Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-03-30
BER|NC tunnel
Is FAVORED BY THE EMPEROR OF
RUSSIA.
TO LINK U. S. WITH RUSSIA
Scheme Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
company-Ail Rail From New
York to Europe.

st. Petersburg-The sympathy Of
Emperor Nicholas, Premier Witte and
other members OF the ministry. AZ 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 Berlng strait from
East cape to Kansk and 5000 miles OF
railroad to connect II with the Siberian
railwya.
The opposition of 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 Den
efits which will accrue to tho 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 committee also
considers the project ms essential from
n strategic point OF view. and. more
important still. there Is In the highest
government spheres distinct dispo'
sition to cultivate the United states
Us Russians natural ally In the far East
II 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 pccn submit
ted by Foreign Minister l-amsdorn TO
tho commission under the presidency
OF Zciglcr Won Sha1hauScr. minister
OF ways and communications. which
has considered the subject. which
statement really amounts TO an impor'
tant declaration OF foreign policy. ms
Is evident from the following extract:
From tho standpoint OF good policy
the project IL considered moro than
desirable. The investment OF foreign
! capital. and especially American. In m
enterprise no important TO Russia. VIII
certainly tend to an economic. hnan'
cial and political RuKSo'Amcrtcan rap
prochcmcnt. II will also contribute Ia
the creation of greater confidence IN
our foreign policy. which has H"nHin'y
suffered by recent events, by inter
cA;InE Americans We may be tn" better
able to combat the injurious agitation
against uH which produced no much
harm bcfor. the RussoiapancSr war,
II believe the projected railroad
would arry. to paTaiyEr any AGGRESSIVE
movement against IN In tho far Eaa''
Everything which can n'ip piasN fuh
Nia In n more independent position
with regard to Japan and China can
no, fall to strengthen Russia both IN
the far East and In Europe"
Six of tho twelve representatives o'
III. various ministries On tho sehAn
hauHcr commission already hhNS pr"
nounecd In favor Of the project. Gen
.sai Doidurofr. r-prcscntiaE the min
is,Ey of the imperial household. told
tho commission how much his majesty
was Interested. and personally chai
lrnscd the arguments Of NJ. Touiinasi'
who has combat,-i ih" project.
81. Grcbnrtsky. on behalf of III" min
istyy of the interior. went TO th" extent
Of declaring that II the railroad were
40, constructed RGssia'a position on
the Pacific would be- Lost. He expressed
the opinion that the railroad was tras
lblc and that Americans were capable
OF carrying out the project.
Baron DO Lobcl IN making IN"
changes In the proposed linc OF tho
tail road which were suggcAicd by the
committee OF national defense on
strategic conditions.