Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-09-09

The Austrian Government has announced that the
mouth Of the Danube has become impossible and that s
mails Constantinople win be forwarded Zoe tho pre-
BY Trieste At the time receive the papers
laid before Parliament with reference to the obsuc-
tons to the Of the ,una channel Of the Dan
and the question winch demands, both polit
cal and commercial grounds the prompt and vigilsnt
OF Europe. BY the last the Journal
Of Consannope states that the the bar did
exceed six feet and half from the fall Of the water
but from the rise of the bar No ess than leo cargoes
Of wheat detained in the river Many OF the
have died of the vers prevalent among the marshes OF
the Danube Twenty thirty vessels run ashore, and
wrecked and freghts risen from lOs and
ls to lss and 92s. The dredging machine brought
down by the Russians is quite Inactive and for all pract
cal purposes the navigation Of the river Is interrupted
Even the Austrsn mail seames the Persia and the Bos
phoro detained eleven and the other three days
at Suna and last obliged reascend the stream
Although this stoppage comedies in a remarkable
ner with the political events taking place the
Lower Danube the subject has for several years been
brought under the notice Of the British Government by
it, consular agent Toucha and Yans and has been
made the subject of strong representations both
the OF Great Britain and of Austria to the Court OF
St. Petersburg. The position Of Russia at Suna is alto
gether anomalous for she has right to have any
adjustment there at all quarantine station was how
ever first placed the northern bank of the river and
thd maritime interests Of this spot important that
in spite OF its unwholesome position, small town has
sprung up with fixed population OF 900 persons, and
double or treble that number in the season OF navigation
The English Government wished to extend the jurisdiction
Of Vice Consul Touchs to Suna that place being
40 miles of: but the Russian Government cvaded this
proposal the ground that Toutcha not in free
praiique their frontier 1t appears be established
by observations made the spot that all which Is
quired TO keep the channel open to stir the mud the
tom and to prevent the deposit from forming hard
and compact BY the Of heavy rakes fastened
TO vessels leaving the river the Turkish authorities
ceeded in maintaining depth Of l6 feet Of the
bar and since the Russians have held the mouth of the
river the neglect OF this simple precauon has gradually
Interrupted the navigation. The Russian Government.
when pressed this point replied that it had procured
at considerable expense, English dredging nachine
but this machine only used nine times in 1851 during
which IL filled 10 barges with muddy sand; il then broke
down. and sent back Odessa, where the
discharged.
In addition the obvious political reasons the Rus
slams have render the navigation of the Danube mac
cessibe to any vessels of daught than their
gunboat the commercial interest OF South Russia is
trcy opposed 10 this channel of communication for Ga
latz and lbras the natural rivals of odessa Mr. zee
Consul Cunningham reported in 1880 that the expense
and loss British shipping from the obstacles existing
that time could be- less than IS additional freight
ghtsrsge ON 100000 quarters Of corn, making OF
SU,OOUI year, ard this loss be far greater
The number OF English vessels entering the Dan
ube has for past been e5 besides $50 foreign
vessels many of which bound for England represent
ting in dead weight upwards OF SIS 900 The yearly
of keeping the channe open by means of two small
dragging harrows through the mud would proba
bly, not exceed 5,00Oi year, less, for the
might be partly employed in towing vessels Yet the Rus
slams have ouy got this into their own hands 10
neglect IL altogether, and the result. In 1910
the AuSars concluded with Russia for 10
by which the latter Power promised endeavour keep
ieep water on the bar in consideration of certain toll
The toll wasIcvcd but the work utterly neglected
and the treaty has not been renewed.
This question: therefore, is one in which Austria and
the German States strongly interested To Tur
key the opening of her river frontier aud her corn ad
are matters of paramount Importance. Even France H.
time Of scarcity has drawn large supplies from the Dan
ube aud we have seen, large and Increasing number
OF British vessels employed In this trade II i there
fore extremely desirable that the maintenance of es,
channels should be regarded public European object
and il Is absurd that the maintenance of the pis>ag
should he left to the only State which ia interested in al
lowing to be choked up although the flows in thu
part in Neutral territory and through the Russian
duminions. The object might Ice attained by having n
commission OF the Powers interested the navigation OF
;he Danube, who should employ keep the
Sdlua passage OPEN 10 open of the other mouths
of ;he river and the sanction of the Port would no Doubt
be easily obtained to such arrangement. For there
il no ground on which bound recognise the
exclusive jurisdiction OF Russia mouth OF the
Danube except that which is termed the Kilia aud
It i probable that the Saint George mouth, (which
reserved for the passage Of Turkish vessels Of
by the treaty OF Adrinople because the Russians knew
il 10 be filled up,) might be still rendered navigabie
But, N difficulty Should sii Occut, there another
measure of Tar etIectual character which We should
be we'll pleased adopted though it is alluded 10
in the papers before Parliament We mean the exc
Black Sea- which would avoid 200 miles of DANCE
rous navigation against powerful stream, lower the
eghts the whole produce Of the Danubian provinces
and bring the Of Europe considerably Con.
stantnope by line passing entirely through the Turkish
territory Il is said that facilities for the execution o.
such work extremely great and the present moment
T. obviously very favorable to the adoption OF the scheme
when the only Power in Europe which could attempt Ia
oppose it has excluded herself from diplomatic relations
with Turkey. No il better able than VI. de Bruck
Austrian Ine!nuLco tie Porte, comprehend the
importance OF suc measure, for the entire freedom
the uayig lon OF the Lower Danube il point OF vita
consequence the commercial prosperity Of Austria; bu
the subject deserves the active operation of all the
mr Powers, aud hope learn that the British
-rnmeut has taken ascertain the all,
shortest OF remedyng this evil, without refereuc,
TO the promises the illhumOr OF the Russian Cabinet
The conduct OF Count Neselrode hmsefand his sbor
dnaes appears from these dispatches have been ex-
treney insucere aud the course of this transac
ton; and, the subject has become of direct
aud general interest 10 Europe, that cnrcua
means will be taken show Russia that her preeusioi
to bar up VI tie principle ryers in Europe WHOLLY
inadnissble. If however the navigation of the Danub
is to be preserved ALL the interested party TAX,
the matter into their hands, and have very tt,
doubt that competent engineer the spot would suoi
/ ind means OF terminating the difficulty expcn-j
which the great commercial interests OF the trad
would easily repay.