New Canal Route

Goods will soon be transported through the entire length of Russia at a fraction of the railroad charges. This is the result of a newly formed Russo-German company for " conducting and development of freight transportation through Russia to and from Persia, and also for the accomplishment of all kinds of commercial operations connected therewith."

The company will develop the inland waterways of Russia with a view to forming a direct service between the Baltic Sea in the North and the Caspian Sea in the South. It is stated that the new route, which will follow the River Volga most of the way, will need only a small outlay for the purpose of deepening canals and small waterways.

The undertaking is of considerable potential importance, since it will open new means of communication with the Central Asian caravan routes of the southern shore of the Caspian, and so stimulate trade with the Middle East.