The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-14 00:00:00

PROPOSED SHIP CANAL ACROSS THE
ISTHMUS OF SUEZ.'

On Monday morning a meeting of the council of
the Dublin Ctiambcr of Commerce took place to
hear a statement on behalf of Baron de Lesseps,
the promulgator of the plan for throwing open. the
Isthmus of Suez by means of a ship canal, and
thereby to unite the Red Sea with the Mediter-
ranean.
M. de Lesseps, who was -amble to express his
views in English, was accompanied by Mr. D. A.
Lange, of the firm of Lange, Brothers and Co., of
Mark-lane, and Mr. Charles L. Kenny, the secre-
tary to the company in London.
The chair was taken by THOMAS CROSTHWAITE,
Esq., president of the council of the Chamber of
Commerce.

Mr. E. CoDD, honorary secretary, read a letter
from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce intro-
ducing M. de Lesseps.
Mr. D. A. LANGE was then introduced by M. de
Lesseps, and proceeded to give some details re-
specting the Suez Canal. He said that the object of
the baron's visit was simply to elicit from the coun-
cil an expression of opinion with regard to the
utility of the undertaking of cutting the canal, the
Viceroy of Egypt when granting this concession to
M. de Lesseps having expressed a wish that he
should ascertain from different countries the exact
opinion entert tined in reference to its usefulness.
In many other cases the works were carried out by
the shareholders at their own expense, but in the
present the Viceroy of Egyrt had paid down
1,200,0001. out of his own purse, before bringing
the project before the world at large. The track of
the canal was from Suez to a town in the Pelusian
Gulf, a distance of 72 mites. A very important
feature connected with this project was, that the
Viceroy had granted to the company a tract of land
60 miles in extent, which runs from Cairo to Lake
Tinisah ; this land would be useless unless a branch
canal were formed to irrigate those lands ; but the
Viceroy bad already anticipated the advantages to
be derived from it, and had projected at his own
expense this canal, at the cost of 9,000,000 f., or
360,0001. Upon both sides the land would belong
to this company, as far as it could be irrigated, and
it had been ascertained that no less than 155,000
acres of land could be irrigated by this means in the
winter, and 93,000 in the summer. In addition to
the land at either side of the branch canal, lie also
granted for 30 miles along both sides of their ele-
mentary canal, as much land as could possibly be
irrigated. The whole extent of the land given to
the company, not merely upon lease, but by a
grant in perpetuity, was 250,000 acres, which were
capable of growing indigo, cotton, and Indian
corn, and might in time be very valuable to the
company. Another very important point was, that
no difference existed in the level of the two seas.
Mr. HALLIDAY—Is there not a difference of
three feet ?

Mr. LANGE—The reason why the canal was not
made before was, because the ancients always sup-
posed there was a great difference between the two
seas, and that by cutting open the Isthmus they
would give rise to an overflow attended by
very dangerous consequences. It had now,
however, been ascertained beyond all doubt that
there is no difference at all between the level
of the two seas, nor are there any obstacles to
be encountered. There wouldbe no locks, so that a
vessel could sail right through the Mediterranean
to India, or to any part of the East. There would
be a coaling station at Lake Timsah, wkich would
also be used for provisioning and victualling pur-
poses. _ _

Mr. KENNY stated that in the course of the canal
a very large basin would bo formed at the Bitter
Lake, into which the stream would run, and begin
afresh a little further. The object to be gained was
to counteract the effects of the tide which lose in
the Red Sea, and by means of allowing it to spread
out at this basin, which acted as aregulator between
the two seas, its subsequent current in the canal was
very feeble.

In reply to Mr. HUTTON,•
Mr. KENNY further stated that th 9 height to
which the tide in the Red Sea rose was about five
feat.

