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diff --git a/44345-0.txt b/44345-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1940d65 --- /dev/null +++ b/44345-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,657 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44345 *** + + WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENT + + OF + + Peter the Great’s Pet Projects, + + ACCORDING TO + + His Last Will and Testament. + + + AMERICAN INVENTION + + AS AN + + AID TO RUSSIA’S GRASP + + ON ASIATIC TERRITORY. + + BY W. GANNON. + + NEW YORK: + THE MARITIME REPORTER PUBLISHING CO., + 15 WHITEHALL STREET. + 1889. + + + + + PROGRESSIVE RUSSIA + + ON THE + + March to Constantinople. + + AN AMERICAN INVENTOR THE ALLY OF THE MUSCOVITE. + + +Peter the Great may justly be credited with having been the greatest +civilizer of his race. To him is due the credit of nationalizing +his country and inaugurating vast industries, through the medium of +the Ship. So far in advance of his time was he that his startling +innovations and wonderful discounting of the arts of diplomacy must +have endangered his head had he not been fortunate enough to have been +born a despot. + +Peter’s last will and testament outlined the policy to be pursued by +his successors, looking to the aggrandizement of Russia, and startling +though its terms are in their selfishness, they are so thoroughly +diplomatic that his successors have religiously lived up to their full +meaning. + +And so it comes to pass that the ever-advancing and +constantly-tightening grasp of Russia on adjacent territory is alarming +the Governments of the Old World and may, indeed, in the near future, +somewhat concern ourselves. The Canadian Government is now urging Great +Britain to erect defences on the Pacific Coast, for the reason that +Russia, in pursuance of her peculiar policy, is enlarging her works and +arsenal at Vladivostock, opposite British Columbia; and the initiative +has already been taken by Great Britain in the erection of batteries in +the neighborhood of Esquimault. + +As early as last May the St. Petersburgh correspondent of the New York +_Tribune_ contributed the following report of the progress of the Grand +Trunk Railway through Central Southern Siberia to the Pacific Ocean and +China: + + “SIGNS OF RUSSIAN PROGRESS. + + “The completion of the Trans-Caspian Railway to Samarcand marks + another stage in the Russian occupation of Asia. That city was + the objective point of the earlier campaigns from Orenburg and + the sea of Aral, which ended in the conquest of Khiva and Kokan + and the establishment of Tashkend as the military headquarters, + with railway connections northward. Bokhara was reduced to the + condition of a protected province and Samarcand was virtually + converted into a Russian centre of trade on the border of China. + An interval of twelve years has elapsed, during which Samarcand, + already within easy reach from Tashkend, has been gradually + approached from the Caspian Sea. The Trans-Caspian Railway is now + in operation from Michailovsk to Samarcand, a distance of 885 + miles, by way of Askabad, Merv and Bokhara. This narrow-gauge + system, built at a cost of $21,000,000, gives Russia control of + the commerce of Turkestan and completes the circuit of conquest on + the borders of China, Afghanistan and Persia. In future military + operations in Central Asia this railway, with the northern line + running from Tashkend, will be a most useful base of transportation + and supplies. Meanwhile, it binds together a straggling series + of conquests separated by broad reaches of desert. It is already + rumored in St. Petersburg that the Czar intends to visit during + the summer the great Empire in Central Asia which the valor of + his soldiers and the skill of his engineers have created. An + imperial journey to Merv, Bokhara and Samarcand will illustrate + the wonderful progress made by the Russians during the last twenty + years in overrunning Asia. + + “The Russian engineer who has completed the Trans-Caspian system is + now to undertake a new and colossal undertaking. This is the trunk + line through Central and Southern Siberia to the Pacific Ocean. + Surveys have already been made for a railway from Tomsk to Irkutsk, + and this line when finished is to be extended to Vladivostock, + on the coast. As the Trans-Caspian now makes a close approach + to Western China, the Siberian will complete the circuit of the + Celestial Empire on its northern border. If the consent of the + Chinese Government can be obtained, branches will be built from + Irkutsk to Pekin, Shanghai, and other centres of population. Within + five years it is expected that this gigantic enterprise will be + accomplished and St. Petersburgh brought into direct communication + with Vladivostock. The journey from the capital to the Pacific can + then be made in a fortnight; and if Chinese markets can be opened + to Russian traders, a marvelous change in the conditions of Asian + commerce and intercourse will be effected.” + + * * * * * + +And only a few weeks ago the same journal printed the following, as a +sequel to the above: + + “The announcement that Russia’s Central Asia railroad system is + to be greatly extended was to be expected. At present it reaches + to Samarkand and already more than pays working expenses. Every + branch or further extension of the main line will, of course, add + materially to its traffic and its profits. It is now proposed to + build a branch from the main line at Chardjui, on the Oxus, to + Chamiab, and also to continue the main line onward from Samarcand + to Tashkend. The latter would cross the Jaxartes; and thus the road + would give direct communication with both the great rivers that + flow into the Aral Sea, just at the head of navigation on them, and + would connect the commerce of the Aral with that of the Caspian. + Just beyond Tashkend begins a series of steppes adjoining those + of Siberia, whither Russian colonists are flocking. The road thus + promises to be of equal importance to commerce and to military + strategy.” + + +THE FIRST STEP. + +The occupation of Asia, so long determined on by Russia, was a problem +most difficult of solution. Many years were spent in devising ways and +means to navigate the Aral Sea—the first thought being to transport +machinery and material for the construction of steamers over the +mountains—a project which was at length abandoned as impracticable. + +But a solution was at hand. In the year 1860 a novel system for the +construction of vessels was introduced in Great Britain by an American, +through whose efforts a Company was formed and an extensive factory +established at Liverpool. This Company, on proof of the value of its +system of construction, secured a contract with the British Government +to construct a number of steamers for the East India Company of +Bengal—Moorshedaba. + +As an evidence of the financial solidity of this company, and the +class of men who invested their capital in that concern, it may be +mentioned that Sir Charles Manby, the great English civil engineer, was +President, while such men as Sir Robert Stephenson, President of the +Institution of Civil Engineers, and John Hamilton, also well-known as +an eminent engineer, were members and stockholders. The entire capital +and membership of the Company belonged in London—Liverpool simply +being selected as a factory site. + +The steamers under course of construction by this Company were 150 and +200 feet long, built on the new system of + + +CORRUGATED GALVANIZED IRON, + +three-sixteenths of an inch in thickness. By this system the weight +of hull of a vessel was reduced one-third and the draft reduced in +proportion, while the strength was increased two-fold by means of the +corrugations covering the entire outer surface of the hull, which +corrugations take the place of _frames_ or _timbers_, thus increasing +the interior capacity of a boat of given draft while vastly increasing +her strength. The great utility and superior qualities of this mode +of construction was fully demonstrated by the building of several +supply boats for the British Navy, as well as military wagons for the +Army, and other constructions on the same principle for miscellaneous +purposes. The steamers built by this company were so constructed that +they could be + + +DISJOINTED AND TRANSPORTED IN SECTIONS, + +being so arranged that they could be set up and taken apart with the +utmost celerity, and without the aid of more than passable shipbuilding +or mechanical knowledge. This unique and valuable system of ship +construction was invented by Joseph Francis, an American born, and +justly celebrated as founder of the United States Life-Saving Service, +for which, at a late day, he received the + + +THANKS OF CONGRESS AND IS TO RECEIVE A GOLD MEDAL. + +Information of this system of construction reached Russia after its +value had been proved by the American, English, French, Austrian and +German Governments, and Mr. Francis was invited to visit that country, +where he was received by the Emperor. + +In 1860, Admiral Boutakoff, of the Imperial Russian Navy, was ordered +by the Emperor to proceed to Liverpool and examine the system of +construction, with a view to its applicability to service on the Aral +Sea, in Asia, and report as to its utility. From documents placed +in possession of the writer, he is enabled to present a copy of the +Admiral’s