The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-12

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Red Sea. During the remaining three months OF
the year the wind been alternately from southsouthr
tanned that the roadstead OF sucz had not perceptt
bly, risen during centuries From which It was con.
Guided that me narbor Of suez was good one: that
piers, tue southern to extend $500 feet ana the
on the journey Of the commission across the 18TH
mus nothing was found that could possibly retard
| the undertaking. Bonngs were occasionally made,
ana from the surface OF lowest depression the drill
| went down easily thirty feet. Near Shalon and III
Guisr there were high grounds to DO pierced. The
OF eighty feet The Bitter Lakes they found to be an
| empty basin extending twelve miles IN length, from
| two t. three miles In breadth. and with depth OF
thirty leet below the level OF the Red Sea At nigh
| tide Lake Timsah they found o salt marsh m the
very centre Of the isthmus covering IN area OF about
| Red sea ut high tide. The Bay or Potassium, though
shallow was found to be all that had been reported
/ thirty in width. At the distance OF z, 500 yards
from the beach the water was found TO be twenty
were tnirty.nvs feet found. The beach was mar.
| row strip Of land, dividing In calm weather, the
| lagoon OF Menzaleh from the Mediterranean, but
which was In rough weather completely washed
over by the waves The wind blew tw0-thirds OF the
year westnorthwest The httorai currents were null,
west. Neither was there anything to 30 appre.
hended from the Nile mud which, ar every inunda-
was easily carried way by the waves, while the sand
lett as sediment was 80 small that even in con-
fury there was no percephb'e difference In the
depth or the water in the Bay OF Potassium.
The examination OF the Mediterranean coast was
carried from Potassium TO Dalniesta, small port
whole coast the pecularties Of the beach perceiva
bic at Pelusium were found more or less marked.
found At the distance OF mile and half from the
beach, and afterwards there was quicker decline
into deep water The beach at this place was nearly
mile wide and i've or SIX miles In length, and rose
some fifteen feet above the level OF the Medlterra-
mean. 1t was composed OF fine sand and Nile mud
Beyond the beach was the Lake OF Menzaeh, an i'm
mense sheet OF bracksh water, which covers ancient
cornields OF the Delta once fertzed by the Iantlc
bankments must have been neglected, and the ridge
OF sand separating 1t from the sea must have been
cut through by cIemes to cause such ioss OF rica
pay the enDlre Knedives debt II SOLD at reasonable
sum per acre.
port, which was determined TO be placed eighteen
miles west OF Pelusium near Ianis at the Said
mouth OF the Nile, were easily procurabe from the
qusrrles on tho Syrian coast, from tho Isles OF Cy
prus Rhodes and Scarpano. The channel to the port
was to be 1900 feet VIDE, and running southwest
and northeast. The port was to CONSIST Of the chan
nel, 1900 feet wlde bounded by o north pier
$500 feet long, aud asouth pier 600 and three mar
bor5, each capable OF moorln. 10 ships The north
pier should stop at the depth OF hrty-swO feet the
south pier at twenrysix feet one SHOULD be thirty
feet wide at the top the other should twenty
ieet Both should be raised six feet above the water
and surmounted with parapet.
The report forwarded TO his Highness the VicerOy
OF Egypt contained more In detail OF what Is above
related. Tne International Commission, than whom
no other corporate body could be more capable,
port that the ship canal across the Isthmus
OF Snez was practicable undertaking. that
the two seaportS Suez and the Port OF Said pre-.
sented no more than ordinary difficulties and
lastly added that the cost OF the entire canal,
deep enough for ocean vessels broad enough Tor
S4o,Ooo,ooo
Armed with this report, with the full sanction and
powers OF the Vlceroy. nothing remained for MI.
Lesseps but to advertise the PROJECT, make up
company and invite capitalists to take STOCK.
