The New York herald., 1862-04-24


and OF tho St Lawrence stretching through the lakes
and by their union with the Mississippi river TO New Or
leans to St Paul Psburg and the foothills OF the Rocky
Mountains, disccsss most remarkable featnre IN th'
geographical formation OF our codntry and brings q
mind another equally singular and important fact Otter
referred TO by our engineers. and worthy o
consideration IA this connection. IL Is wha
IN ght be called second coast line, created by
making nayigable channel to and parable
with the coasts on the Atlantic and Gulf, and
having numerous connections with those waters
Such channel would possess two vory valuable proper
ties it would enable the Untod States to transfer
ships OF war by safe and speedy route the presence
OF superior naval force, from any point on our
coast to any other and would preserve vast coast
ing trade in unimpaired activity throughout the war
The military value OF this measure urged by tho en-
gneers more than forty years ago but OF late years Con-
gress to have forgotten importance Now that
three hundred millions Of dollars and ii has como to be
we'll understood that unless belligerent Power can
maintain its trade and commerce. money to carry on the
will be found and dear, it Is to be hoped
earnest consideration will be bestowed upon the impor
ancs OF an ntracoast channel An interior channel be-
ginning in the Mississippi river, above New Orleans
opening up the bod of the Ibbcrye river (cosed by
General jackson in 1Sl2l5, and since opeaed) may
be continued along the coas between the islands and the
main land via Mobile and Pensacola (crcssng Florida
with ship cana Savannah, Charleston Beaufort. Nor.
folk, (noar Baltimore Philadelphia New Brunswick and
New York hrough Long Ilar Sound Narragansott and
Buzzards bays and by short cana, to Massachusetts,
Bay. Such Is the opinion of the engineers.
without, at this time, entering into the details OF the
feasibility and cost of this valuable means OF defence
your committee will be content to Call attention to a
practical point two There is at this time in opera
ton between the lower waters Of New York habor and
tho Delaware river, u canal-Deltware and Raritsn-
forty three miles long and foot deep II is navi-
gated by small propelers anu soops The Chesaf
and Delaware canal connects fhads pha, on the Della
ware, and Baltimore, the Chesapeake II is only thr-
toen and half miles long, and is ten feet deep. The
Dismal Swamp canal is twenty two mics long, and con-
meets Chesapeake Bay with Aibemarle sound
Here, then. is interior channel, which. whom the
coasts have been put into defensbo condition will be
safe one along an extensive and exceedingly important
rtnfn ff,s
communicating with several of our largest States and
cities To make this extensive chaane available both in
peace and in war requires an enlargement OF three short
and inexpensive canals. or an aggregate length Of but
seventy eight and half miles.
Another interior charIel Of similar importance can DO
had (by means Of the Ioberve river and Lakes Maur
pas, Pontchartrain and Borgne) from the Mississippi
river to Pensacola This would connect all OF the cities
OF the West with all Of Tho cities OF tie Gulf by an
terror and protected channel The Of this would he
less than the other and both might ultimately be
extended so as to become one.
Thus, with few slight Interruptions where it might
be necessary TO venture upon the open sea- an interior
line OF water communications can be established from
rupons even could be protected by powerful floating
batteries, and our commerce in time OF war; with
the most powerful maritime nations could make se-
cure and peaceful circuit around the country.
The enterprise of individuals has provided with
this almost complete water line along tho coastwe can
safely look to the for the pIshmen of
much where nature has donO great Sshars Tho
ton BY It's authority in order to insure completion of
enduring against the disssverDce OF the Union
marks the conviction of the Of countrymcn Of
tho essential unity OF our country and the dependence
of the whole upon overy part and the energy in
spired by the same sentiment, will some day bind this
lsament Of strength around the nation to make its
Union perpetual.
DEFENCE OF THE PACIFIC COAST.
s. In addition 10 good harbor and other defences upon
the Pacific coast the Pacific States and Territory, TO Be
decnsible against the attack OF powerful paton
be connected with the States lying to the east Of their
mountains by good military road-by iirst class,
faithfully constructed raroao, inpetcnt 10 tbe ready
transportation Of Che heaviest ordnance well largo
bodies Of troops and thef Indispensable supplies. The
present population is too SMALL and too much scattered,
10 be able to defend extensive frontier against the
attacks Of well organized naval and and force. Their
frontier extends the thirty second to the forty ninth
parallel Of lattuds seventeen degrees cyo,ud tho iu
dcntations ana wndings OF the coast To defend 1t is
not within the physical power OF few persons. Many
years hence things will be much changed The II
1Sl215 called forth considerable Effort yet then had
eight millions OF people. A powerful ntcn could easily
detail for an attack upon the Pacific States mach larger
force than was employed asains, us IN 1872
Ii is not WISE therefore, 10 stake the safety and IN.
