New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-12-20

Thirty years ago, when the bold merchant about TO
sond ship to China safe himself down TO consderthe
probable political relations Of the kingdoms Of the earth
twelyemonth later, the probable influence thereof
upon the tea aud silk markets Of that remote period,
and guessing as shrewdly as be could the possible
present intentions Of his few rivals TN that distant
rale, be gave up his days aud nights TO the conpo
stion Of elaborate treatises on these absruse topics
and sent them round the Cape Of Good Hope ioT the
enlighment the entertainment and quite often to the
utter and complete bewidermcnt, Of his correspondent
in Canton Ii the ponderous dispatches Of these pains
taking and prophetic gentlemen-dispatches which
would completely overshadow the diplomatic cor
respondence Of A modern Secretary OF state
were no, hopelessiy muddlei aud in the wrong, the
result was few hundred thousand dollars worth OF
teas and silks back by the ship that carried the vo
luminous leteuround the Cape. TO pay profit Of two
or three hundred per centum But thirty years have
made change in this great branch Of the worlds
commerce. The ships, 1t is true, still come and 90
BY the same highway round the stormy Cape; but the
owner at homo prophecies Of events and markets
for quarter Of year only, aud sends ont bis orders
by Overland Mail For years past he has looked for
ward for three months only. instead OF twelve.
month and blessed his stars that be was not China
merchant ofthe olden time Blu! presently Overland
Mails will be out Of date FOR commercial purposes.
On the Isl Of next month the first Of new line Of
steamers direct for China leaves San Francisco, and
the New.York or London merchant will send
his orders by telegraph TO his correspondent
on the Pacific Coast, 10 be put into the
hands Of his agent, in Shanghai Hong Kong within
30 or 40 days. Even speedier though probably not
unite so certain a method of communication, has been
for some time open by the Geographic wire from Lon
don to St. Petersburg and thence to Kachta, on the
northern frontier of the Chinese Empire. The Shang
hal merchants have sent messages by pony-express
from Pekin to that place, to be forwarded thence by
the St. Petersburg Telegraph line, which have reached
London in ~ days The American Minister at Pc
kin may communicate in this way with the Depart
ment at W ashington in IA days. But ponies do not
90 by lightning, and dispatch sent By such con-
vcyance for $50 miles is both expensive and uncertain
Pekn. moreover is about 600 miles from Shanghai, 50
that messages sent by this route would probably gain
very little in time would be much more uncertain
and far more expensive than telegram to San Fran
cisco TO 90 direct to Shanghai by steamer.
The burden of American steamers in Chinese waters
now exceeds thirty thousand tuns; the quantity in
Eurouean vessels is probably larger, and the trade
with this country and Europe is counted by hundreds
of millions of dollars At this moment the Western
World is connected with the East by Telegraph to
Calcutta, and by Telegraph from st. Petersburg to
Kachta on tho Baikal Sea, to be continued, IN The
course Of year, to the mouth Of the Amoor River
BY another electric nerve Europe and Amer
lea will within eighteen months, be joined
by the Collins line, now building, from
San Francisco across the Russian Empire, to
meet the ST. Petersburg line at the mouth OF the
Amoor. The principal ports of China will then want
only few hundred miles Of connecting wire between
themselves and few hundred more through Mon
gola, on the great Caravan route from Pekn to
Russia, to intercept the AmoOr and st. Peters
burg line and insure their daily communlca-
ton with the great commercial centers oil
the world From Canton to Pekin, within
a distance Of 1900 miles, a submarine cable may be
laid along the coast at shallow depth, but beyond
all possibility of interference connecting Hong Kong,
Annoy, Foochow, Minaho, Shanghai, and Nankin-
cities, with an aggregate of not less than 1000 oil
native population, the residences of all the foreigners
and the seat of all the foreign trade in the
Chinese Empire-with tho termini Of the line
at Canton and Pekin. Europe is already ira
yersed like sieve with network OF
wire. In North America, from ocean to ocean, and
from the Gulf to the Lakes there is town OF any
moment whence the brdled lightning held and guided
BY iron rsn, is not scnt and used. The two contin-
ents are bound together by tho Atlantic Cable
gathering as it crecps on shore al either ead " greas