New-York tribune., 1901-04-28

| way that is measured by the Trans-Siberian
SAtaiiway- Having visited China and Japan in
1900 to attend conventions Of the Christian
Endeavor Society, Of which he is president, it
occurred to him to try the way home. The
\ Trans-Siberian road had then just been opened
~ the head Of navigation on the Shilka River,
ard DR.. Clark believes that his party included
the first Americans. and probably the first for
egners TO make a journey around the world by
the new route. His book is unpretentiOus
chronicle Of the journey, full Of interesting de-
tails Of intelligent travellers observations
and experiences in novel surroundings, and is
valuable a record Of the actual condition of
much discussed enterprise
Travel by the Trans-Siberian route is still
largely travel by steamboat, it seems; and DR..
Clark's trials with the steamboat stage OF the
journey not reassuring TO would-be patr1
Of the line. He left Vladivostok-the magic
city" Of brick and stone, electric lights and teie-
graph wires, though OF not altogether immacu-
late hotes-with the advantage of a letter from
the Governor that secured him certain privileges
and advantages in getting accommodations
The train was drawn by sturdy Baldwin
locomotive fitted with a big, bulbous smoke
stack for burning wood and consisted Of about
a dozen Of the first, second and third class.
The second class cars were, perhaps, up
holstered shade less luxuriously than the first,
ana we're somewhat more crowded, though there
was little TO choose in this respect
The washing accommodations are deficient.
and Pullman would hardly own the dining car
as an offspring Of his invention There was a
long table down the middle where meals could
b. had either as table d'h6te at fixed
Erice-not luxurious. but quite sufficient for the
orlinary traveller. The five hundred miles to
Khabaroffsl1 il takes twenty-nine hours TO cover
\ and there begins the steamboat stage Of the
journey. the one in which the Trans-Siberian
route proves a delusion and a snare. The way
Iay UP the mighty Amoor River-mighty in length
and width but not in depth and so requiring
various transfers from the comfortable large
steamer plying from KhabarOffsk to smaller and
more uncomfortable ones successfully, until
Siretinsk was reached The first change is
made at Blagovestchensk "a surprising city to
be found in the heart Of the wild woods Of East
ern Siberia a city Of 10000 inhabitants which
Or. Clark compares Portland, Me. or Port
land Ore. and possessing several department
stores really palatial in proportions and equip
n.ent~ The city almost Immediately after
his departure took a place in history
through undergoing siege by the Chinese. In
the upper reaches Of the Amoor the passenger
steamboats, have convict barges in tow, and the
orportunity TO inspect these exes gave DR..
Clark the impression that they We're not bad
looking fellows-better than many Of the third
class and than some Of the first class passen-
gers The trip Stretinsk which should have
taken twelve days, took twenty-one, on account
Il the delays caused by low water. Here, how
ever worse trials began. Three days and half
IN fourth class cars, with wooden seats and
y wooden hunks in tiers of three, and with fellow
Passengers Of indescribable offensiVeness, were
spent in reaching Irkutsk, the rate Of speed be-
ing about fifteen miles hour and the stops
al stations being from half hour to two
hours. Across Lake Baikal on the great ice
breaking steamer which is to take whole trains
of cars aboard. but did when DR.. Clark was
travelling and Irkutsk reached; thence 10
81 Petersburg the journey was a luxurious one
in comparison with the previous stages, though
the train was still many degrees behind the
best American train, and the rate Of speed exas-
Eeratingly slow and the stops long.
The fares in Siberia remarkably cheap;
but the management Of the road struck DR.
Clark as being extremely inefficient His expert
.-rces weakened his faith in the boasted energy
and enterprise Of Russian railway construction
How A road that is slow and haltng in
reace can be great in war do not see HOW a
line that cannot carry a few hundred passengers
ana their luggage without interminabe delays
can be used mobilize a hundred thousand SOL
di-rs al short notice is difficult to comprehend
The journey from EladiYostok 10 St Peters
burg took thirty-eght days; the expected limit
of twenty-five never be reached, thinks Dr