Year: 1875




IMPORTANT MISSION FROM ST. PETERsDURG-A


AfUscovITE ENGINEER INSPECTING OUR SYSTEM


OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS


Many Of our readers will remember Admiral Posset,
who commanded the squadron which attended the
Grand Duke Alexis during his visit this country


The Admiral who is at the head OF the Depart
ment Of Roads and Water Communications Russia,
took deep interest American affairs, especially in
all that tended to develop bur natural resources
Our great railway and canal systems with their
still magnificent future, earnestly engaged his
attention, and he than expressed
his regret that the shortness Of his American
visit and the restricted sphere OF his duties
at that precluded thorough survey Of the
great works already here, and the ones in
process of construction projected Our canals par
tcuarly the Erie objects OF eager inquiry on his
part aud ne foresaw that Russia, like the United
States her undeveoped resources, would need at no
distant day similar means OF transportation for her
commodities could learn from better teachers
than the inventive Americans the means Of construct
ing them, the Improvements already adopted To be
made and also the faults TO be Stunned Russia has
fine possibilities in her water communications, but
much time, labor and expense must yet be undergone
before they become the blessings to that progress
sve country that they will yet be.


In the early part Of this year the Russian Consul at
this port. Mr. Waldemar do Bodisco reported his
government facts regarding steam navigation
canals and received the following reply TO his
nication under date of ST. Petersburg, May Z 1870


You have had the Kindness accompany your report
Of the 18th January of this year with copy of let
ter from the American Engineer Baxter, together with
printed aocuments concerning steam Navigation on
canals Having presented this letter TO the Minister of
Ways and Communications His Excellency directed
to express TO you his sincere thanks for having OBJ
tanned these useful materials but at the time he
requests you, II 1t be possible to transmit the draw
ings themselves with full explanations of the steam
boat invented by Engineer Baxter for the
transportation Of merchandise canals. Be-
side, the Minister has Commissioned
Engineers ZviaginzeT and MichailoG TO proceed
TO the United States for the purpose OF studying the
system Of canalization and inland communications,
take this occasion, by order of Admiral Possiet TO re
quest you TO tender your services to those gentlemen
and afford them opportunity to examine the in
vention Of Engineer Baxter


NJ ZviaginzeG examined one OF the Baxter canal
boats at its pier the other day and expressed himself
greatly pleased at the simplicity of its mechanism and
the economy of space effected by the method Of
sruction of the engine and boiler He followed closely
the explanations the inventor and proved by his
questions that he thoroughly comprehended the details
shown him In conversation to his stay in America
and the objects of interest that he should visit while
here, NJ. Zviaginzen mentioned that his
list the dam at Paterson n j., of which he had
first learned from the columns OF the HERALD As his
movements America would employ considerable
time, he had deemed ii best his arrival three
months ago Canada first thus taking advantage





Continent The Lachne Canal was the only thing IN that
portion Of the Dominion that he has yet visited that
regarded as worthy OF minute inspection. The contrast
between the appearance and manners of the Canadians
and the citizens OF the United States all in favor of
the latter, in regard to intelligence and vivacity
as manifested by outward Indications. Boston
he has been some days in lately, but there
great public works progress there he did
think his stay repaid him for the expenditure of
time Concerning New York. its future and interest to
OF hls profession, he spoke with enthusiasm
General Newtons operations at Hell Gate Will be thor
NJ uypn nd ne man mi
cent conception OF the plan and the important results
10 be effected by IT'S completion referred to by him
several times The projected pier system was men
toned too, very properly OF the desderata of
the metropolis but concerning this and the East River
Bridge the Russian engineer permitted 10 have the
conversation principally to himself NJ Zvlaginzen
proposes 10 take trip through portion at least
OF the Erie Canal. and Will then visit the
Weland Canal which has much Interested him from It's
important communications with the great West The
Block Island and Delaware breakwaters will also claim
portion OF his time and attention. When he has
finally exhausted the Eastern and Middle States he will
turn his attention southwark but New York embraces
so much TO interest him that he VIII evidently part
from it reluctantly Objects with which familiar
are matters of surprise and remark to him. The dry
docks IN the navy yards Of BROOKLYN and Charestown
compare favorably ~ ZviagnzeI thinks with anything
Of the kind that he saw in England for workmanship, ii
not for extent


With arrival of cold weather in this latitude the
Russian engineer will wend his way south with the
swallows, visiting the dam on the Appomattox
New Orleans he will spend considerable portion of
the winter in observing the progress Of the work
now Delng carried on under the direction
of Captain Eads. As to the jetty system
and It's probable success NJ Zviaginzed that his
first intelligent conception of the scheme derived
from description some little while since in the HER
From a careful reading OF the details preju
dices that he had conceived disspated and he
now disposed to regard it with favor although the
ful scrutiny which he intends give during the
ter VIII enable him 10 give decided opinion
corning its merits With the advent OF spring M
gnZeh will the North and hopes that his stay
will be of sufficient length To enable him attend the
Philadelphia Centennial OF the importance OF that
has "A re- lp and uo IDub Ia
gentleman Of his profession the opportunity 10 attend
would be hailed with pleasure


NJ. ZviaginZen is gentleman Of medium height and
dark complexion and speaks English correctly but with
deliberation.