Report, as follows: + + “LIVERPOOL, 15th November, 1860. + + “HONORED SIR: I have sent to the Scientific Committee of the + Marine Ministry, with my reports of the 15th and 17th of October, + for publication in a marine journal, a short article concerning + the corrugated iron steamers. In addition to information therein + contained, I would state that it is my conviction that for our + rivers, which are from year to year getting more shallow, there + cannot be built a more suitable steamer than the above. In the + discharge of my duty, I communicate to you the result of the + trials which have been made at the Liverpool factory. + + “The corrugation of sheets of iron is effected, as may be known to + you, crosswise and not lengthwise, and the sheets of the hull are + riveted together by lapping one upon the other, corrugation upon + corrugation, and a double row of rivets put in. + + “It was important to ascertain the relative strength of the riveted + lap to a whole sheet before proceeding with the construction + of the steamers. For that purpose we placed upon two blocks a + riveted sheet _a a_ (as marked in the diagram accompanying this), + three feet ten inches in length by two feet six inches wide and + three-sixteenths of an inch thick. We then began by laying on + it, directly over the line of the rivets, zinc slabs, _b b_, each + weighing thirty-one pounds English. + + “The sheet broke at one row of rivets after having placed upon + it 188 slabs, or 160 poods of fourteen pounds each (nearly three + tons); after this test a whole sheet of the same measure was placed + upon the blocks, and it bent after 199 slabs or 170 poods, (over + three tons) had been placed upon it. + + “Finally we took a plain sheet of iron the same measure, not + corrugated, and it bent and fell from the blocks after ten slabs + had been placed upon it. I believe that such results settle the + question in regard to the local strength which corrugation imparts + to iron and its adaptation in the construction of vessels. + + “With sincere regard, + + (Signed.) “ALEXANDER BOUTAKOFF. + + “To ADMIRAL ARKASS.” + + +[Illustration: TEST OF CORRUGATED IRON LAP MADE IN LIVERPOOL BY ADMIRAL +BOUTAKOFF, R. I. N.] + +On a call from the Russian Government, the inventor submitted +photographs and drawings of the steamers constructed by the Liverpool +Company, addressed, according to instructions, to the Grand Duke +Constantine. + +After some little necessary correspondence, shorn of all diplomatic red +tape, a contract was entered into between the Imperial Government and +Mr. Francis, for the construction of a fleet of light-draft steamers, +to be pushed to completion rapidly as possible. The result was that, +ere the year 1862 had passed, steamers, fully engined, and ready for +service, were erected at the Liverpool factory, and taken apart again +for shipment. These vessels were 150 to 200 feet in length, built on +similar lines to vessels already constructed by the Company. When the +steamers had been put together, tested and again set up at the factory, +they were boxed for shipment, in sections, both hulls, floating dock +and machinery, when they were ready for + + +THE STRANGEST ROUTE EVER TRAVERSED BY SHIP. + +From Liverpool they went first to St. Petersburgh—thence to Moscow—on +to Nijni Novgorod—across the Volga—over the Ural Mountains—to the +Aral Sea, in Asia—where they were at length unboxed, the sections once +again put together and, lo, a + + +PROUD FLOTILLA GRACED THE ARAL, + +upreared as if by magic hands. This was the initiative in Russia’s +grandest Dream of Empire. These vessels had crossed the Aral barrier, +and swooped down like things of life on the insulated sea, the +inhabitants of whose shores fondly dreamed they dwelt secure in +Nature’s fastness. Impossible would it have been to transport vessels +in their entirety over the rugged heights, and deadly impracticable +would it have been to attempt their construction on the Aral seaboard, +in full view of an alert and suspicious people. + +Here it may be well to introduce three letters, the originals of which +are in possession of the writer, and which are fully corroborative of +the preceding statements. + + “_To His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Constantine_: + + “I beg leave to present to Your Imperial Highness lithographs of + the two corrugated galvanized iron steamers, built at Liverpool + for the Syr Dariah River, under the supervision of Captain A. + Boutakoff, of the Russian Imperial Navy. + + “The two steamers, together with one barge and a lifting dock, are + finished, ready for shipment. Captain Boutakoff left Liverpool + March 25 (13th). + + + “Your Imperial Highness’ humble servant, + + (Signed.) “JOSEPH