The Washington times., 1916-08-12
RUSSIAN RAILROAD
IS FIRST IN PERSIA
American Attache, n. D. Baker,
a Passenger on First Train
to Enter Tabriz.

PETRoGRAD. Aug. s-Henry d.
American embassy at Petrograd. has
returned from a short visit to Persia.
where. on behalf Of the Department Of
Commerce. he made an investigation OF
American trade relations with that
Although conditions OF travel In Per-
sia are at present extremely difficult
owing to the prevalence Of military on
permits being granted to travellers to
cross the frontier from Russia. Mr.
Bakers visit was especially assisted by
the Russian military authorities. who
showed exceptional courtesy.
A special car on the first military
train entering the city OF Tabrlz from
the Russian frontier was placed at his
disposal. thus being the first non-mili-
Peeia. a railway which may be ulti-
mately extended to connect uD through
Beluchistan with the railway system OF
British India at Peshawur.
This road to Tabriz marks the first
important step in the moderinization of
this ancient land. which for many CEN
turtles following the world-conuuering
Elortes OF Cyrus. Darius. and Alexander
oept what has come from its carpets.
its gardens. and its Omar Khayyam.
Natives Saw Train First Time.
Of Tabriz from the Russian frontier at
Julia on the Araxcs river, thousands
OF people. most of whom had evidently
never seen a train in their lives before.
came to view the. extraordinary spec
tacle.
The train was gayly decorated with
the flags of Russia and of Persia, and
In front of the locomotive was u huge
emblem Of the sun watching the lion of
Persia brandishing its sword.
The train made the journey from Rus
sian Trans-Caucasia to Tabriz, a dis
tance OF about ninety-two miles, in
about ten hours. the ordinary method
Of reaching Tabriz by driving through
the mountains taking three days.
The train consisted only OF freight
cars, as the railway is at present in
tended not for passenger or commercial
One of the freight cars was specially
fitted for Mr.. Bakers private use.
The town of Julia. on the Araxes
river (both OH the Persian and Russian
sldes), Is In the center Of a district IA
nous In Biblical history. 1t is the
place where Cain is supposed to have
killed his brother Abel. and where Abra-
nam was ready to sacrifice his son
Isaac. The country between there and
Tabriz is partly desert, with weil-irri-
gated plains and valleys: but, generally
speaking, 1t Is about 1000 feet elevation
above sea level and IL full Of mountains
Tabriz Is the chief commercial city of
market In the world except Constanti-
nople. Its famous bazaars cover many
miles of arcaded streets. Besides car
pets there is an important trade in cot
ton. dried fruits, and gum tragacanth.
Country Folk Excited.
When the train proceeded through
the country between Julia and Tabriz
there was great excitement among the
rural population and in the different
villages, and the roofs Of the various
mud houses were alive with people
Many horses sse 'ne along ,s,n the fS 0y hishroad
parallel to the railway were SO startled
that they ran away and threatened 10
overturn their vehicles. while all the
sheep and cattle seemed absolutely ter
A railway bridge across the Araxes
river at Julia connects this Persian
railway with Tiflis and the Caucas sus.
and and from there to all parts Of Russia.
Russian railway system; so there is no
reason Nwhy in the future trains can
not be run from Petrograd directly
Possibly in time tho railway may be
extended to Teheran and from there
southeast to Ispahan In Central Persia.
and then into Beluchistan. where it
could connect at Nushki with the rail-
haps making 1t possible to reach. from
the various capitals Of Europe. Bom-
bay. Delhi. Calcutta. and other cities
Of India all the way. by, rail.
From the town of Sophian, about
twenty-five miles from Tabriz. a branch
of the railway has already been com
pleted to Lake Urumiah. a great body
Of intensely salty water stretching from
north TO south In northwestern Persia.
about 100 miles long. Around the shores
of this lake there was terrific fighting
during the last year between the Rus
slams and Turks. but now the Turks
Van, another large lake Just across the
frontier of Asiatic Turkey.