The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-02

y,
the Mahamopdi Canal 10 Alexandria The kahamoodo
Canal - an Egyptian work, used as much ier I'M aon
as Tor trade IL commences ut fompey flhar az Alex
andra, Is eleven German nearly sssen English mites
in length about ninety feet vide, and enters tue NAe at
Fuah The canal was dug by Mehemet All III lsis-o cost
nearly ght million francs, over rniilun anu mar
dollars, and employed two hundred and hity Thousand
men Tor Its completion OF whom NV MY thousahu aeu OF
starvation and disease II runs partly the old BID
OF the Fuah Canal in the time OF the Venetians, ana
partly over the old Ramanyeh Canal AT the best the pre-
sent Fresh Water only be made useful accord
ing 10 the principles OF old fashioned canal navBalon,
and Will merely cooperate with the railroad in ia snip
ment Of merchandise the country, necesiiatng
ranshipmen to thecanal craft at Alexandria and reship-
ment TO ocean vessels in the Gulf OF Suez, or the con-
trary The motive power, with the exception OF the
Me portion OF tho route will either be camel or bullock
The canal connecting IN place and the river cannot DC
navgated at all by without entirely destroying the
work In its present condition. In my voyage TO Ghallin
observed the abrasion of the slow current and rppes
have made perceptble on the banks, and In
several places the sides have sunk into the wafer eaus
ing considerable indentatons. This being true, from my
ON n observation, for moment believe that
steamers will be able 10 any purpose To ply in us waters
the screw stirring up the bottom and the paddles tho
sides Az matter of natural result steam navigation,
in few weeks would put end to the friendly shaking
hands Of the two In order TO use steam II Will De
necessary TO wall the Sides and then another obstacle
arises in tho undermining Of the foundations OF The
walls As have said, the only advantage m the Fresh
Water Canal viii b. the railway in the transit OF
freight and even in this humble sphere u IS doubtful
whether in this fast ago merchants will submit TO the
slow operations Of canal trade
DOUBTFUL PROSPECTS OF THE GRAND WORK
However unpretcndng may be the aspirations or tho
small canal the realization Of the great expectations of
the "Grandn one is looked upon with more Anxiety
My candid opinion that when the present French EN-
pcror as no is at the bottom Of IT, undertook the I'm on
OF the two seas by maritime canal, he most emphat-
cay put his foot in T. can hardly think he had in the
outset any other motive than political move-one OF
that series OF very shallow schemes which his admirers
extremity Of the canal TO the other NJ Lesscps and his
assistant engineers inform US that the level OF the TWO
seas Is the same, the difference only being IN the
tides, which run from five to eight feet cur
rent running from either Of these elevations In q
distance Of seventy five miles would be a small
matter II the Of river; but in tidal flow II be-
quite different thing, particularly as in either
rising or ebbing it is confined TO Q few hours.
Anybody who has seen coast affected py ud h
knows their immense abrasive action, even on the
hardest surfaces; what then will be the effect on
channel through loose porous sand driven about
by every wind like 30 much vapor? But suppose by
means OF gates the tides kept out; then the re-
CURED depth OF twentysix feet Is to be attained by
a, ss the IN s sana w be Convenient place
for the surplus sand thrown up on the Mediterranean
coast fact admitted by the necessity OF building an
expensive pier nearly four miles long, In order to secure
sufficient depth Of water for ships OF any SIZE Another
obstacle would be proper understanding with the
that formed the hugo sand banks everywhere visible
here would not have the slightest hesitation in buryng
in single night dozen miles of canal and small neet
OF ships Again, what Is to prevent the action OF the
water agtated by the steamers wheels the sides and
bottom of the channeS We might reply to this that
vessels could be owed through by caes and then save
the time and expense Of transhpment The same dni-
culties mentioned in connection with the Fresh water
canal Will not only AFFECT the Maritime, Out IN gcy III
creased ratio The same rmness Of bed sides of the
small canal would very naturally be much more
affected by four times the volume OF water and salt at
that Although the work has been many years in course
OF construction and at present labor on II entirely sus
PENDED II s quite probable Napoleon himself has some
doubts about its success.
WHOLE FRESCH YIzzLR.
Il IL admitted here by Frenchmen that when the
canal is finished IL ever, and the water in IT, II will be
necessary TO keep II open by incessant dredging II
10 here would suggest to the canal company
TO purchase at a dozen American drcdges, a. the
machines used in keeping open communication with
the ships bring up at haul about as much sand as
could quite conveniently carry of in my hat. But to
cap tho climax, II the canal In perfect working
order old sailors say for Elk months In the year from
Alden, would require more time and labor TO beat up
the Red Sea and Gulf Of Suez the canal against heavy
head winds and tides than TO make the trip around the
Cape The trus Is whatever may be the result OF the
canal the labor and capital expended on II are French
property, matter ten years hence what 1shmail
Pash vceroy Of Egypt or his successor may 70 tho
contrary II the authorities Of the country should med
die with the affair, the indemnity dodge would be
vencnt cloak for a column Of French troops in Egypt.
Whether the Mexican failure would be lesson remains
q be seen.