The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-10-31

At ibe very time NJ. de Lesseps is cndcavor-
ing to stir up the capitalists of London to
take stock in his enterprise, other schemers at
Washington should be stirring the commercial
sense OF this country with a view to revive the
old, abandoned, hut still tempting scheme Of
canal across the Darien isthmus and head of
The South American continent, by way of the
Atrato. For two hundred years at least this
scheme has been will o. the wisp to men Of
adventurous minds nor is it at oil singular
that such should have been the case, so mani
fest, SO tremendous would be the advantages Of
the work if ii could be completed The trade
with India, every day shows it more clearly is
the prize above all others worth striving for.
Even two centuries ago. it was SO coveted
that the noblest spirits of the day spent, and
many lost, their lives in searching for q
shorter road to the spices, and the
silks, and the treasures of China and the
strange Indian lands; stumbling upon Amc-
rica by accident in the search, and no doubt
cursing the obstacle which impeded their west
Hudson and his contemporaries sighed for com
pared TO the wondrons lands we know to-
day a single month saved in the East India
voyage would enrich--not man, or a crew,
or mercantile ilrm--but nation, and would
pour rev wealth into the lap Of trade all over
the world.
But these canals are only part Of the great
contest between Europe and America for the
Asiatic trade. If Europe appears to have tho
advontage-a mere hypothesis, but let it pass
lin tho greater practcabiity Of the Suez ca
nal over that Of Darien. We have the start in
the matter OF railroads. Many months have
elapsed since the Panama railroad realized the
dream Of Paterson, and bound the Pacific to
the Atlantic shore. Nor is this all. We pub
lshed yesterday another letter from Mr. But
Ter King, showing that the scheme with which
his name has been so long connected. is by no
means abandoned, and that there is still hope
Of building il along the territory recently ac.
quired from Mexico. The pertinacity with
which the projectors Of The Pacific railroad
cling to the scheme shows that they at leas.
are convinced Of its practcability, and augurs
well for the accomplishment OF tac on,erprisc,
as soon as long continued prosperity and per
baps State extravaganza warrant the expeadi-
tune.
In Europe they are long way behind us in
dis respect. They have built one railroad.
ls0 miles long. from Alexandria to Cairo, aud
they ntcmplatc--indccd they have already
begun to grade the ground for an extension
of the line to Suez, eighty -four miles further.
But II is obvious that this line. even when
completed, will compete with the Panama
route under severe disadvantages Two hun.
dred and sixty-four miles OF railway over the
Egyptian sands, under On Egyptian temporal
ture, are enough to Brighten any oae, AM the
distance, &c, will present great obstacles to
the Transmission Of large quantities OF pro.
duce.
Another line Of railroad intended 10 com.
pete for the Eastern trade has been undertaken
by Russia. Its furihost proposed tcrmini are
said 10 be Moscow and Aslrachan. Previous
TO the war, The Russian engineers w.rs lu.ly
cmp'oycd il tracing ,he line q. lie r0ad. a.l