The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-30
Moral and Material Significance
of the Scheme to Connect the
Plains of India with Those Of
Afghanistan by a Road Thru
Khyber. Pass.
London Mail.

The mere suggestion of scheme to
connect the plains of India with those
CT Afghanistan by means OF railroad
running thru the Khyber Pass invites
us to two most interesting consldera-
tions.
The first is the extraordinary advance
in civilization Of the tribes on the
northwest, frontier Of India during the
past few years, without which no such
scheme could be conceivable in theory
or practice. This is very largely due
to Lord Curzon's policy of peaceful
penetration, of guarding those frowning
frontiers by the goodwill of their ma
tive inhabitants. 49,.
The second consideration follows di-
rectly from the frst-.-yiz, that the con-
dition Of these same native races is now
at the malleable moment when the ap-
mercial, must have an important effect
upon their future development. And
if, as may be expected, the projected
railway should minister to the employ
ment and then to the furtherance of
trade between two commercially
clined peoples, then may we hope to
see the dawn of new era when better
knowledge will inspire greater conf
dence and firmer friendship between the
governments of Afghanistan and of In
dia. ~-
Alternative Routes.
The route thru which a Khyber rail
way would pass will either follow the
bed of the Kabul river from Nowshera
on to the boundary. of Afghanistan, or
it will proceed along the road now COM
pleted thru the Khyber pass itself, hav-
ing it's terminus at or rear Lundi Ko-
tall
There is, indeed, already short rail
way running out to Jamrud, the lonely
fortress on the outskirts of British In
dia from whose flagstaff mound the
above one, their bare, Jagged peaks
spearing the sky. To the left one looks
down into the Tirah country; to the
right one looks towards Michni, Shah
kedr, and the Kabul river: Beyond this
point we pass from the British empire
fighting families with whose quarrels
it is no part Of our business to inter
fare. They may settle their own diff
ferences in their own way, but they
must adhere to the Hrule of the road, ~
which is that nobody may fire or be
fred at when on the road, or fifty
yards from either side Of it.
Once in the pass itself, the road is a
scenery the whole way from Jamrud to
Lundi Kotal Two days in the. week
the pass is open to visitors, and is. sub.
stantially protected from accidents
by pickets of the Khyber rifles, whose
posts can communicate visibly from
peak to peak along the whole length OF
the pass Primarily the precaution is
caravans to and from Peshawar;, IN
cidentally it gives safe convoy to those
who desire, as did, to see the country
Caravans on the Road.
The caravan is fine sight, consisting
of several hundred camels, heavily
laden, of mules and donkeys, goats, wo
men and children. These arc preceded
by guard of Khyber rifles, and SINH
lar escort brings up the rear.
Alongside marches motley crowd OF
Afghans and Pathans-dark, hook
nosed, long haired, keen-eyed men
dressed in any sort of dirty white
raiment. covered by "poshteeno o
rough yellow overcoat lined with goats
hair. Across the backs Of many ar,
slung rifles, some Martins and som
snyders, and a few long barrelled coun
try guns, called "iezails." On the roa.
|, cock) and a bandolier full of cartridge
are the normal equipment Of the Afridi
So they march on to Ali, Musiid, tn
historic fortress which towers into tn
sky at the narrowest defile of the pass
At its foot stands small white mosque
where the pilgrims bend in prayer a
they pass upon their weary way.
The second portion of the journey j
even more sheer and impressive; bu
there are more signs of life, and mu'
villages with their Watch-toWers ar
more numerous along the road. At las