FRANCIS.” + + * * * * * + + “MARINE MINISTRY OF THE SHIPBUILDING DEP'T. } + + March 31, 1861—No. 189. } + + “_To Mr. Joseph Francis_: + + “The letter which you addressed to His Imperial Highness the Grand + Duke, General Admiral, on the 25th March, with which you presented + to His Imperial Highness two drawings of corrugated iron steamers, + has been sent to this committee, with a resolution from the + Ministry of Marine, stating that His Imperial Highness desired his + thanks to you. The committee has the honor to inform you thereof. + + “Manager, BELLARMSKY. “THE PRESIDENT. + + (Signed.) Major-General CHERNOFSKY.” + + +(Letter from Admiral Boutakoff to Mr. Francis.) + + “FORT NO. 1, SYR DARIAH, July 2, 1862. + + “DEAR MR. FRANCIS—The new steamers of my flotilla, built at your works at + Liverpool, are not yet launched, but I hope to accomplish it in + about a month. The boilers, on account of the great difficulty + of transporting them across the Desert, will not arrive before + the middle of August, so that I shall not have sufficient time to + employ the new steamers this year, but will give them a trial upon + the Syr Dariah. The parts of the pontoon dock will be here about + the end of August, giving us time to put them together next winter. + + “With a hearty shake hands, and my sincere sympathies with your + northern countrymen, of whose victories I congratulate you. + + “I remain, yours most truly, + + (Signed.) “A. BOUTAKOFF.” + + +On the launching of the steamers, the Emperor congratulated Mr. Francis +on the success of the invention by which the first obstacle that +barred the way to the conquest of a vast territory was removed, opening +an avenue to increased Empire. + +After the survey of the Aral, only rendered possible by the +construction of these vessels, fortifications were constructed on the +shores of that sea, and the long-deferred conquest of that section of +Asia was, to all intents and purposes, accomplished. + +In order to still further emphasize his gratitude, the Emperor caused +Mr. Francis to be created a Knight of the Royal Order of Saint +Stanislaus, one of the richest decorations in the gift of royalty. +Following is a copy of the parchment: + + + “We, by the grace of God, Alexander the Second, Emperor and + Autocrat of all the Russians, Czar of Poland, Grand Duke of + Finland, etc., etc., etc. + + “_To Joseph Francis, Citizen of the United States of North America_: + + “The Ministry of Marine having testified to your particular + services, we have graciously been pleased to nominate you a Knight + of our Imperial and Royal Order of Saint Stanislaus by an Ukaz of + 7th November, 1860, given to our Chapter of Orders, to the end that + they do sign and seal this Diploma in witness thereof, and forward + to you the insignia of the Order. + + “ST. PETERSBURG, this 10th day of November, 1860. + + _The Vice-President_, COUNT BORCH + [SEAL.] _Lieut.-General_, L'ECESUJSECETZ. + _Grand Master of Ceremonies_, RHITROVO. + _Member_, KU, UYEY5EYUIVEL., + + No. 5,756.” + + +Shortly after the securing of his patents in Russia Mr. Francis +disposed of a portion of his corrugated system patent to Baron Rumin, +Chamberlain to the Emperor, covering Moscow and the Rivers Volga and +Don. + +After the contract was drawn, a request was made on the part of the +Baron to include the Caspian Sea, and to which no objection was made, +as little value was placed on the Caspian at that time, on account of +its shallow water and isolated position, no one supposing that a + + +RAILWAY WOULD EVER CROSS THE JAXARTES + +and join both the great rivers that flow into the Aral Sea, connecting +commerce with the Aral and Caspian, as well as China, and so onward to +the Pacific Coast. + +A factory was eventually established by Baron Rumin, on the Banks of +the Volga, for the construction of steamers, and practical workmen +were sent to this factory from the establishment of Mr. Francis, at +Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York. + + * * * * * + +This brief account of Russia’s struggle for supremacy among the +family of nations, so intimately interwoven with the history of one +of America’s foremost inventors in the life-saving field, is another +instance of the Providence that rules the destinies of the world, +through the lives of unassuming and patient workers. + +From experiment came invention. The Life-Car, in this instance the +outcome of extended experiment on the part of Joseph Francis, proved +the value of the corrugating system, the fame of which, within a few +years, spread all over the world. The Life-Car, the first construction +under the corrugated system, was merely the germ of the widespread +uses to which the system was and is applicable, as