In summer there is a waterway from Tomsk to Tumen, a thousand miles to the westward, and a large amount of freight to and from Siberia passes over it.  Steamers descend the Tom to the Ob, which they follow to the Irtish.  They then ascend the Irtish, the Tobol, and the Tura to Tumen, the head of navigation.  The government proposes a railway between Perm and Tumen to unite the great water courses of Europe and Siberia.  A railway from Tomsk to Irkutsk is among the things hoped for by the Siberians, and will be accomplished at some future day.  The arguments urged against its construction are the length of the route, the sparseness of population, and the cheap rates at which freight is now transported.  Probably Siberia would be no exception to the rule that railways create business, and sustain it, but I presume it will be many years before the locomotive has a permanent way through the country.

Some years ago it was proposed to open a complete water route between Tumen and Kiachta.  The most eastern point that a steamer could attain in the valley of the Ob is on the river Ket.  A canal about thirty miles long would connect the Ket with the Yenesei, whence it was proposed to follow the Angara, Lake Baikal, and the Selenga to Oust Kiachta.  But the swiftness of the Angara, and its numerous rapids, seventy-eight in all, stood in the way of the project.  At present no steamers can ascend the Angara, and barges can only descend when the water is high.  To make the channel safely navigable would require a heavy outlay of money for blasting rocks, and digging canals.  I could not ascertain that there was any probability of the scheme being realized.

In 1866 twelve steamers were running between Tumen and Tomsk.  These boats draw about two feet of water, and tow one or more barges in which freight is piled.  No merchandise is carried on the boats.  Twelve days are consumed in the voyage with barges; without them it can be made in a week.  All the steamers yet constructed are for towing purposes, the passenger traffic not being worth attention.  The golovah of Tomsk is a heavy owner in these steamboats, and he proposed increasing their number and enlarging his business.  A line of smaller boats has been started to connect Tomsk with Achinsk.  The introduction of steam on the Siberian rivers has given an impetus to commerce, and revealed the value of certain interests of the country.  An active competition in the same direction would prove highly beneficial, and bye and bye they will have the railway.

During my ride about the streets the isvoshchik pointed out a large building, and explained that it was the seminary or high school of Tomsk.  I was told that the city, like Irkutsk, had a female school or “Institute,” and an establishment for educating the children of the priests.  The schools in the cities and large towns of Siberia have a good reputation, and receive much praise from those who patronize them.  The Institute at Irkutsk is especially renowned, and