Show RUSSIAS GREAT RAILWAY Count CassinI the Russian ambassador ambassa-dor at Washington is quoted a saying In reference to Lord Beresfords open door policy So far as Russia is concerned it is concerne to her interest to have free trade in the far cast I is necessary in view of the construction of the transSiberian railroad that there shall be an extension exten-sion of commercial relations in order that the road can be operated on a paying pay-ing basis I has been declared that the construction of the < road was due to the strategic advantage which Russia I would gain by these operations but a road of 10000 versts in length cannot be built for strategic purposes only The policy of Russia in the extreme Orient has always favored the introduction of I foreign commerce on a equal footing Vladivostock has been and Is maintained main-tained a a free port Russian energy is certainly centered In that gigantic railway scheme at present and i peace can only be maintained main-tained or peace negotiations prolonged until the completion of the TransSibe rian railway the dogs of war may again be unchained so far as his czar czaI ship Is concerned At least such is the Inference which may be drawn from I the activity of his navy and army and the establishment of military posts along the China frontier This Is one of the most Important enterprises en-terprises Russia ever undertook I be gins at the town of Cheliablnsk about I I 160 miles east of the frontier line of Russia in Europe and about 2840 kilo metres east of St Petersburg From Cheliabinsk to Vladivostock on the original survey is 4740 miles and of I that distance the line Is complete to Irkutsk a distance of about 2000 miles About 500 miles of that have already been opened and rails are being laid at the rate of about four miles per day The track is laid on the standard guage the same as that of the Russian raIlways ways and it is evident that it Is destined des-tined to play an important part in military as well a In commercial operations opera-tions I From Lake Baikal according to an English writer who recently made a tour of investigation over the proposed route the grading has been completed I as far as Strelinsk 800 miles east of Baikal Recently however there has I been a change in the plans owing to the acquisition of Port Arthur and Talien I wan and running rights have been ob tamed through Manchuria The earl I est objective of the line is no longer Vladivostock Is Port Arthur This new route is being surveyed and I the line is being pushed as rapidly as I possible in the wake of the surveyors That this means something more than a saving in distance may b inferred I from the remarks of the Russian ambassador am-bassador as reported recently Appaiently the railway is promoting the economic projects of the Russian government no less efficiently than it serves its military plans And while the ambassador denies that the main I object in building the road Is to secure strategic advantages i is very clear that this is one of the chief purposes I through of his government = in pushing it |