has been shown. +Steamships, floating docks, pontoon bridges, military wagons and +railway cars are only a few among the many constructions to which +the Francis system of corrugated iron was applied by him and those +to whom he sold the right to manufacture. The Life-Car, then, was +the suggestion that led to the construction of the portable, strong, +light-draft ship, which proved the most powerful implement, in Russia’s +hands, of working out the vastest scheme of empire ever conceived in +the brain of man. Mr. Francis, successful in all his inventions, has +been honored beyond most men by foreign potentates, and now is about +to receive what he holds to be the crowning honor, the bestowal of the +gold medal awarded him by two Congresses, with the double thanks of +this chosen body of representatives of the people. + + + + +Appendix. + +WILL OF PETER THE GREAT, FATHER OF RUSSIAN SHIP-BUILDING. + + +The following is an authentic copy of the Will of Peter the Great, the +first Emperor of Russia. This will is the supreme foundation and law +of Russian politics, since his time, and was confidentially deposited +in the hands of the Abbe de Bervis, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in +1757, and also in those of Louis XV. A copy is also to be found in the +diplomatic archives of France, from which this translation is derived: + + +THE WILL. + +PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS. + +In the name of the most Holy and Indivisible Trinity, we, Peter, +the First Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias, etc., to all our +descendants and successors to the throne and government of the Russian +nation: + +God, from whom we derive our existence, and to whom we owe our crown, +having constantly enlightened us by His spirit, and sustained us by +His Divine help, allow us to look on the Russian people as called +upon hereafter to hold sway over Europe. My reason for thus thinking +is, that the European nations have mostly reached a state of old +age, bordering upon imbecility, or they are rapidly approaching it: +naturally, then, they will be easily and indubitably conquered by a +people strong in youth and vigor, especially when this latter shall +have attained its full strength and power. I look on the future +invasion of the Eastern and Western countries by the North as a +periodical movement ordained by Providence, who, in a like manner, +regenerated the Russian nation by barbarian invasion. These emigrations +of men from the North are as the reflux of the Nile, which, at certain +periods comes to fertilize the impoverished lands of Egypt by its +deposit. I found Russia as a rivulet, I leave it a river: my successors +will make of it a large sea, destined to fertilize the impoverished +lands of Europe, and its waters will overflow, in spite of imposing +dams erected by weak hands, if our descendants only know how to direct +its course. This is the reason I leave them the following instructions. +I give those countries to their watchfulness and care, as Moses gave +the Tables of the Law to the Jewish people. + + +I. + +Keep the Russian nation in a STATE OF CONTINUAL WAR: so as to have the +soldier always under arms, and ready for action, excepting when the +finances of the State will not allow it. Keep up the forces; choose +the best moments for attack. By these means you will be ready for war +even in time of peace. This is for the interest of the future +aggrandizement of Russia. + + +II. + +Endeavor by every possible means to bring in from the neighboring +civilized countries of Europe officers in times of war, and learned men +in times of peace; thus giving the Russian people the advanges enjoyed +by other countries, without allowing them to lose any of their own +self-respect. + + +III. + +On every occasion take a part in the affairs and quarrels of Europe; +above all, in those of Germany, which country, being the nearest, more +immediately concerns us. + + +IV. + +Divide Poland, exciting civil discord there; win over the nobility by +bribery, corrupt the diets, so as to have influence on the election +of Kings, get partisans into office, protect them, bring to sojourn +there Muscovite troops, until such time as they can be permanently +established there. If the neighboring powers start difficulties, +appease them for a time by parceling out the country, until you can +retake in detail all that has been ceded. + + +V. + +Take as much as you can from Sweden, and cause yourself to be attacked +by her, so as to have a pretext for subduing her. To accomplish this, +sever Denmark from Sweden, and Sweden from Denmark, carefully keeping +up their rivalries. + + +VI. + +Always choose, as wives for the Russian princes, German