The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-28
Some Eccentric Railways.

AS the iron track is bound to force its
way into most corners of the world, IL
is not surprising that some lines of rail-
way exist which are striking evidence OF
a slngularly bold conception carried out
in the face Of obstacles which seemed al
most insurmountable, says the London
Globe Sometimes the route OF the future
line lies across a desert; then the great
law OF the Compensation OF nature
seems 10 make itself felt, for TO balance
the saving OF time and money due to the
fact that long tunnels will not have to
he cut through hills or mountains the
engineers are confronted by the total alb
sence OF three essential elements or con-
struction, namely wood. iron, and water,
which have TO be transported along the
newly laid line as IL stretches so slow
length across the desert Russia's Trans
Capian railway now known as the Gen.
tral Asian railway, was built under these
conditions: thousands OF logs or timber
were needed. and the region traversed
cannot boast OF a single tree for more
than 700 miles This timber was required
for building the long bridge. two miles I'm
length, over the river Amu-Darya. This
bridge was always the weak point In that
highly important railway, and II has been
replaced recently by "A stone bridge BE
tween Merry and Charjul the line had to
be carried over shifting sands 6i feet deep.
When the work Is being carried out In
such regions the trains become little
town on wheels They are composed of
two-storied wagons, which contain sleep
ing accommodation, butchers stalls, can
teens, grocers stores, and forges AS
the Trans-Siberian railway grew In
length II was resolved by the authorities
that the workmen should have their own
church car" a wagon fitted up ac-
cordingly as a church, with little peal
of bells in the alcove above the entrance
The romance of mountain railways by
no means end with their construction
and travelling upon railways at very
high altitude is not a thing To be desired.
The Peruvian line running from Callao
to Oroya has two-fold claim TO distinc-
tion: II is built at probably the greatest
altitude OF any existing railway. namely,
15 COG feet above the sea level. and II af-
fords travellers certainly the most un-
pleasant experience de voyage that can
be imagined. As the result OF travelling
at such an altitude, the passengers begin
by feeling great oppression. accompanied
by pains in the head and limbs; these
are quickly followed by bleeding from
the nose and mouth, and then by mo-
mentary blindness. IL Is gratifying TO
know that there Is u certain variety In the
effects produced upon passengers at this
point Thus, while some persons are
seized Witn eiuuneSs olneiS 'u''i'dih'
strange hallueinntions, and others fairt
away. The last class become so weak
that undue exertion on their part often
proves fatal. But this Is not all that Dne
has 10 undergo on the Callao ard Oroya
line In due course the skin be-
comes irritable and sores break out, while
tho lips swell and then crack.
on one Of the Trans-Ardcs railways
/ the passengers have TO eater the train IN
! a most peculiar and probably unique
! manner. The line referred to is that "
/ the port OF Mollando. IN Peru. The lins
starts from the uuay-side. and the trav'
\ eler can pass from the boat irto,th train
| Unfortunately the boat cannot be brought
completely alongside the quay. Disdain
ing the usual gangway, Peruvian in
genuity hit upon n very novel Idea. Two
large uprghts with a strong crossbar
were erected on the quay. and from thu
! cross-bar hangs an ordinary trapcze. Th'
passenger wishing 10 land has TO seiz'
/ the bar OF this trapeze n few sailors
surround him, and. when he gives th'
! word they unite IN hurting him int
( space over the ships side. One sucl
"send-off" II quite enough. for with on'
swing the traveller comes Co land I'm tn
outstretched arms OF the railway porters
/ IL II only right 90 add that both the sail
! ors and the porters evince an amount o
I energy. delight and dextcrity quite cqua
/ 20 the nervousness of their victims