The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-01
A Europcau-As.a.Ic Pacific Railroad.

| Europcan-Aslatlc Pacific Rnilr0nd.
1t IL now many years since the HERALD
began to lend its help to the enterprise which
has eliminated In the completion of the Pacific
Railroad. Then, as now, we saw and admitted
the importance of railroad from the western
shores of Europe-say from Holland, Belgium
or Northern France-through Europe, into the
| heart of India and China, and on to the shores
| of the Pacific. We were not alone in our
| opinion. Others, particularly in the Old
| World, saw that the intersection of the one
Continent by a railroad was just as possible as
| the intersection of the other. In other words,
| il was seen and admitted that to have rail-
| road from the Atlantic TO the Pacific through
| Europe and Asia was just as practicable as TO
have railroad across the American Continent
from The Atlantic to the Pacific. We have
made the idea fact on this Continent. We
have crossed the Continent, and by an iron
road three thousand miles in length have
connected the two great seas Of the globe.
| Europe, which has been thinking over the
| work since 1880, has not taken the first step.
American commerce seeking the East had a
choice. 1t could round Cape Horn or it could
take an eastern course and round the Cape Of
Good Hope. The commerce Of Europe had
scarcely choice. Unless the ship had a
double purpose-that of touching q South
American port and port Of Asla-t sought
India and China via the Cape Of Good Hope.
In both cases the voyage was tedious and ex-
pensive. We both saw that shorter route was
possible. We both have done something to
accomplish this possibility. Great Britain
connected Alexandria with Suez-the Red Sea
with the Mediterranean. We have done more
We have connected New York with San Fran
cisco, and made the distance of three thousand
miles a question of seven days. Europe,
again working in the same direction, has
accomplished water connection between
the two great seas. The waters of the Allan
tic and the Pacific, filtered by the Mediterra-
| mean on the one hand and the Red Sea on the
other, have already met and kissed each other.
Our Atlantic States can carry their produce to
the Pacific partially by one railroad and
| entirely by another. The commerce of West
ern Europe, If it will not round the Cape of
Good Hope, must pass through Egypt by the
great Suez Railroad. But long sea voyages
on both sides of the railroad are still neces-
sary. In time and in the matter of trans
shipment we have still the advantage. But
Europe, by the Suez Canal, threatens soon to
leave US far behind. SO soon as large vessels
Western Europe will no longer round the Cape
Of Good Hope, nor will the commerce of
America, so far as ships are concerned, seek
the western ports Of Asia round Cape Horn.
The Suez Canal will be the great highway of
commerce between the West and the East.
The struggle still exists The fight is not yet
ended. We want our Darien Canal Europe
wants her Pacific Railroad. In many respects
we still have the advantage. But the Suez
Canal, when fully opened, will leave us some
what behind This however, is not all. II
| is seriously contemplated to construct
| grand railroad, which will run across
| Europe and Asia, and be to the Old
World what the Pacific Railroad is to the
New. We wish the new scheme all success.
1t ought to have been a fact long years ago.
There is more money in Europe than there is
yet in America. The natural difficulties in the
way of our Pacific Railroad were infinitely
more serious than the difficulties are in theirs
With them, besides, labor is cheaper. A rail-
road across the European Continent into the
heart of Asia and along to the Pacific would
be world revolution; but it would have its
| lessons to us. To be up to the high require
ments of the times we must have our Darien
Canal A trans European and Asatic railway
is not likely soon to be fact but so long as
we have not our Darien Canal we are not up
to time.