Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-30
GRIDIRONING ASIA.
Great Railways That Are Girdling the
Eastern World.
From the Chicago Inter Ocean

From the Chicago Inter Ocean.
Mr.. Balfour I'm the house OF commons.
emphasized the Importance OF British rail
way extension in Asia. He seemed 10 as
sumo temporarily that Russia would drive
Japan eventually from the sea In the far
east. and would then resume her march
southwark in central Asia.
He pointed out that the Russian strategic
railways had been pushed almost TO the
Afghan frontier. and intimated that railway
construction In Asia was to play almos,
as conspicuous part in future wars In the
east the building OF fleets.
Whether this is true or not. certainly the
gridironins of Asia with railways Is one
of the most surprising developments OF the
last fifteen years. In railway building in
Asia. Russia OF course has taken the lead.
The whole OF the Trans-Siberian line "a .oo0
miles In Asia) has been constructed since
1891. The Trans Caspian line from Kros-
novodsk on the Caspian has been extended
1,35o miles by way Of Merv. Bokhara, and
Samarcand to Tashkend and AndJan on the
i<ashgar frontier. branch line extends
from Merry southwark toward Herat. and
another line extends from Tashkend a thou
sand miles to Orenburg. A line is projected
from Merv southwark through Persia to
Bushire, on the Persian gulf. to be Joined
at Teheran or Ispahen by line from Baku.
on the west coast of the Caspian.
Still another line has been projected from
European Russia to run north OF the Cas-
driven from Manchuria II IL proposed to
construct new Siberian line from STREET
ensk down the Amoor valley by way OF
Kha barofsk to Vladivostok and another
southwark from Lake Baikal TO Picking
Against those Russian strategic lines
which reach toward the Indian frontier
England has extended the Indian railway
system northward toward the Russian from
tier. There are now 28.OD0 miles Of railway
In India. Bombay having connection by way
Of Delhi with Peshawar on the northern
frontier and through the Indus lines with
Quetah in Beloochistan and KandahAr in
Afghanistan 1t Is proposed 10 extend the
Kandahar railway to Herat. and to build
a road from Quetah to Ispahan in Persia.
Meantime German capitalists. under con
cessions obtained by the German govern
ment are constructing railways from Smyr-
ma and Constantinople through Asia Minor
to the Persian gulf. Turkey is constructing
important railway lines in Arabia and Syria.
and China has railway system independ-
ent of the Manchurian roads. comprising
a mileage OF $500 completed and under con-
struction. Dutch India has 1856 miles OF
railroad: Cochin China and Tonquin
tFrench), 1033 miles: Japan ill0 miles
Siam. 300 miles; Ceylon. 500 miles. The
total for Asia is q. 49I miles of railroad
Included are 37.2sT miles under Russian
control. and 26.o00 under English control
The Siberian railway Is important a
military road, but II was constructed with
commercial development IN mind. 1t crosses
all the great rivers flowing north through
Siberia near the head Of navigation. thus
affording an outlet for all the valleys II
constitutes the shortest route from Euro
pean capitals to Asiatic trade centers. and
Ii will command the trade OF Siberia and
northern China.
The Trans-Caspian railroad system has
great stra tegic value In case of war, but ii
was constructed to command the trade OF
central Asa-to reach the old trade routes
through kashgar, Samarcand and Merv. II
peace should prevail for twenty-five years
Merv would become the midway station be
tween Calcutta and the Black sea, the Ger
man railway through Asia Minor would re-
store the old prestige to the Euphrates val
ley. and the Trans Siberian railway would
bring wonderful development to all north
ern Asia.