dependence o. tho Pacific states aud Territory upon
their infant resources. Nor IL prudent foc
us TO rely upon our ability to send them troops
AID supplies 10y sea, around Cape Horn across the
sthnus through the territory Of foreign nation. Such
reliance would subject Us to too much delay aud ex-
pense and expose reinforcement to many
ties OF all kinds good road would be ss-sus,ainng,
nd ultimately might under udicious mana cement, re-
n lbrse portion Of It's first cost. is reassurn.
icct that IL It's great cost is evident the humorous
ehts which would flow from the road equally
iisl uable Instead OF repning at The necessity which
oIn ndS the construction OF tbyos canals aud abroad
70 nder our national deiences efficient the nation
reat> cause FOR sefgrauiaton at having occasion
truce 50 fewhas great reason TO be proai OF hat in
iduals enterprise and eneigy which, without national
id has created 40 many thousand miles Of commercial
DnnlnA cations OF the first order cf CONF letencss and
9sisDcJ not only for the purposes OF comcrcc, bat
lso dinrabit adapted for the military purposes os
e govern menL. The unstimula.ed efforts sf peaceful
.izcns 20 peaceful ends have for ,ie United
tatss ga aer and complete system OF eomn.up
We Cor IN ilnrv
osss thani ny created by the nighes military ma tons
ID amt ssua lated BY the migh;cs! warriors any age
the world.
While ch has been done for the goverr.rsenl by
3 citizens, l so much Is likely hero after. be
ose by them directly available for military pcgposes.
nc governmst u has abundant cause Of tharkiuiness
nat 50 little cf consequence remains 20 be done by IL
,lf aud should proceed "a the execution OF ts tth
ra stating ais crity.
The buiidng sPf gres, road from 81 Louis to san
rancLsco consou dates tha Dowoy Of the United States
iohilrzes the posEsr Of the nted States Not only CO.
ut II would spec dly cause TO bs populated hose nrc
,us fertile valleys exist ne AID 81 those wonderful noun
lin ranges whs or maps errsneOusly represent
ast area OF dealaton; IT ud thus seriously aid in
roViding hardy mountrineers Not likely assist "a a
.rrsnder OF he keys * the Golden Gate fror every
ssson that IN bc properly urged II fsnr OF placing
ounty iu state of de- ece your ctmDtsec urg9 Inc
ary construction Of good aud reliable road f.on tho
Iissouri river To the bay of san FrGueisc1
II NAV be proper say before agig the snijaoi or
oast defcnccs the lacIc. tina: ynr oumnties con
dor good de eusiyc works Puget Sound aud - tEil
lry waters and on q Rio Colorado, at the hcutnf tho
the Immediate clio coast. Jul.icivns mcasGe5 Gait
unted 90 secdr. ranent soItlNniens In ts fertilt
uets II tic Colorado tf the West. and upcn ttA voter
Pusei So nd also imieraiivsy demanded by thu
Military intrTcs's OF this interesting irpnticfs
hose lanS dcicuce5, supported ~ popuatiols cC re-,
pect ablo numbers, would, in tho vent of large war.
ss - giea, value 10 the elelds8 Of Tie cc-s ts,
ucinc scean. ~ soiar valtc would bo A. rair0aci
rom IGe hDgccs via the TCiAr. and san js1'r,in nj
eys to San francisco, with branch from r0Dt tav.
nes cast OF san Francsco, along th3 hauks Of 'b0
ramento, aud noftherly tar the cDnD.praloci az
h country viii allow, AM business an2 pOpplaica
would iusti " such a road wond greatly ioCreaso us
oic.sve ability of California by copcrr.ig i. ~
,ov or to quickly assemble and transfer Is f2rces t
,cl aesaus II would ba second Ia Importance cLy1 {
he road to the Missouri river, ant is wcl wcry al o.
'ornment aid should tho people Of .La State de9ta T.
,uid 1t.
IsCPE AHNs.
G. Tho events OF tho !uo Russian aud Austrian y g. n.
we'll as those Of own reveal to us a. strigg igh
he necessity Ct decided Increase g the Cal acas IA.
eyora navy yards. aad q 0 cStatshnent " uuor
he lakes tlo o. lablirbmcnt q; q DisL class a
point s1e IRON hostile apgna ch n
5 the arsenal si WatofyNeti and !et scotAT 10 10y
10Th ats ad railroad alike roa tho Interior from
,ac OF the several frontier good national an dry ~