A GICANTIC ENTERPRISE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1636, 15 August 1887, Page 3

A GICANTIC ENTERPRISE.

(Paris C>r. "New York Graphtc."

You may not hove already learned that the Oounoil of the Russian Empire has just decided upon an enterprise that will doubtless prove the greatest undertaking of the twentieth centory, y*t such I am assured, is the fact. I refer to the oonatrnction of a railroad from St Petersburg toP«-kin.

This tremendous enterprise h not of course, entered upon for the benefr of the travelling public Slate cnl t.r a 1 > reasons are the rn'y ones ih\t have euggeated ifc. Russia wishes to bo able tc carry out her pet Boherae of ABlan con qnestmore readily, and also to divert the current of commerce now fl >wlng towards the Pacific, and which the British are endeavouring to turn, towards Bu-nnb, and the French towards Torquin, m the direction of Siberia, the Ural nnd Russia m Europe. Siberia ig i rovidert with enormous riverß, all navigable, and already traversed by quite a fleet of steam crafts. It ia to connect these silent highways — open to navigation for nearly (wo-thirrle of the yeer — that the first sections of this immense line of railroad will be hid.

The news of this decision on the part of the Council la snid to have already caused the greatest excitement amocg the Siberians. The cities are viewing with each other m offers of money and other inducements to eecuro the construction of the road through their terrl'orlal limits, and thus secure for them permanent proeporty; The expense of building such a line will be less than might at first be supposed. No land will have to be purchased, labor is wra L miy ba termed "dert rh*ap," and m some localities tho cities have ofhred to pay the navvies, while the country Is so flat that no costly engineering works will be necessary. Reaid< s, mines abonnd la Siberia And iron In abundant. The labor of Ru nlan fxiles can be o til's id m the great work, and Chinese help will also be readily obtainable, In short, the constructitn of such a line of railway will present far fewer serious obstructions than were encountered In laying the lr>n bands that unite ibe Atlantip and Pacific slopes of the American continent.