The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
ROUTE IS FEASIBLE.
Report Of Harry De Windt on an
Intercontinental Railway.

Seattle, Wash, July 29.-After. travel
ing for six months across the bleak
IBERIA Harry DeWindt of the London
Daily Express is ready to report that
a railway practically connecting the
eastern and western hemispheres is
feasible project. Mr.. DeWindt left Paris
December 16 last and arrived in Seattle
by way of Boring Straits, TukOn, Daw-
son and Skagway on the steamer City
OF Topeka. His party encountered great
perilS from hunger and cold and attrfb-
ute to the presence of Americans in
northern waters the fact that they are
again safe in a civilized country. The
party consisted of Mr.. DeWindt, Wis
count de Clinchamp Bellegarde, George
Harding, who has been with the leader
of the expedition on many journeys in
the last Is years, and Stephen Ras-
torugyeff, Cossack. The Cossack sails
at daybreak tomorrow for his native
land.
The expedition from which the party
is returning was undertaken at the in
stance of Alfred J. Pearson, owner of
the London Express, Pearson's maya
zine, and two score of other Dublica-
tons, who wished to have report
made of the trip by land from Paris to
New York, feat which had not before
been accomplished Mr.. DeWindt as
serts that the overland journey was
much more hazardous and difficult than
he expected and that he would decline
the trip again.
DeWindt left the Transsiberian rail-
way at Irkutsk. From there a course
almost directly north was followed to
the borders of the Arctic ocean. The
trail was along the Lena river, which
is one of the great rivers of the con-
tinent of Asia. On the Lena a great
find of gold has been made, but none
but Russians are permitted to mine it.
Much of this part of the trip was made
behind reindeer. Near the mouth of the
river dogs were procured, and they
hauled the four men the remainder of
~ 80, Norn net
The country traversed was covered to
depth of several feet with snow, the
road was untraveled and rough and
dangers lurked at almost every turn.
The members of the expedition were
treated with kindness, but in many
places the natives were suffering from
famine and disease and could do little
| if anything for their visitors. Many
prosperous cities exist on the map along
the route which the leader of the party
had selected. When these points were
| reached nothing but a few scattered
nuts and half a dozen wretched natives
were all that remained of their great
ness. The people of all the northern
part of the continent have been attract
ed to the coast nearest America, as
| there they can trade with the American
| whalers and subsist more easily than in
| their inland towns and villages.
For several hundred miles directly
east of Boring straits Mr.. De Wlndt
| found many settlements of the natives
and here he found food and assistance.
Had he not met the Siberians here he
| believes he could never have reached
Boring straits, and SO his rescue is due
! to American traders. Discussing the
trip last evening, he said regarding his
personal experiences:
Because of the famine the reindeer
were thin and hardly able to travel,
| but they were far superior in bodily
| condition to the dogs which we pro-
cured later. We travelled by post sta
| lions located at intervals. and usually
long intervals, along the road. We
| of the destitute natives whose condition
was indeed pitiable.
Il once thought the treatment of the
| Siberians by the Russian government
| was not severe, but now that / have
! seen, 1 change my opinion. Along the
| shores of the Arctic we ate frozen fish
and walrus meat. Our 10Y was great
at getting a little flour and molasses
near the end of our journey. The cold
| frozen.
II should say that the railway pro-
| ject is feasible, though no railway will
| follow the route we took. 1t would go
| several hundred miles to the southwark
| and through rich mineral country.
Privately I received the information
| that the Russians are surveying such a
| line, but 1 am not at liberty to say
exactly what course it will take The
only difficulty which is in the way is in
| transferring at Boring straits. The
| great distance makes tunnel imprac-
| ticable, and the miles of ice foe con-
! stantly moving render navigation al
most impossible. However, this prob
lem may be solved, and then the pro-
| ject will be assailable and undoubtedly
! such road will be built"