The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-21

the political questions he may be censure6for thcse
VIII prove counter arguments with his friends. You
| VIII be surprised to learn that India, during the
last two years, bids fair to keep pace with the
United States in the magnetic wire. DR.. Shaugh-
messy Is the Professor Morse Of India wish the
| powerful machinery at his command as servant OF
the company. he has distinguished himself by his
energy and his works. ! am glad to find him a
| fellow passenger en- route for home with view of
running the wne from England to India-an under
taking which, no doubt, win shortly be accom-
pished, Judging from what has been done. TIE
first wre he tells me, was exten5ed Nov. l. 1853
twenty parties of w0rkmen (sOlders) left Calcutt0
and Bombay, u7der English leaders, and in March,
1904, the Offices were opened at the halfway station
| or Agra, and by the middle of June the first mes
sage went thi ough 20 Bombay, o distance Of 1900
miles, since which lives have been established from
bombSy 10 Madras, 500 miles; from Agra to Pesha.
wnr, on the borders cf Aghanistan, forming the DO.
pulous cities OF Delhi Lahore, and Attoch the In
dus some 800 miles; besdes line 200 miles from RAN
COON TO Prone and caday, connecting the seaport
with the frontier Of AVA and other smaller lines
| making total Of some 1000 miles in two years
time. In less than five years ten thousand miles of
electric wire will connecs the chief points OF the
Indian empire, says the Doctor. No. galvanized
| wire, about half q mile TO the ton, would give
an aggregate of 1000 tens. The original posts
were made Of cheap wood, but subsequently iron
wood from Burmah, solid granite posts, brick and
mortar do, and iron screw posts are those used;
the cost is about $3.50 per nils.
The wires are about sixteen feet from the ground,
sufficiently high to allow loaded elephant to pass
under. About thirty miles Of submarine wires,
costing 81 900 per mile have been laid down across
the rivers. About three hundred manipulators
empioyeS, and two hundred more servants, making
staff Of five hundred men. There are seventy
Offices already erected, in charge OF Europeans and
half castes-the great difficulty has been In pro-
curing proper workmen, and DR., O'Shaughnessy
purposes visiting the States before returning to In
da, in order TO procure staff Of American managers.
There are no double lines laid down, will there
sl5O0OO.
r;v
and Calcutta where one-third of the dispatches are
sent by natives. The object OF the government in
establishing such an agency throughout their wide
extent of empire is Of course increase their po
ltical and military power, for the enterprise
Investment would prove disastrous. An instance Of
its advantage was noticed at the recent annexation
| Of Dude. fsw hours after the despatch arrived
| from the home government, giving consent, the
| Council met-trOops were on the way-orders were
given, and Oude was part Of the British empire
all done by the hghtnings flash. In times Of war it
must be of vast Importance, until the native enemies
learn to cut the wire, as spectators did when the
Cunard steamers touched ut Halifax. Railways do
not progress rapidly yet something has been done
in that way-a guarantee Of five per cent interest
on the outlay for such enterprise is made by the
honorable company; but who Is to make up the loss
| between the annual expenditure and the annual re-
ceipts, for profit and loss will be charged for many
years with o serious balance?
R. NJ. Stephenson, Esq, the railway king of India,
is also fellow passenger, route for England. His
perseverance, his untired industry in accomplishing
80 arduous an enterprise, and his arniable qualities
as man, have earned him most complimentary ad-
dress from his many friends. In his reply he shows
how sanguine he is Of the progress of his pet projects
Tor he expects that in less ten years England may be
reached in twelve days time and the magnetic wire
will communicate with the mother country in as many
hours. shall not be surprised at the latter result
but must say the former looks forIndabe-for Asia
tic, African and European soil does not cultivate and
nouiish activity and enterprise does the Ame-
Tican.
