The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-03-09

I settled conditions of affairs IL the country
through which he would he compelled e
| him the permit TO cross Siberia. and once
more he was obliged TO turn back
Secured Russia's Protection.
The present expedition set out with every
prospect of success. Mr. De Windt Sc
| cured assurances of assistance and protec-
tion from the Governments of Russia. Eng
land and the Unitea states. so he Is not only
certain Of ssinE unmS ole auring ,, ms
Of knowing that he will find The other Pow
ers waiting TO assist him with provisions
and transportation facilities a. soon as ne
declares himself ready 10 leave the Russian
territory
Mr.. De Windt left Moscow. accompanied
by the Vicomte de C1inchamp. one OF the
members of the foreign syndicate. late in
December. and proceeded 20 Irkutsk, the
last available station on the Transsiberian
Railroad. where he found his valet. George
Harding. waiting for him with dog and rein
deer teams. From 1rkutsk, the last point
from which news of the party could he re-
ceived. they expected to go TO Yakutsk.
where they intended to wait until The dis
mai Tundra Swamp had become entirely
covered with snow and ice. over which they
would be able to p pass WITH n. eompa,s'x We
eredne Kolimsk. whero they would be able
TO replenish their store OF provisions in
prepaLstISn for the lShs trip ga along ,s E IN.
Cape, where the worst part Of the journey
would be at an END.
De Windt's Ions Journey.
When starting upon this long trip Mr..
De Windt admitted that he could not hope
to reach East Cape before March. and that
several weeks YOU then be spent IN max
ing a thorough survey of the coast around
Boring Strait before he could think of cross
ing to the Alaskan side. for he is confident
that he will be able to devise some plan
to bridge this narrow strip of water. In
fac fact .1 nsTse1s,iy; ob ns e 81 to ,h S. e aSeneom .h a.
Bering Strait will be scarcely worthy OF
confederation AZ compared to those which
dertakes TO overcome the dificulties that
will present themselves in the thousand
miles OF Tundra Swamp. and yet he ex-
adverse features are not serious enough to
stamp the project as an tmpracticable one
II the fact that millions Of dollars are
not e sTfa q mt eVidense that his enterpri.e
Is one that Is regarded by the shrewdest
capitalists as not only perfectly feasible.
the transportation problems Of the civilized
world. 1t is only necessary to refer TO the
voluntary testimony Of a dozen or more
have themselves examined into the situa-
interested in similar undertakings does not
tend necessarily to make them biased IN
favor Of Mr.. De Windt's project.
Some Enthssiastio Supporter.
Among the practical railroad men who
are enthusiastic supporters of the ail-raa
connection between Europe and America is
interested foreign capitalists to the extent
of a subscription OF 3 100000 for the pur-
pose of carrying out a similar scheme. and.
whiie he admits that II may be necessary
TO ferry the trains from the United statee
to Europe across the Boring Strait. he
still believes that this passage can be
spanned by bridges.a conclusion in which he
= most ~emphatically supported by Captain
John j.; Healy, who Is associated with Sen
ator Clark and several other American
m~illfonatres in the construction Of a
through line from Vancouver, British CO.
lumofa. to the American Yukon. a road
hat may not improbably be SO laid that 1t
tween the already established lines in Van
couver and the Transsiberian Railway. soon
to be constructed.
Captain Healy is one Of the pioneers Of
knows every foot OF the coast to the last
extremity OF Cape Prince of Wales. He
sees nothing impossible I'm the theory that
Bering strait can be bridee6.
body of water to span,' he says. 1T is but
twenty. miles from the American side 70
Island and less thai that to the |
SlDerian snore. and its expanse IS dotted
OF the greatest utility In bridge building"
s""e E~sthusiatsic sapporters.
George H. Heafford. late general passen- |
ger agent OF the Chicago. Milwaukee, and
~; faui road c~orresponded with Prince
dichael Hflkon. the eminent Russian enSf-
neer. regarding this matter for more than
wo years. MI. Heafford believed the road |
leerinE chief of the Alaskan Central Rail-
DAD: T.. G. Hawkins, C.. F.. the construct /
ng. engineer Of the White Pass Railroad, /
ma M. }: Heney. who has much to do with 1
ieve the undertaking could be carried to
conclusion without great difficulty or ex-