58

MONTHLY CONSULAR AND TRADE REPORTS.

in Russia are great and the masses so poor that without very low

rates there would be few who could afford to travel by rail. Russian

railway trains are, too, as a rule, most primitive and afford fewer

comforts or conveniences for the traveler than any other. This, of

course, does not apply to a few such trains as the trans-Siberian ex-

press, for which the rates are high; nor does any of the above apply

to the occasional train de luxe to be found in other countries of the

Continent, and for which special rates are charged.

For the purpose of comparison it may be added that in no country

of Europe does even " first-class " offer the comforts and conveniences

of the ordinary passenger train in America.

BUILDING LOCOMOTIVES IN CHILE.

THE GOVERNMENT STARTS MOVEMENT FOR HOME CONSTRUCTION.

Consul Alfred A. Winslow reports that work was begun August

31 on the first railway locomotive ever built in Chile, at the works of

the Sociedad de Maestranzas y Galvanizacion in Valparaiso, con-

cerning which he says:

This is the first of an order for 5 locomotives to be built by this

company for the Chilean Government railways. A duplicate order

has been placed with Balfour, Lyon & Co., on which work is to be

begun soon. It is understood these locomotives are to cost the

Chilean Government at least 20 per cent more than it would cost to

import similar locomotives, but it is in line with a policy to encourage

the industrial development of the country. It is the beginning of a

new era for Chile. It is understood these orders are to be followed by

orders for freight cars, etc., until all rolling stock for the government

railways is built at home. The construction of these locomotives is

to be under the supervision of an expert government engineer, who

spent several months during the past year in the United States study-

ing locomotive and car construction.

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