princesses, so +as to increase family alliances, to draw mutual interests closer, and, +by propagating our principles in Germany, to enlist her in our cause. + + +VII. + +England—requiring us for her navy, and she being the only power that +can aid in the development of ours, seek a commercial alliance with +her, in preference to any other. Exchange our wood, and the productions +of our land for her gold, and establish between her merchants, her +sailors and ours a continual intercourse; this will aid in perfecting +the Russian fleet for navigation and commerce. + + +VIII. + +Extend your possessions toward the North, along the Baltic, and toward +the South by the Black Sea. + + +IX. + +Approach as near as possible to Constantinople and its outskirts. +He who shall reign there will be the true sovereign of the world. +Consequently, be continually at war—sometimes with the Turks, +sometimes with Persia. Establish dock yards on the Black Sea, get +entire possession of it by degrees, also of the Baltic Sea; this being +necessary to the accomplishment of the plan. Hasten the decline of +Persia; penetrate to the Persian Gulf; re-establish, if possible, the +ancient commerce of the Levant through Syria, and make your way to the +Indies—they are the emporium of the world. Once there, you can do +without the gold of England. + + +X. + +Seek, and carefully keep up an alliance with Austria; acquiesce, +apparently, in her ideas of dominating over Germany, at the same time +clandestinely exciting against her the jealousy of the neighboring +provinces. Endeavor that the aid of Russia should be called for, by one +and the other, so that by exercising a kind of guardianship over the +country, you prepare a way for governing hereafter. + + +XI. + +Give the House of Austria an interest, for joining in banishing the +Turks from Europe; defraud her of her share of the booty, at the +conquest of Constantinople, either by raising a war for her with the +ancient states of Europe, or by giving her a portion, which you will +take back at a future period. + + +XII. + +Attach to yourselves, and assemble around you, all the united Greeks, +as also the disunited or schismatics, who are scattered either in +Hungary, Turkey, or the south of Poland. Make yourselves their centres, +their chief support, and lay the foundation for universal supremacy, by +establishing a kind of royalty or sacerdotal government; the Slavonic +Greeks will be so many friends that you will have scattered amongst +your enemies. + + +XIII. + +Sweden severed, Persia and Turkey conquered, Poland subjugated, our +armies united, the Black and Baltic Seas guarded by our vessels, you +must make propositions separately and discreetly—first to the Court of +Versailles, then to that of Vienna, to share with them the Empire of +the Universe. + +If one of them accept—and it cannot be otherwise, so as you flatter +their pride and ambition—make use of it to crush the other—then +crush, in its turn, the surviving one, by engaging with it in a +death-struggle; the issue of which cannot be doubtful, Russia +possessing already all the East and a great part of Europe. + + +XIV. + +If—which is not likely—both refuse the propositions of Russia, you +must manage to raise quarrels for them, and make them exhaust one +another; then profiting by a decisive moment, Russia will bring down +her assembled troops on Germany; at the same time, two considerable +fleets will set out—the one from the Sea of Azov, the other from the +port of Archangel—loaded with Asiatic hordes, under the convoy of +the armed fleets from the Black Sea and the Baltic; advancing by the +Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean, they will invade France on one +side, whilst Germany will already have been invaded on the other. These +countries conquered, the rest of Europe will easily pass under the +yoke, without striking a single blow. + + +XV. + +Thus Europe can, and ought, to be subdued. + + + PETER I., + + AUTOCRAT OF ALL THE RUSSIAS. + + +Lest the reader of this WILL may form an opinion antagonistic to its +author, it may be well to state that while Peter the Great was a Despot +he was also a Patriot—and while a Tyrant he was yet a Humanitarian. +This man, who could icily command death by the knout was the same +man who yielded up his own life in rescuing a sailor who had fallen +overboard in the ice-laden waters of the Neva. And Peter was, above +and beyond all, a Statesman, an Inventor, a finished Mechanic and +Progenerator of the Russian Life-Saving Service. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Wonderful Development of Peter the +Great's Pet Projects, according to, by W. Gannon + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44345 *** |