In 1858 La C0mpagnle Unyerselle Maritime do
NJ.
president. The capital OF the company was
francs or $40 900 600 in 400 600 SHARES Of
500 each, OF which four dihs were paid up Of
once. OF these shares Monammed Said took
1882. In the grant Of the company the right Of
WAS gwen them by the viceroy. also as many work
men as the company desired for constructing the
win stipulation only That they should BIO NAM
tanned by the canal company The frman OF the
sultan also was easily ooLaned Tor since Egypt
tributary to HIM thus was 10 DE procured before
work could be commenced. In April, 1859, the first
spadefui Il land was turned up ana the work on
the canal may DC SAID to have commenced from That
date.
pany nave received money from different sources
In 1868 the good Said Pacha and lsmail, son OF
Ibranm, son OIL Mshemet An succeeded to che Wee
England, and as 1t IS known by all England enter
tanned great preJudces against The concession of the
IsthHlus OF Suez aud the right OF constructing the
canal, 70 her powerful neighbor France For the
same reasons that arrayed her strength against
Russa's approach further than the Back Sea
brought her iuto antagouism to France. India lay
beyond Asia Minor; 80 dd that empire lie beyond
tue Red Sea. India vital necessity to England's
greatness and power. The state that advances too
close towards her possessions there must perforce be
inimica to England; So argued palmerston and thus
PremieT's views colored Stephenson's views OF the
future Of the lsnmus Of Snez Canal as well as they
ruled the policy OF Englands minister's abroad. The
Sultan was beSie9ed at ConSanHnOple TO rcScind
the concession. lsInau Pacha was requested to with
draw the feiah supplies. The Sultan wavered, but
dia.ely frightened out OF ms intended course; but
Ismail Pacna had afnnd Of obstiaacy IN nim-he
broke the contract with the canal company, and
would furnish no more fellans. Napoleon came to
the rescue Of Lesseps ami suggested commission
TO decide upon the damages N substitution for the
breach OF contract Tue committee. equally com.
posed OF Egyptians and Frenchmen, declared In
o. the soSApy ana nap1e wne was tine
amount OF $l6Sooo0o, payable IN instruments within
dfteen years.
Further, the company, in order to aid their works
on The great ship canal, constructed IA auxiliary
canal, running from zagazig ancient BubastlsI,
canalformerly constructed by Pharaoh Necho winch
had been reopened as lar as Gasasne.
M Alter leas,na casasne the e" cansi
ran through the desert, towards Tifnsah Lake. for
thirty miles. Between Gasaslne and Tlmsah there
lay an immense depression in the desert, which.
irrigated, might easily be reclaimed This depres-
sion was called Onady Toamiiat, and like all tae
Goshen, the richest and la!rest portion OF Egypt.
Onady Toumiat became the properly OF the COM
pany by purchase Tor the sum OF $500 900. The
estate consisted of 2s 900 acres and after being rr
gated and made to produce cotton anu fenced
to 100000. In 1854 this estate was sold to Isma
facha for $1,000, 900. THIS auxiliary canal was con-
tlnued from Tlmsah, which Is now known Is
MALTA q ong the western edge OF the basin OF the
Bltter Lakes, and approaching the foot OF tho
Geneie Mountains to tue port OF Suez SO as to per-
NIT The barges ana dredges TO proceed to Suez road
stead, Tor the easy and cheap transportation OF
al and Iro1 st0ct.
balance sheet furnished by M. Lessups the 9th OF
August, 1864 gives the following figures relative
the expenditure:-
Cost o. piers. quays and other works at
Port said $3.50, 900
| Excavations through the mounds of Ell
Observation-Disclosures. 21oo coo
Excavations or ship Canal. 22,i40,00O
Casing or paris of the Canal with stone. 1000 900
Cost Of piers at Suez Observation-Disclosures. 440 900
| Laying down line OF fresh water pipes
between Isnallia and Port said. ....... 5S0, 900
Unforeseen and general OK pcnses. ..... 100000