The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-09

This road from Moscow to Mini Novgorod
n IN good condition; 1t IL we'll ballasted and
the roadbed Is weeded as carefully IS we
weed our gardens. I saw women on their
knees scrapins out the weeds between inc
ties with knives and everywhere the track
men are smoothing the ballast and repairing
the rails. Many OF the Russian roads arc
too lightly ironed, but this Is being I'M
proved and the roads rerailed.
The ties are wooden and some Of the rails
are Of American steel. Most Of the rolling
stock is made in Russia. and there are Grea.
car shops In Moscow and in other parts OF
the Empire engaged in building 1t.
am told that the cost Of construction has
been high. So far about two billion dollars
has been spent upon railways. and OF TINS
s. per cent has come from the Government
either directly or in the form Of guaranteed
capital for private concerns. Tho average
the whole country over has been about
$4,000 per mile, which IL excessive. consid-
ering the lew cost Of labor. Many OF the
roads have Eeen built as military necessities
rather than as q commercial proposition
They are laid out without regard to traffic
ccnveniences. and az result you will find
towns miles away from the track when
slight curve might have brought them right
on 1t.
You may have heard the story Of how the
road between Moscow and st. Petersburg
was built. The American engineers made
the line curve in and out like snake. tax
ing in all the large towns. The Gar took a
ruler. laid 1t on the map and drew a
straight line from ST. Petersburg to Mos
COW. That's the road want" said he,
and 10 they built It. The result Ii one has
to drive four or five miles to reach some Of
the cities. and the villages lie far OF the
line of the road. All these towns may some
day be connected by electric railroads.
ARRANGEMENT OF STATIONS
AND wAITING-ROOMS.
The Russian station arrangements are Off
ferent from ours. Everything goes slowly,
and one must come early to avoid red-tape
detention. Omces are open an hour before
the train starts. and bell II ,rung three
times before the cars move out Of the sta
ton.
Every depot has its irSt, second and third
class waiting-rooms each OF which has 1T
own restaurant. There are also tea ped
dlers notion stores and news stands. %
that one can buy what he needs without go
ing out of the depot. The restaurants are
excellent. The food II as good AZ you f1nd
anywhere and remarkably cheap. A plate
of soup is enough for a meal and Russian
| SOUP Is as good as any in Europe. There Il
one kind called '.stchee." made Of cab.
baRes and other vegetables with . chunk Of
meat about four inches square and twt
inches thick in each dish. The proper way
to take 1t is to eat the soup flrst and aftel
| that the meat bowl Of thick cream !.
| furnished with the soup. This is pouret
into II to thicken 1t, and green cucumber
| or 30 II also furnished to eat between the
spoonfuls 1t Il not at all bad. assur,
you.
Russian station. Tea II brought to the win
dows ct the stopping Of the train; also 1t Il
served In the depots and 70 drunk at al
hours Of the day. The Russians have bet.
ter tea and more Of 1t than any other PEG
Die Of Europe. Most Of the people drinl
| Chinese tea, which II brought IN caravans
| ouently, escapes the long sea voyage. which
| is said to in1re the flavor. The tsa Il
| eseved in glasses instead Of In cups Il Il
Ii fwnys taken hot. and usually without milk
q slics q lsmon y sscsrally drcpesd mt