RUSSIAN RAILWAYS IN CENTRAL ASIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2289, 12 March 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

RUSSIAN RAILWAYS IN CENTRAL ASIA.

The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Times writing on the loth December, says:—lt is stated here that General Komarnff, commanding on the Afghan frontier, has asked leave to quit his post, whether temporarily or for good is not yet clear, but in any case the name of his likely successor has not yet transpired. General Annenkoir, the builder of the Transcaspian Railway, twill also, it is said, soon return again to St. Petersburg. As the official telegraph will have already informed you, the Transcaspian line was formally opened with great rejoicing on Monday, the lst13th December, as far as Charjui, on the Bokharan frontier. Efforts were made to have the opening on the Empress's birthday, the 20 th of last month, but everything could not be got ready for the ceremony of that day. We arc informed that the jubilation over the event is te be kept up on the spot for three days among Generals Komaroff and Annenkoff, the Russian Diplomatic Agent in Bokhara, M. Tcharikoff, Prince Cantacuzene, representing the Governor-General of Turkestan, M. Lessar, and some 20 other guests, including Bokharan officials and ladies. The great historical importance of the arrival of the first Russian railway train at the Bokharan frontier fully justifies these special festivities, and if the line had no other than historical importance Englishmen and Russians might rejoice together. It is true that the line has not taken the threateninor cut towards Herat, turning off to the south from near Sarakhs, which was at first so confidently predicted of it; but as Lessar told me a year ago, this branch to Herat, in case of military necessity, could be laid down—or thrown down would, perhaps, be the better expression for the estimated time —in the course of a month or two. In spite of the few enthusiasts who forsee the disappearance of all political and commercial antagonism between Russia and England as soon as the Russian and Indian lines meet, the majority of Russians appear to consider it ad.visablc to put. off this actual railway contact as long as possible. If some Englishmen think the Russians wish t" tap Indo-British commerce with their Central Asian Railway there are more Russians who think a railway junction with India would bo much more likely to tap theirs. As Russia's commercial system is as much opposed to that of England as her politics, it is still an open question whether the antagonism and rivalry would not become more acute and dangerous if the new Russian and Indian communications were brought together, whereas the Muscovite trading school think that an extension of the railway system through and near the small intervening Khanates, as at present begun, will enable them to compete successfully against Anglo-Indian enterprise. According to English sources there is already increased difficulty folt in selling British goods on the Persian, Kasbgav, and neighbouring markets, where Russian wares are beginning to take the lead. The new custom duties also have long been working very satisfactorily, and there is already an increased customs revenue on imported Anglo-Indian goods amounting to £25,000 a year.