The railway from Calcutta to Raneegunge or to
| the Burdoran coal mines, is III miles single rail-
costing about $50 900 per mile. company has been
formed to connect Madras with the opposite coast
distance of 800 miles. passing through Welington's
and Brands battlefelds via Arcot and Seringapa-
tam Sbranching out to Bangalore) on to Trchi-
noopoy to Coimbatoor on the Aialabar coast, thus
connecting the great cities OF Southern India. Some
fifty miles have been completed from Madras On
the other side the Bombay, Barado and Central In
dian Railway, and the great Indian PeEinsular Rail
way, extend their branches long way along the
shore and inland About fifty miles only is in opera
tion from Bombay. Another line is Intended TO
join Bombay with the Madras frontier, via Begaum.
Saltara, Toona, &c.-from Kurrochee to rhc Indus
about l20 miles, and 0 section from Bombay, 200
miles to Surat. This is the grand trunk line
Of the Northwest, and is to extend 70 Lahore,
a distance from Calcutta OF l. $50 miles. Con.
tracts already have been made rs far a. Agra.
Railway enterprise in India commands much
praise Tor its projectors, for many the mped-
ments to be overcome. As in England and America,
those IN the front rank will sink their money max
ing for those who follow later on 10 profit by
others losses But nevertheless the steam whistle
must work a moral change in India.
have now ran over the history OF India since COM
merce opened the country from Capt Lawrence to Is
rael Child from Child TO Give, and from Give 90 Hast
ngs and Mornngton, past Dalhousie 70 Capning, who
is next in turn-'tis strange and interesting his.
tory the formation of the East India Company.
Merchants wish 10 trade and call in political power
to assist them; then jealousy arises, ambition,
quest and standing army. now numbering 300 900
men In round numbers, only 30 600 OF which are
IA Inv IN Enrt two
centuries the natives have been brought in contact
with the Christian race-and what Is there to show
for tl Ancient and modern writers assure us that
the products OF the soil, the peculiar mode OF irriga
ton, the strange fancy for copper utensils the SIM
pie cotton cloth about the loins, the briancy OF
their colors and dyes their extravagant love of jew
erywoaring them In nose, their toes, their
ancles, their fingers, their necks and their arms
the custom OF eating alone the seclusion Of
their women the cutting of OF goats heads for the
sacrifice, the trimming OF elephants and the extraordi
nary divisions OF caste remaining unchsnged habits
and customs Of a thousand years ago arc the habits
and customs now. The Hindoo talent, then Of
quick observation, perseverance, dexterity, tact.
against the vices Of greedness, serviity and trca-
cherry, have gone through trihing changes for CEN
tures The European vices have been carefully stu
died; but the Europeans virtues don'. flourish in
the Hindoos mind. or course, there are some ex-
ceptions; hut have yet TO learn that ths merchant
the missionary the soldier have been able TO break
up prejudces which have for so long been handed
down from generation TO generation.
India lsa land OF conquest, and requires an in-
mense standing army to hold IT, As conquered
country, the East India Company may make as good
masters any other company or any other govern
men. IL Is difficult to understand where the compa
ny's power and where Englssd's commences
which is Bluoher, and which ths Duke OF Yelling
ton-the Hon. Court of Directors aid the President
of the Board of Control act in concerts and the Com
pany and the government are 40 closely connected
that they must soon malganata.
80 long as pensions, wages, salaries are paid to
the Sepoy troops, under able and popular English
officers-so long as their caste their religion re-
mains unmolested-so long the natives continue
to prove aithless and possess so little confidence
in each other England will ho'S her Indian empire;
for the sepoy soldier s provorsaly true 10 his sat
There il one thing morally certain fortunes ere
not realized by civil and military officials, by mer.
chants, by professional men, by individuals and cor
porstions in days OF ycre, FOR there very few
who return TO England wish the means Of support
ing Indian extravagance or the means OF enjoying
the Injuries Of Indian life. A quarter Of u cen
fury's service under the Indian sky purchases an
Indian pension. dearly bought-too often by the