minor consideration. Its single design and
aim vas 20 strengthen and develop the
Russian Empire. and as an ultimate result
to ensure that empire the dominion Of the
East. the mastery of Asia.
As the strategic position Of Russia over
against Asia is unique, so is this railroad
unique in it's possibilities. Whatever ac-
quisitiOns Great Britain or Germany now
holds or may hereafter obtain on the
Asiatic contingent, those possessions are
remote by thousands of miles from their
base. and their efficiency depends upon
a difficult and precarious connection
through those thousand miles of sea and
land Nor can those possessions be
brought into much more intimate rela-
tions with each other and with the home
Empire than they are already are. That
is for Great Britain or Germany or any
other power to devise a political or
strategic rival to the Trans Siberian Rail-
way is an utter impossibiity 1t re-
mains and must remain the most stu
pendous agent in determining the destiny
of the globe that has yet been conceived
by man 1t is to be maintained, as it was
originated, under the most favorable geo
graphic circumstances which state has
ever enjoyed.
There is no assertion here that a s an
achievement of engineering skill this rail-
way surpasses or even equals a trans
American railroad from New York to San
Francisco. or a trans-African railroad
from Alexandria to, the Cape. Viewed
merely as a railroad, ~ may in every
respect be inferior TO either; its trains
may be Jess commodious or less luxurious,
its locomotives Less powerful or less
swift, its technical management less eff
cient or less sagacious: but, regarding
simply geographical position, having in
mind only where it runs, what it con-
meets, and what it must inevitably effect,
nowhere can experience or imagination
suggest a rival. The nearest approach to
rivalry would be afforded by some line
crossing China from west to cast. But
the western terminus Of such a line would
of necessity be close upon Russian Sine
ria or Russian Turltcstan; it would ira
verse only a moTibund or disintegrating
Aslatic State, and whatever might be the
governing board Of its construction and
administration, it wou.d indirectly, if not
directly, be subject to Russian influence
National Geographic News.