Evening star., 1903-07-29
A Hitch in the Project Some
where.
BERING STRAIT TUNNEL
THE PLANS DISCUSSED BY EX-
REPRESENTATIVE LEWIS.
Count de Lobel Coming to Consider
Question of Neutrality In Time
Of War.


From the New York Times.
Count Loica de Lobel of the French Geo
graphical Society is hurrying to New horh
for a conference today with the represent
atives Of the American interests In the w
posed Trans Alaska Siberian rallroau'
which according to the plans adopted. VIII
connect the railroad systems or the eastern
and western hemispheres and give an All
rail route from this city to Paris by way oh
the tunnel under Bering strait.
Ex-Representative J. Hamilton Lewis oi
the state of Washington. general couhSei
for the American capitalists VINO ha'o
Joined with Russian and French capi'a'
lists to build the road. arrived yesterday.
John J. Healey dscoverer OF the hiohuihe
and one of the wealthiest men of Alaska.
who Is largely Interested In the project
hoth personally and as the representative
of other rich men of the west. Is here, TOO.
They will meet the count. who Is LOOKING
after the foreigners interests and those OF
the Russian government. ana DISCUSS .iie
difficulties that stand In the way OF tne
CARRYING out of the plans. These are sAio
TO bs chiefly those having to do with the
determination of the respective tights VI
the Russian and United States governments
in the event of war.
ing the Importance to the United States OF
a fair and equitable adjustment OF the CON
titipnS imposed by tn6 ftuSsidiAS pcioAo 49,
czar's government will construct the west
ern end OF the tunnel, will consider the de-
mands which the count is expected 10 MAKE
In behalf OF Russia and try TO arrive d.
what he thinks would be satisfactory
agreement before the foreigner goes on u
Washington to negotiate for the approVai
OF this government
AZ ds I,obel was in ottawa yesterday
comforting with the dominion government
officials with respect to certain matters
having to do with that end of the enter
prise. He went there almost o!rect from
ST Petersburg whittier he had been sum-
moned by the Russian government after ne
submitted his last report on the proposition.
which showed the plan to be entirely feas-
ible and safe.
Conditions of Russia's Concessions.
That was the second time he had been
In conference with Russian officials. and
they are said to be willing to forward the
enterprise by making concessions, provld-
Ing 1t is arranged that the tunnel shall be
neutral. Evidently 1t Is the fear or the
Russians that the United States might use
the road TO the advantage OF England
should that country and Russia go to war
The project was inaugurated nearly two
years ago." said Mr.. Lewis at the Ho1-
man House last night. while Count de
I.obel was in this country as the repre-
sentative of the French Geographical So
ciety When in Alaska upon his explora-
tions he seems to have reported the FEAST
bility of this road to the Russian AOthorl-
ties pointing out the connection with the
trans-Siberian railroad. which would give
an all-rail line from New York across the
continent of America into siberia by way
of st Petersburg into the Ffehch capitai'
since then the matter has been under
discussion and consideration by engineers
of the French and Russian governments.
NJ de Lobel returned to Paris year ago,
making his full reports, and later he OBJ
tanned audiences with the Russian gov
ernment which brought about certain con-
cessions necessary for the Russian end OF
the enterprise.
"In the meantime the Russian and
French capitalists associated themselves
with view OF constructing the American
end of the line. While this was In progress
IL became necessary TO calculate the exact
costs OF the tunnelng of Bering strait
Then came the report, more interesting
than would at first appear.
Instead OF difficulties, as at first would
be assumed. the engineers OF the Russian
and French governments pointed out that
the straits were during nine months of the
year solid ice, and the tunneling would be
the same as going under rock formation.
and that In the three months when they
were navigabs the waters over large
part of the proposed line did not extend
more than fifteen feet. Manifestly there
would be no more danger OF tunneling un-
der the Bering strait than under the Seine
or the Hudson river.
After this report Count de Lobel again
called to Russia. and the leading in
corporators In America notified that
Russia desired. before further assistance or
approval In behalf of her government
should be given, that the United States
give some assurance that the straits should
be neutral that is. that the tunnel through
which the road ran nor the waters flowing
above should ever be used in time OF war
for the special privilege OF any country
excepting alone the United States
Fear Of United States Alliances.
to Of he foo H4chu "a,
Russia that the United States had entered
into some form of alliance with England
and Japan against Russia. in the event
that Russia should come into conflict with
Japan. Lately when government gave
evidence Of belligerent attitude respecting
Manchuria the Russian government had
Its fears augmented and requested specially
that de Lobel should ascertain so far as lie
could the pleasure OF the Interior Depart
ment OF the United States government
spectlng this particular feature Of neutraN-
cation.
The Russian government does not at
tempt to direct or make a request that the
United States government shall neutralize
the straits, but Is anxious to know whether
IN case the road should be built with the
aid OF Russian and French influence and
capital the United States would In turn
neutralzs the straits. In order that no
precedence be given to any of Russia's
enemies In the event of u conflict.
Count de Lobel arrived In this country on
MS Secpnu Trip II month ago and went to
San Francisco and consulted with the mon
in this country Interested In the undertake
ing. | went from Chicago to Seattle. my
home. and consulted with the interests in
the northwest
A few days ago the count was called to
Ottawa with the view of making certain
necessary arrangements touching such por
tons OF Alaska belonging to Canada
through which the road may have to 60
On Friday Mr. Lewis will sail on the
Cymrtc 10 aid in strengthening out the
tangles that have arisen abroad The first
conference with this object in view will be
held in Biarritz in September. Capt Healey
probably Will go to Washington with Count
de Lobel at about the same time.
Thu company. known as the Trans Alas
kn-Sibertan Railway Company. Is incorpo-
rated under the laws OF Maine for $780,
VDUp. and as q display of good faith 1t
hae rendered to the Secretary of the Inte-
rior bond OF t25O.oOO. to be executed at
once. with sureties to the Secretary salts
faction. Last Monday the plans were laid
before the Secretary. and he was asked to
express hts appSoval.
No action has been taken as yet and It
is probable that there will be some diplo-
matte parrying between the representatives
OF this country and Russia Whatever Is
the attitude of this government IT will be