Mr. LANGE went on to say that at both sides of the
canal there would be a jetty—the longest 3,800 feet
in length, and the shortest 2,700 feet. It had been
supposed by many, and the idea still, perhaps, was
prevalent in the minds of many, that the coast was
not a safe one. This, however. did not appear to
be the case ; for in order to test this, and to ascer-
tain whether there were any danger to shipping,
the viceroy stationed a corvette during the winter
months, when the winds were generally highest on
this part of the coast, and it appeared that she
never shifted her anchorage at all, but remained
throughout in the same position, and it was only
very recently when the point necessary to be ascer-
tained had been placed beyond. doubt, and when,
moreover, it was found that the sands were quite
firm and ❑nmoveable, that the vessel had been re-
called. The depth of the canal was 28 feet, which
was looked upon as adequate for all purposes of
navigation ; and whilst upon the subject of drafts
and depths of water, he thought it right to read to
the council a letter which he had received from Mr.
Laird, of Birkenhead, the observations made by
whom upon the cmstruction of vessels seemed to
present a new phase in shipbuilding :
' "Birkenhead Iron Works, Birkenhead, May 9.
" The Baron de Lesseps,—Sir, in reply to your in-
quiry as to my opinion on the probable size and draught
of water of ships and steam vessels, I beg to state that,
judging from my own experiesce of 28 years in ship•
building, the dimensions of vessels, say length and beam,
are increasing, both in the merchant and naval service,
but the draught of water, if anything, diminishing—cer-
tainly not increasing. The Dublin mail steamers, 30 to 35
years ago, drew about 11 feet of water, and were of about
300 tons carpenter's measurement. Tne Holyhead mail
steamers are now 600 to 700 tens, and draw about 9 to
10 feet water, and I have built vessels of 300 to 400 tons
for, the Channel trade drawing only 6i to 8' feet, and
find them as good sea boats as the old ves!els of similar
class drawing from 10 to 12 ft. In fact, light draught of
water is decidedly preferraNe for vessels of this descrip-
tion. I hsve co.:structed altogether more than 200 yes-
Rai, being an aggregate tonnage of 80,000 tons, and
among thernsailingships,paddlewheelandscrewsteamers
of ali sizes up to 2,250 tons, and I find moderate draught of
water always a consideration. In proof of this I built two
vessel-, the Nubia and Aima, of 2,250 and 500 H.P. each
for the Peninsular and Oriental Company now running
from Calcutta to Suez. They drew 20 ft., but the managing
directors of the company told me if they had them built
again they wcul't much prefer them not to exceed 18
feet draught, as being more generally useful ships for the
Calcutta and other trades ; and I have no doubt I could
give them equally fast vessels and as satisfactory in
other respects on 18 feet. I consider 22 feet about the
greatest draught that any vessel should have intended
for general trade to all parts of the world, as few har-
bours or ducks will with convenience accommodate ships
of greater draught. Should you wish any further infor-
mation on the subject that. I a•m in possession of I will
be glad to furnish am, sir, your obedient servant,
"Join LAIRD.
-" To Baron de Liisseps."

,Mr. HUTTON—Perhaps you will allow me to state
that in the Red Sea the gr)wth of coral renders
navigation very uncertain.
.Mr. LANGE—YeS, there are rocks of that nature
is the Red Sea, but they merely skirt the coast,
and do not at an interfore with the navigation, but
on the contrary they are very useful, because if it
were not for these we should be at a loss how to
construct the jetties.
In reply to Mr. Parker,

Mr. IciE;ryy stated that notwithstanding the line
of coral rocks in the Red Sea, the Peninsular and
Oriental steamers were continually passing and re-
passing in the clear channel which existed iu the
middle of that sea ; whilst between those rocks and
the shore there wits also a navigable channel in
which the whole of the trade was carried on by
means of vessels of light draft.

Mr. LANGE went on to say that the winds gene-
rally blew in one direction, but it was from the
side, and consequently facilitated the sailing up or
down of the Red Sea ; but it was different in the
Mediterranean, where the prevailing wind was
from the north east. They should remember, how-
ever, that it was not sailing vessels, but steamers
and screws that they had calculated upon, although
sailing vessels at certain periods of the year, from
April to Sept., could always avail themselves of this
canal when going to India, or to ports on the other
side. The saving of distance in going to Ceylon by
this means ,would be just half---7,000 instead of
14,000 miles, and a very favourable feature con-
nected with the cutting of this canal was that five-
sixths of its extent were below the level of the sea.
The capital required for the undertaking would he
6,500,00 W., and 1,500,000/. had been set' aside for
interest and ulterior improvements, making the
total estimate 8,000,0001. It would naturally occur
to them as commercial men how many vessels a
day would be required to pass through this canal in
erder to pay a remunerating dividend upon so large
an amount of capitol. In ordinary times 5 per cent.
upon this sum would amount to 400,0001., to which
should be added the cost of keeping up the canal-
-63,0001.; but instead of confining themselves to this
calculation be would lump the two sums, and set
them down at 800,000/., including interest and cost
of maintenance. It would require two vessels daily,
of 2,500 tons each, to pay this interest and keep up
the canal. The deputation were prepared with more
minute calculations, but they they considered it
better to lay this startling fact before the council in
the first in-tance.
Mr. PARKER—YOU have lAkaa th linage very
high of tho,,,et .vo ves,el,.
Mr. LANGE explained that he meant any vessel
to the extent of 5,000 tons.
Mr. Coon—Does trade at present exist which
would justify you in supposing that you could have ,