Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-10-08
THE ORIENT.
The Rival Routes TO the East

FTom the New York Commercial BuIletin.I
The competition for the grand prize Of
Eastern commerce is becoming more
spirited and active. Three great nations
are engaged in the struggle, and, so lar,
each of them employs none but legiti-
mate means for the accomplishment Of
the object. England is in actual possess
sion, and the means By which she hopes
10 retain the prize is through an admi-
rably organized steam marine that dis
tances sll rivalry so fsT as il gOes. France
Is reaching forward for the prize, and
expects 10 achieve it by means Of the
Suez caEsl. This work has been prose-
cuted ct an enormous cost, with perse-
veTsncs sud ssgscity, and the latest ac-
counts indicate that Mr.. Lsssepis ealcn-
lations that 1t would be opened for com
merce this fall may be fully realized. In
July last, the total quantity Of earth that
remained to be excavated on the entire
line of canal and in the basin and harbor
OfSuez, was only "A, ll2, 130 cubic meters.
On the 10th OF August last AZ, ,228, 155
cubic metsrs-more than half had been
excsvsted, leaving only 26, ,SS2, 975 to be
removed. The remaining excavations
were probably completed during the
latter part of August or early in Sep
tenn Der, and by this time the construe-
ton OF locks and the completion Of the
harbors on both sides OF the caRal is so
fsr advanced, that comparatively little
work remains to be accomplished in
order to ht the canal for thecommeree of
the world.
In the United States, the Pacific rail-
road will probably be completed next
year, and this will open to us no slight
proportion OF the commerce OF the East.
That il will become an inviting route for
a large portion OF the trade of China,
Japan, and to some extent, of the East
Indies, not only with the United States
but with Europe, there is every reason
to anticipate. But three thousand miles
Of railroad transit is expensive, and can
only be sustained by teas, silks and other
light and costly goods. II will therefore
still remain necessary TO seek other
routes for general merchandise II Ameri-
cans would sapire to any larger share OF
Eastern commerce than mere outside
trade. In this view the revival of the
plan for chip canal scross the Isthmus
Of Panama Is matter Of the highest na-
tiOasl Importance.
The subject was recently brought for.
ward in q prominent manner during an
and Gen. AoOsta, the newly accredited
minister Of Colombia to the United
States. The President INVITED Gen.
Aeosta to czll the attention of his Gov
ernment to the importance of the work,
and gave an outline OF the facilities for
its execution. Two routes have been
proposed across the Isthmus. OF these
the Narien route seems to be the most
economical. The distance from naviga-
bic water to navigable water on the At
lantic and Pscific sidesisOnly thirty four
miles, and the cost is estimated at $780,
900 O00. The other line from Panams to
AspInwaH Bay Is better known, and,
perhaps, more populsr with Americans.
It Is forty-fve miles fron, shore to shore
and would cost $50, 900 900. Both Of
these estimates provide for canal 150
feet wide on the bottom, sloping up to
270 feet on the surface and thirty-one feet
deep-equal to the capacity of first class
vessels.
In addition to these various means for
the transportation of Eastern commerce,
the project of British American rail-
road to the Pacific, already described in
the BIllletiya, meets with increasing. at.
tention both In the New Dominion and
in England. English capitalists begin
to feel that it may be inexpedIent to rely
only upon her steam marine for the mo-
nopoly OF Eastern commerce which Is
threatened from 30 many quarters. 1t
Is not improbable, therefore, that the
American Pacific Railrosd may be OBJ
liged to compete with British Provin.
cisl route at no distant time.
The world moves 50 fast that 1t is by
no means improbable that within the
next ten years all the projected routes to
the East will have been completed. OF
these, the Panama ship canal ls the most
important and offers the slRrgest results.
1t is peculiarly an American project, and
ought to ne CONSTRUCTED by American
capital and enterprise. 1t will do for the
United States all and more than the
Suez canal viii do for France-and st q
much less expense. In connection with
the Pacific Railroad it would bring the
commerce Of the East 10 our lap, But