Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-06-21

From he London Times, Mdy 90
Still, as OF old, recur to the problem-ghat il the
quickest route to the Indies? Hitherto tie problem has
been rather barren OF direct results and has far resem
oed inquiries into the philosophers into the So
cret oil perpetual motion that the advantages derived from
its attempted solution have been almost entirely coI,,.,I
The object has been unataiurd but the endea,orr Tn =,
tain 1t has led TO many important cries and TO
noble histories; and now that there are no more Amr,
cas- to be discovered and horrors of the North
West Passage to be endured we come to test the prob
more its merits and sec whether of,.r Iii
with our increased facilities Of travelling II NAV nor H.
possible TO solve successfully. But il must be confessed
that tue scheme OF Mr.. Macdonald Stephenson If h
the gandest which has yet been proposed also surroun
ded with difficulties that first sight appear To he T
less insuperabe than the great continent which STAYED The
progress OF Columbus the mighty ceberps thar bcd
the ships Of English navgators Mr. Stcpbenson nrnn
ses railroad from London Calcutta direct without dn
interruption save at the Straits of Dover and the Bospo
rus the distance being accomplished in about week Tbi
l, the Ultimate development Of the scheme which he I'm
dertakes to execute within years bu in IL. mnest firm
1t resolves tsef into the completion the European mil
ways 10 COnstantnOpc, and the making OF raiIrooJ from
Scunri to Bussora at the head OF the Persian Gplf II
even IN this form the difficulties Of the s.c n, h
almost insure ounabc still the Of the gentleman who
has sugg IT, identified I've is with the
uraon OF East Indian railways under adverse crcu
stances II entitled To consideration and perhaps the ob
pear to be. Wy Up
From table published in the last number of ,b M
cd HerieD we learn that about 900 miles Of railroad
have yet To be completed before the direct line 10 b
BosPhorus can be raversed Half this distance Il in
Turkey, and extends from Belgrade 10 ConstautinonI
Sooner or later these highways will probably he formed
ana especially now that the government the Porte has
been introduced into the European system Tne n,,c;
dial difficulties, however not in Euope a ALI tcv L.
gin the other side Of the Bosphorus in travetsn b
lsoO miles that separate Scuai from the Persian Gulf
and u the railways are extended from the head of the Culf
through Persia and Beoocbsan 100 miles Gr,ber 40
the Indus, the engineering and commercial difficulties
that previously encounter the undertaking are not ony
vastly increased but theTe superadded political hos
niics and national barbsrisns which are even nor eg
tual barriers than chains OF mountains or deses ~ 80
These TOO u may be possible TO by good man
agement the end; but IN the meantime the nt az nrac
teal importance IL TO reach Bussora by rail The rou,e
indicated y from Scutai Ismid the great ws,c,i,o
We btghton OF the neutrality-suspicious. thctice BY
the valley otthe S1karn river Scvfhssar and 40 on Ia
Ak-serai and the Kurin Mountains Emerging from o,e
OF tie mountain plsses the line would come mon tbc
head OF the Euplrates aud would proceed by the valley
OF this ve' % the Persian Gulf passing to the vest of
the Snja hills and 10y Bdgdad TO ussota Thus 1.r
the merely engineering difficulties do not appear 10 be inn
portant and for Onehalf OF the route during which tbe
road Noud traverse the valley o. the Euphrses ieria
could easily be conveyed 10 Ill points of IL by the river
There be little doubt the possibility Of copsi,yc
ng the ne surveyor has actually been sent 10 Bussota
To take lying levels and the public will soon learn The
result Of his examination Of the county The great oe
ton s-Wil the line II ever constructed payg That will
OF course depend upon the management Of Il After orr
experience Of English railways not TENTED 10 he
over anguine to aud yet that the line ,u,vbt
pay handsomely although ts principal source Of income
must be the traffic aud passengers between the estfce
termnl AID not Of the intermediate stations the profits
OF The Penirsuar and Oriental Steam Company would seem
"a show IL u true that this like other great steam com
panies receives large subsidies from tho Government hut
the railway company would he entitled 20 similar favour.
aud stang with the assumption that a railway can be
constructed IN these regions az the rate II OO0OI
mile V u easy TO estimate the probable outlay aud the re-.
quste returns.
Broached many years ago by Mr. Stephenson. the
scheme sagan brought before the public at happy mo-
menti Tor " - not simply commercial underakng--it
involves an International agreement The question s not
nmpyhoW shall We get most quickly to India how shall
The Indian trade b. best loserod how shall the HooI,s
interests be best securedY These indeed importspt
points, aud IL y pleasant TO be told that this MEASURE
e carried into effect We shall be able 70 proceed Mr.
Stephenson declares from London 70 and from Aft ,s,
o lnda within period Of one week snd NJ cost of less
thaa bait what Is paid for weeks or four months
Pass.ge' but We sone are not concerned. France s
ooncerned for IL has the port Of Marsees 70 maintain