Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-01-13
A DREAM OF THE FUTURE.
Tunnel Under Bering Straits Recalls
Dream OF the Past.

Dream OF the Past.
Some twenty years ago William Henry
Kent. then city editor of The Bee, INDUCED
in an occasional day dream between calls
for copy" and one of his dreams was
bridge across the neck OF Boring strait con-
Meeting Alaska and Siberia and making pos
sible a railroad journey from New York to
St. Petersburg. Kent took his dreams seri-
ously, going so far as to obtain through
Senator Henderson permission 20 visit
Alaska on a government boat and letters to
American diplomats in Russia, combining a
tour of investigation and the enlightenment
of Russia on an all-rail route. Events had
shaped themselves for great deecs when
officious friends elected Kent to the ONCE Of
coroner and the grave duties of that posi-
ton absorbed his energies and the Boring
strait project passed out of sight.
Other great minds are indulging in like
dreams now, and one of the dreams is thus
told by the New York Times
The excitement in the money markets OF
the world which might have been expected
TO follow the announcement that Russia
and Germany have agreed upon the con-
struction of a railroad tunnel between ST.
IBERIA and Alaska. does not seem to have oc-
Cured. The scheme, as might be assumed.
vised by French engineer, Loicq de Lobel.
but It Is interesting to know that 1t has the
approval of the Russian government and
that commission has been created in Ber-
lin to formulate contract specifications. st.
Petersburg and Berlin having thus amicably
agreed, IT does not appear to have occurred
20 any one that 1t is either necessary or de-
sirable to make it a tripartite agreement
mi fnnl ha
Is not. The likelihood Of the matter being
taken quite seriously by the president and
his cabinet is not very great, and while con-
ditions in Russia remain as they appear to
be at the moment the concurrence of St.
Petersburg and Berlin would not seem to
lead anywhere. 1t is easy to understand
why the German emperor should find salts
faction in a negotiation OF this character
and be willing to surround it with all the
forms and ceremonies OF official sanction
but for the present his imperial majesty OF
Russia has a number OF things to think
about, which, II not more important are
somewhat more exigent.
J But the Boring straits tunnel is a project
which at some time in the future is likely tC
command a great deal of very purposefu
consideration. At East Cape the two con
tinents approach. within about thirty-si1
miles OF each other. and even the averags
depth Of water between them does not op
pose any serious engineering obstacle I'm the
way OF establishing railway connection
hereunder. Meanwhile. however, a grea
deal is 10 be done I'm the way OF develop
ment both I'm Siberia and in Alaska, befor'
even a ferry will be needed. Something ver'
different from the existing railway connec
lions established by the Transsiberian roa'
| will be required 10 make an exchange o
passengers or merchandise practicable b.
rail between Europe and America. Tn
present difficulty is that after reaching 81
IBERIA on the one side or Alaska on TN
other, neither travel nor trade could be dis
tributed where either would want to CO. AM
equal difnculty would attend concentration
at the tunnel termini Perhaps half cen
fury hence the situation will have s.
changed that the scheme Of the Bering tun
mel will force itself upon the consideration
OF those for whom II has especial interest,"
but for the moment II is about as practiea
as a plan to colonize the dark side OF IN
moon