“The excitement in the money markets of the world which might have been expected to follow the announcement that Russia and Germany have agreed upon the construction of a railroad tunnel between Siberia and Alaska, does not seem to have occurred. The scheme, as might be assumed, is German as to its backing, although devised by a French engineer, LOICQ DE LOBEL; but it is interesting to know that it has the approval of the. Russian Government and that a commission has been created in Berlin to formulate contract specifications. St. Petersburg and Berlin having thus amicably agreed, it does not appear to have occurred to any one that it is either necessary or desirable to make it a tripartite agreement and include Washington. Well, perhaps it is not. The likelihood of the matter being taken quite seriously by the President and his Cabinet is not very great, and while conditions in Russia remain as they appear to be at the moment the concurrence of St. Petersburg and Berlin would not seem to lead anywhere. It is easy to understand why the German Emperor should find satisfaction in a negotiation of this character and be willing to surround it with all the forms and ceremonies of official sanction; but for the present his Imperial Majesty of Russia has a number of things to think about, which, if not more important, are somewhat more exigent. But the Bering Straits tunnel is a project which at some time in the future is likely to command a great deal of very purposeful consideration. At East Cape the two continents approach within about thirty-six miles of each other, and even the average depth of twenty-five to thirty fathoms of water between them does not oppose any serious engineering obstacle in the way of establishing railway connection thereunder. Meanwhile, however, a great deal is to be done in the way of development, both in Siberia and in Alaska, before even a ferry will be needed. Something very different from the existing railway connections established by the Trans-Siberian Road will be required to make an exchange of passengers or merchandise practicable by rail between Europe and America. The present difficulty is that after reaching Siberia on the one side or Alaska on the other, neither travel nor trade could be distributed where either would want to go, and equal difficulty would attend concentration at the tunnel termini. Perhaps half a century hence the situation will have so changed that the scheme of the Bering tunnel will force itself upon the consideration of those for whom it has especial interest, but for the moment it is about as practical as a plan to colonize the dark side of the moon.
Article From the New York Times in 1906 With Regard to a Bering Tunnel Proposal
Latest
