cciv GENERAL SUMMARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND 



Yiimeu, aud Artamovka. The official Russian geographer, in a re- 

 port issued during the year, discussed various schemes for laying 

 down roads in Siberia, and stated that none of these would be taken 

 in hand before the completion of the European-Siberian line. 335 

 versts long. In France, about the close of the year, ten new lines 

 were conceded to the South of France Railway Company, the cost 

 of which is estimated at $17,000,000. In Belgium the government 

 has had strong pressure brought to bear upon it, by leading iron 

 manufacturers, to lay down new lines, and to purchase additional 

 rolling stock for several years in advance, as a stimulus to the iron 

 industries of the country ; while in answer to similar jDetitions the 

 German government decided upon the construction of several new 

 lines. In England concessions were granted during the past year, 

 by Parliament, for the construction of 705 miles of new railway, the 

 estimated cost of wdiich is given as 36,654,694. In India the con- 

 struction of the important state lines, of which over 2000 miles re- 

 mained to be completed at the close of 1875, was proceeded with 

 energetically, and new- railway projects for opening up that country, 

 and bringing it into more direct communication with the mother 

 country, w^ere broached. Of this nature, for example, is the scheme 

 for bringing Bombay within eight days of London by constructing 

 a line from Scutari to Kurrachee, about 3300 miles, and another line 

 from Antioch to Ismalia, a further distance including branches to 

 Damascus and Jerusalem of 600 miles. The great Central Asian 

 Railway, referred to in our last year's Record, was also revived, but 

 nothing of special interest regarding it has transpired, save the con- 

 viction, which finds very general expression in well-informed circles, 

 that the undertaking of this gigantic project will not be long de- 

 ferred. 



The present year has also witnessed the construction and opening 

 of the first railw^ay in China, which latter event occurred on the 30th 

 of July. The line in question extends from Shanghai to Woosung, 

 a distance of about ten miles. The concession for the same Avas ob- 

 tained and the road was constructed by certain enterj^rising En- 

 glish merchants at a cost of some 30,000. It is a single line, with a 

 gauge of two feet six inches, and is laid with a twenty-seven-pound 

 rail of the Vignoles section on cross-sleepers. The occasion of the 

 opening attracted a large concourse of native spectators, who evinced 

 the liveliest interest in the proceedings. From all that can be learn- 

 ed of the present status of this first Chinese road, it appears to have 

 become quite popular, and the most sanguine hopes are entertained 

 by those interested in the opening up of the interior of the Celestial 

 Empire by this pioneer of civilization that at last the decisive step 

 toward the realization of their hopes has been taken. 



The efficiency of the block-system of railway signals w^as admira- 

 bly demonstrated by the scarcity of accidents on the Pennsylvania 



