New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-07-16
nLERLc1N ENTERPRLSE-CHLNA

We are accustomed TO regard the Panama
Railroad as the very best cXcmpliiicaton yet
perfected of American energy and capacity.
The difficulties encountered were peculiar and
enormous; laborers could scarcely be procured,
and those who could be died nearly rs fast rs
they were obtaincd the cost far exceeded any
previous estimate; yet the projectors undaunt-
edly struggled on, and at length achieved
magnificent success-a triumph which has
sensibly diminished the sum of human misery
and increased the aggregate Of human wealth
and comfort.
a Railroad to the Pacific wholly through our
own country, connecting our seaboard cities
with the mining regions of our two great ranges
of mountains, the vast deserts which nearly
inclosc them, and with the rising marts Of the
Pacific, was a still more arduous and costly UNI
dcrtaking. Less than twenty years ago, 1t was
first suggested; and its advocates were ridl-
culed as if they had proposed a stone bridge
to the moon; yet 1869 will see the first through
road completed and the Iron Horse prancing
and snorting from Ncw-Yorl to San Francisco
inside of a week. The centennial celebration
of our National anniversary will probably see
three distinct lines of railroad in operation
from the Mississippi to the Pacific, each con-
Meeting with two or more through lines from
the Mississippi to the Atlantic. Each OF tho
three will have been constructed exclusively
by American capital, using only American Iron.
A kindred though less important and far less
costly undertaking is that of the East India
Telegraph Company, wholly American, but
proposing to connect the cradle and ancient
focus of civilization with the entire Occidental
world. Immediately, however, the Company
proposes to connect the great seaports of China,
ten in number, from Canton to Shanghai by
submerged cable, s0j miles long, with offices in
each of the ten cities, whose inhabitants num-
Der in the aggregate nearly Six Millions, and
whose foreign trade alone amounts to $780,
100000 per annum.
AS yet, no telegraph wire is stretched across
one rood of the Chinese Empire, whose enor-
mOusly dense population, immense traffic, liter
airy culture and lack of post-ollice facilities
would seem to render it peculiarly adapted to
the introduction and profitable use of tele-
graphs. In California, we learn, the Chinese
make great use of the telegraph, as they would
naturally do at home if they had it, But pop
ular prejudice, Suggesting apprehensions that
the currents of Good Luck" will be injuriously
disturbed by setting the lightning to racing
about as q messenger of commerce, has hither-
to prevented, and may long prevent, the estab-
lishment of internal lines of electric communi-
cation throughout that conservative empire.
The right to connect the several seaports by
submerged wires has, however been conceded
to the East India Telegraph Company and the
satisfactory Improvement of the privilege thus
conceded will doubtless lead to still further and
larger concessions. The business of the great
seaports, however, is believed, by those who
have personal knowledge in the premises, to be
ample to render their connection in the manner
proposed amply remunerating to the Company
Good judges have estimated that the entire
outlay may be returned in dividends to the
stockholders every two years subsequent to the
completion of the line.
The East India Telegraph Company has en-
cOuntered many obstacles and difficulties; but
these have now been happily surmounted and
a reorganization has just been effected, with
the Hon. Andrew G.. Curtin, Gate Governor of
Pennsylvania as President, with Messrs. Paul
S. Forbes Fredk Butterfeld Alex. Holland,
Isaac LiyermOre, James NOxOn, q. ii. Palmer,
Fletcher We,tray, and Nicholas Mckles as
Directors, and George Ellis, cashier Bank of
the Commonwealth as Treasurer Books of
subscription have been opened at the Com
panys offices, Nos 90 and % Nassau-st., at tie
Bank of the Commonwealth, at Drexel a. Co.'S,
Philadelphia, Jay Cookies, Washington, and
other banking houses and it is confidently ex-
pected that the S5,OOOOO0 of capital required
will be promptly taken up, with every pros
pect of speedy construction of the work,
followed by generous dividends to its stock
holders.
The certificates of NewYorb, Boston, aud,