Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1859-11-23
OxE of the problems connected with. the

ONE OF the problems connected with the
many grcatphysical projects of this present
age, and upon which, depend so much the
Christianization and civilization of the
world, relates to the Accomplishment of n
ship canal from tho Mediterranean to the
Red Sea. Ifthe canal can be made, accor-
ding to the design of its proprictors, it
will doubtless work considerable of a rev.
olution upon the commercial and maratinc
affairs of the world, and this, in turn, must
have its legitimate effect upon the moral
status 3 of all coming within the wide
scope of its influence. But, the great
question is: Is theproject likely to be sue
cessful2
After obtaining all the light we can
upon the subject, we are induced to doubt
the completion of the vast enterprise. We
will briefly state the reasons that prevent
our confidence. First, we may mention
that the paincipal, and indeed almost the
only proprietors of the scheme arc tho
French, who had actually been engaged
in the work; but owing to the interference
ofthe Turkish Porte, (instigated, it is said,
by intrigues of the British Conveniently
have recently been compelled to abandon
it. Now for the groundwork of our doubts
1t has been ascertained that the level of
the Mediterranean and Red Seas is tho
same In consequence of this, there will
be no fall between them, and the canal,
instead of being capable of fresh supplies
of water, would become a stagnant chan
mel. The distance ACROSS the Isthmus,
from sea to sea, is nincty-two miles, The
bare cutting of canal, capable of rccei-
wing the immense shipping expected to
pass through it, would be no small under
taking. Butas the grounds through which
it must pass, are of q dry aud sandy nature,
1T will be necessary, to prevent the sides
from slipping in, to wall it up on both sides,
from top to bottom. Besides this, the
country is entirely destitute of stones, and
they will all have to be shipped, ut great
expense, of course. To prevent the sand,
which the wind is constantly driving about
in great clouds, from filling up the ditch,
parapet must be, constructed several feet
high, on either side. The Mediterranean
has no harbors on the side that will be
tapped by the canal it will therefore be
required to run extensive piers of stone to
distance, it is ascertained, of six miles.
in order to procure water deep enough for
vessels of the larger size. The same kind
Ofpiers, oftwo miles in length, must also be
erected in the Red Sea. Now each stone
to construct these extensive works must,
MS we before said, be shipped, and at very
great distance, too. But, to make things
worse, on the Mediterranean side, the Nile,
which flows in to that sea, is constantly
filling it up with the tremendous deposits
of earth and sand, which it annually pours
down. By this gradual process the entire
immense piers would, in n few years, be
left on dry land. Yet, even with all other
needful facilities, it is doubtful whether
such piers could be constructed at all,
owing to the softness and the muddy char
acter of the bottom of the sea, formed, as
it is, of Nile deposits
An idea may thus be had of the mngni-
tudeand difficulties of the project. If not
impracticable from its nature, it seems to
US, the expense would run far beyond what
any one government could supply, and far
beyond the profits that could be realized.
Such canal would save, in actual sailing
distance, about 5000 miles, between
France, England, and India. 1t is said,
however, that about 5000 miles could be
made in open ocean in the same time that
the 1000 of the Red Sea could, and thus,
in point of time, there would be but n
saving of 1000 miles. The immense tolls
that would have to be paid the canal, would
hardly be recompensedby the saving ofsuch
q distance.