Power of a Ruler

Tsar's Finger

 

Tsar Nicholas I, the ruler of Russia wanted to build railway line connecting Moscow to St. Petersburg.

The engineers could not decide on the most suitable route and in year 1847, Tsar lost his patience.

He summoned all engineers, spread the map on table. He took a ruler and drew line connecting two cities.

Tsar's order, that to outraged Tsar's order and the orders were followed exactly.

Railway line was completed and the route opened in 1851.

While drawing the line between two cities, the great Tsar's finger which was slightly beyond the drawing scales edge, as he was holding the scale on the map.

The resultant line was not straight but had one small curve of 17 miles. Thanks to the Tsar's finger, the route was 3miles longer than straight line distance between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

 

The route remained like that for 151 years, until it was corrected in 2002.

That is the power of a 'RULER'  ( pun intended)