New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-28

baggage. then run the freight cars on the Baikal,
the ice breaker The boat Immediately starts across
the lake, leaving the passengers. Instead Of being
permitted 10 cross IN the daytime on the COM
modlous boat they obliged 10 wait for a
/ smaller boat the AngaTa- which follows II the
evening. landing tie passengers in the early hours
the next morning. When asked why passengers are
thus delayed. obliged spend sleepless night and
% miss The beautiful scenery, the official does not
know. Il Is the custom, that is all. The Russian
4 passengers do not complain. however. II seems
/ never 10 occur 20 them that time and their COM
fort could be saved. They blame one for such
a gross abuse Of patience and disregard Of common
sense.
Lake BaIkal IS frozen from November to the
latter part of April Then occ1rr the great delays
By 1905 is believed tlat The connecting line which
Is being bulk through the hills around the southern
end OF the lake Will be completed In the mean
time Russia IS compelled to get her supplies across
the lake On the best way she Recent dis
patches indicate that this year was necessary to
lay tracks across the lake on the Zee. and that
this has been done to facilitate the movement Of
traffic.
with the exception OF the difficulties the sec
ton through the mountains about Lake Baikal. in
Guiding a tunnel several miles long and the cross
ing OF the different rivers flowing across Siberia
from south to north. apparently there were -
great construction problems 20 be solved in build
iu- the road. The western section. which extends
from CheIiabiusz on the European frontier. to
Pochitanla 1850 miles long for $50 miles over
plateau so level that the distance exceeds an air
line b. only % per cent What has been described
by Russians as one Cf the engineering triumphs"
OF the line is the only tunnel at present. II IS on
the trans Baikal section The much heralded
triumph" proves. when tho train enters IL, TO lie
an onen CUT several rods long. which has been
rooted over with a stone arch 20 save the roadbed
from IandsIides There are snowsheds and fences
10 the extent OF 555 miles. The total length Of
water crossings between Cheliablnsk and Vlad-
vostok aside from the ferry across Lake BaikaL
are given as aEgregauug more than thirty miles.
when the Trans Siberian Railroad was first pro
iected 81 was intended carry II through the val
lo,. o. the Shilka and Amo0r rivers 10 Khaharovka
and thence south 20 NIadivostok. u was con-
ef~ucted % Streteusk on the Sh,lka River and She
branch from khabaroyka TO EIadivostok also
built The two points were connected by means Of
lfart drauEIt steamboats, operated the Shilka
and AMOR rivers. BY this time Russia had Sc
cured the right to build across Manchuria 20 tho
branch leading down 10 YladivostOk. and from
rFartfr ou this branch. 20 Port Arthur the entire
1rarchuIiar section branching or from the main
limo at KaIdaIovo. The cost Of the system up to
tho present time has been more than S23cooo0o.
The Hsuiing OF the line around Lake Baikal and
tro regarding and r,Iaylug of large portion Of
the roadbss win add Cd lar-e amount TO this.
Travel over th. road in the past has been rough
ff interesting experience First class the trains
between Irtutsk and NaucEurla stations was the
Same as second class ora European railroads. The
stretch across tie desert between Manchuria and
Hardin was provided Hith She worst accommoda-
zion ON the whole line a third class coach labelled
.,-4 class was provided FOR the first class pas
e.r.r.rs. As a passenger put it, The 'dferentiaI
. t1.- rr.-o does not soften the seats but It i'm
--ovoe -. society" The coaches had only one pair