58 



"Unhappily the execution of this enterprise has not proceeded 

 further than the felling a strip of trees through the forest along 

 which it was proposed that the road should be made. And the gene- 

 ral impression is that soon the whole matter will end, for money is not 

 forthcoming, and the kind of road is not satisfactory. Coming upon it 

 at various points, it seemed to me that the projector or surveyor had 

 of design made it to pass at a distance from the most important 

 centres, and carried it over uninhabited districts and unsuitable land. 



" For forest operations this road to the White Sea would not have 

 been unimportant, and, having referred to the subject, I am led, to 

 mention also a proposal which has been made to open up water com- 

 munication between the White Sea and the Onega Lake. Having no 

 accurate data, but only partial information, I cannot give details or 

 discuss fully the importance of this gigantic project. 



<c Of this proposal it is stated in the Pramiatncds Knjka, or official 

 Notes of the Government of Olonetz for the year 1867, ' The execu- 

 tion of this project, opening up communication between the White 

 Sea and the Gulf of Finland, and vice versa, proposed solely with a 

 view to commercial enterprise, would for strategical purposes affecting 

 the whole of the north of Bussia have immense importance ;' and 

 Mr. Seederoff [a gentleman well known throughout this region, a mer- 

 chant who has carried on great commercial transactions in Archangel 

 and in Nova Zembla, and made valued contributions to the different 

 International Exhibitions in the capitals of Europe] says in a com- 

 munication to the Imperial Free Economical Society, ' Steam war 

 vessels could proceed from Cronstadt and make their appearance for 

 the protection of the inhabitants of the shores of the White Sea, or, if 

 necessary, of Archangel, which now, in consequence of the dismantling 

 of the fortress of Nova Dwina, is left without defence.' 



" According to the views of M. Seederoff there will only be required 

 the construction of a canal fifty versts long, which, opening on the 

 lake, will make it possible for shipping to pass from the lake to the 

 White Sea, or from the White Sea to Lake Onega, and, consequently, 

 to St. Petersburg." 



M. Judrae goes on to say, " Mr. Seederoff has, I think, neglected to 

 take into account the rapids of the Svir, which, to the accomplish- 

 ment of such a scheme, would require to be passed by a canal ; and 

 this would add considerably to the difficulty of the undertaking. But 

 both the Onega and White Sea Canal and the White Sea road remain 

 at present within the category of projects, and they are likely to 

 remain there for some time, as no one seriously believes in the execu- 

 tion of either of them in the immediate future. 



