, 1869-11-13

The New York commereial AdDsrtissr,
in an ext nded article on the contemplate
ed schSsme Of f-unising Western Europe
wisf Bombay BY direct line Of rails
road says the difficulties Of such an
undertaking extending over two eonti-
,nenis, would have been considered in
surmountable and the projectors deemed
lapatiess few years back But the
grand trIumphs Of man over apparently
unconquerable natural barriers have
been 50 great-sspeciaIly as displayed
in the gigantic railroad undertakings Of
AmsricA-tha, no scheme is now cOusid-
cred too difficult for science and skill to
carry out.
This contemplated European trans
continental road is to start from the
nearest point to England on the EuroP-
can continent, Ostsnd being suggested,
Thence it is to make direct beeline, as
near as possible, to Bombay, on the
eastern shore of the Arabian sea- il
would thus have to traverse Prussia,
South Germany, Bavaria, the center Of
Austria, to wallachia Zone of the Dauu.
bisn pro vinces, and then direct to
Constaptinopie. Thence ii would be
resumed at Scutari, on the opposite
shore of the Dardanelles, in Asiatic
Turkey. running through the whole Of
this portion of the Turkish Empire, and
crossing the river Euphrates, run through
the lower part of Persia, to its south
eastern border. The line thus far is
southeast direct from 0s'end. On leav-
ing Persia the line would have to run
due east through Beloochistau, at the
head of the Arabian sea, and continuing
that direction into British India for
some FIVE degrees, to flank the Gulf oil
Camhay, would then turn due south to
Bombay.
There is another route after entering
Asiatic Turkey, which would probably
not make much difference in time. The
road might be carried direct from Scutari
to the head of the Persian Gulf, and
there connecting with steamers direct
through the Gulf aud across the Ara
bian sea to Bombay. But as the IDEA
is for land route exclusively where
practicable, if the scheme be ever car
ried out, the former route will most
likely be the one favored.
The construction of such a tremend-
Gus line would require an almost un-
limited amount Of capital, and the build.
ers would meet with some terrible ma,
tural obstacles. The greatest Difficult,
ties would probably be encountered in
Beloochistan, which is not only noun,
tainous, but inhabited by number oil
independent and not too honest tribes
of half wild people, who would probably
like nothing better than looting rich
train from India.
But these and all other difficulties
would doubtless Re surmounted in time
if the project could be shown to be pro,
ftable. The railway projects of British
India are gradually pushing out toward
the valley of the Euphrates, as though
already stretching out hand West,
ward to clasp, with an iron grip, the
anticipated coming Western visitor.
1t is asserted that this route would
reduce the time to one~half it cqn be
made by any maritime route. This
would be great consideration, suppos
ing the transit could accomplished at a
cost approximating that of the shortest
water route. Although the time occu-
pied in travelling to San Francisco is
but one~third of that by the steamers,
still, if it not been possible to fix the
fare at about the same as charged on
the latter route, its snccess would have
been somewhat doubtful.
Aud so it will be With this contemp>
lated European and Asiatic route. If
the cost of transport can be kept within
a reasonable sum of that charged on
the Suez route, the time saved will be
a consideration, but not otherwise.