Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-12-22
Gully gAppeal,


We translate the following from an article
eopied in the A5cills de la NOuvelle Orleans:
Notwithstanding the threatening appearance
Of European affairs, and the military prepara-
tons in which France is engaged, the Emperor
continues to pursue with frmness and yigor
three Of the greatest enterprises of modern times,
one alone of which, well conducted, viii consti-
tute a durable monument Of the glory Of his
reign. These three enterprises are-tbe subms-
'qe telegraph between Europe and Africa; the
@ueling of the solid mass of the Alps: and the
!. HPe1ng of the Isthmus of Suez.
ughe first Of these works has lately been CON-
pleted. On the 2d of September last, after two
attempts, which failed in consequence of the
2 breaking of the cable, submarine telegraph
was put in operation between the port of Toulon,
in France, and that Of Algiers, in Africa. At
the present time, steady telegraphie cOmmuni-
cation exists between the two continents. Inde-
pendent of these practical results, the laying
down of this cable has thrown light upon several
difficulties that previous experiments had raised
but not solved. The question of the proper
weight Of the metal cable is one Of them. The
French at first fen into the same enor as the
English had done in the transatlantic cable ex-
pertinent by making the cable without suiting
il to the requirements of the various localities
Mat had to be crossed In the end they adopt
ed plan which was crowned with complete sue
cess. They calculated what amount of strength
and elasticity the cable ought to have, to suit it
TO the density Of the water and the nature of the
submarine bed on which it must be laid. They
then made it light and flexible for the deep wa
ters, thick and strong for the shsllower places,
and still stronger as the shores were-approsched.
In this way they avoided the danger that arises
from the too great weight of the cable in deep
places, on the one hand and from friction in shall
JowTlaces and on rocky surfaces on the other.
The second great work Of France, the tunnel
ing of the Alps, IS proceeding at the present
time with an activity that presents every appear
ance Of success Mount Cents is the place cho-
sen for ihe work. 1t viii be penetrated by a
tunnel seven miles and half in length, with
canal along the center to carry off the waters
flowing from the various interstiees of the rocks
cut through. Every day two thousand FIVE hun
6red workner are employed in boring shafts
by means of q recently invented machine, which
Is worked By atmospheric pressure. It Is ex-
pected that the tunnel will be completed in
about six years. It's principal result viii be to
cement more strongly the bonds Of friendship
already existing between France and Italy, to
bring Turin nearer to Paris, to promote inter
course between the two cities and make il more
frequent, and to better secure mutual and friendly
action during the political occurrences that may
take place from time. The tunnel wiz shorten,
by one half, the distance that at present seps-
rates Paris and Turin 1t is expected thst
one city viii be reached from the ether in sew
euteen hours.
The third great enterprise to which France =
concentrating both lis energy and power, Is the
cutting through Of the Isthmus Of Suez, accord-
ing to the latest intelligence the work is proceed
ing vigorously, and promises fully to realize the
hopes Of the most ssnguine friends of that
gigantic enterprise. Six thousand w0Ikmen are
engaged on the canal It is stated that they have
discovered, or the route leading from the Nile 70
the Red Sea. an Egyptian city, buried under a
,bick bed Of sand; q large number Of pspyrus
ina qascripis and einbalmed crocodiles were |
found there. Cutting canal through the 18th |
mus will have double result that Of binding, /
bv direct comman,cation, the comparatively bar |
barous country OF Asia with European civilizs- |
sian. and that of furnishing science with new
elcments for investigation, and it will perhaps |
also solve several Of the problems that occupy |
the attention Of tie thinking world.