Gilpin observer., 1906-03-29
,BER|NC Tunnel
Is FAVORED BY THE EMPEROR OF
RUSSIA.
TO LINK U. S. WITH RUSSIA
Scheme Of Siberian
company-AlI Rail From New
York to Europe.

st. Petersburg-The sympathy OF
Emperor Nicholas, Premier Witte and
other members of the ministry, aD well
as of powerful influences at court, have
been enlisted by Baron Loicq De Lobel
in the project of the trans-Alaskan-Si-
berian Company for the construction
of tunnel under Bering strait from
East cape to Kansk and 5000 miles of
railroad to connect 1t with the Siberian
railwya.
The opposition of a portion OF the
bureaucracy which fought the scheme
bitterly because the negotiations were
conducted over their heads is break
ing down.
The outlook for favorable decision
is now bright. In addition to the ben
ef1ts which will accrue to. the nation
by the development of the resources
of the present waste of northeastern
Siberia, the imperial family owns an
immense extent Of land which Will
be benefited.
The national defense COMMITTEES also
considers the project as essential from
a strategic point of view, and, more
important still, there is in the highest
government spheres a distinct dispo-
sition to cultivate the United States
as Russia's natural ally in the far East.
1t is believed that by interesting
Americans materially in Siberia the
political ties between the two coun-
tries will be strengthened. A state
ment to this effect has peen submit
ted by Foreign Minister Lamsdorf to
the commission under the presidency
of Zeigler Won Shaffhauser, minister
of ways and communications, which
has considered the subject, which
statement really amounts to an impor-
tant declaration Of foreign policy, as
is evident from the following extract:
From the standpoint of good policy
the project is considered more than
desirable. The investment OF foreign
capital, and especially American, In an
enterprise so important to Russia, Will
certainly tend to an economic, fnan-
cial and political Russo-American rap
prochement. 1t will also contribute to
the creation of greater confidence in
our foreign policy, which has sensibly
suffered by recent events. By inter-
esting Americans we may be the better
able to combat the injurious agitation
against us which produced so much
harm before the Russo-Japanese war.
81 believe the projected railroad
would serve to paralyze any aggressive
movement against us in the far East.
Everything which can help place Rus
sia in a more Independent position
with regard to Japan and China can
not fail to strengthen Russia both in
the far East ana in Europe"
Six of the twelve representatives OF
the various ministries on the Schaff-
hauser commission already haVD pro-
nounced in favor Of the project. Cen
eral Boldureff, representing the min
istry of the imperial household. told
the commission how much his majesty
was interested, and personally chaI-
lenged the arguments of M. Toulinski,
who has combatted the project.
M. Grebnetsky, on behalf OF the min
lstry of the interior, went to the extent
of declaring that if the railroad were
not constructed Russia's position on
the Pacific would be lost. He expressed
the opinion that the railroad was feas-
ible and that Americans were capable
of carrying out the project.
Baron De Lobel is making the
changes in the proposed line OF the
rail road which were suggested by the
committee of national defense on
strategic conditions.