The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-18
THE SUEZ CANAL.
Prom the Memorial Diplomatique OF Paris.I

The idea OF uniting the Red Sea with the Mediter
ranean, by means Of q canal across the lsthmus O
Suez, that tongue Of land scarcely forty leagues
broad, that mites the African peninsula to The
Asiatc Continent and thus shorten the road To the
countries and seas Of the south and the extreme
East does not merely date from to-day, But nOnt
had dared 70 face the innumerabe difficulties sug
gested by the execution OF that great dea aud Which
had been consigned 10 oblivion as impracttcabe. or
at least productive Of rutless results by the learned
the OF science and by engineers Of high renown
and consumnste experience. Above all, objections
were raised TO the respective and particular position
OF the two seas, the levels OF which vary, The
serious accidents that might arise from the
shock OF the unequal waves when brought
into collision, the invasion OF the stronger mass
OF water 10 the weaker the nature of the earth to be
excavated, the movable sands, raised and swept on
by the violent and rapid winds OF the DESERT &c
Speculation otherwise so ardent, so anxious TO en-
ter upon enterprises OF no less magnitude and nc
less hazardous, had rec0iled. But there are men
predesiined to great works, 70 great discoveries
nothing daunts them, nothing can stop them. no.
thing conquers them, nothing eau turn them from
their Object; they led on by the divine idea the
light and the truth genus VIII not allow them to
be troubled by envy, intrigue, jealousy, distress or
the slOth Of man and time Did not Columbus op-
pose noble perseverance to the bad will that con-
inualy raised barriers to HIM, and did he not march
straight to the point OF his familiar thought, Amer
lea by the means OF which he doubled the universal
NJ. de Lesseps likewise only needed the voice that
spoke within HIM, and, strengthened by the pre-
cedents OF history II not by the absolute experiences
Of science ne conceived, proclaimed ana executed his
vast project On the ancient soil Of Egypt the annals
OF winch date from the origin Of the world, and
which has been trodden by the feet of many
different nations among the ruins OF ancient civiza-
ton which slumber, buried under the sands accumu
lated by centuries and tle slmoom, NJ. de Lesseps
pf M al xyhtc
mentioned III the time OF Herodotus. Commenced
more than 600 years before the Christian era, by
Pharaoh Nechos, that gigantic undertaking had to
be abandoned for the want of labor for in a few
years more than 100000 workmen had persisted on
the work. One hundred years later 1t was recon-
menced by the Persans who mad conquered Egypt
and one Of the Darius affixed his name to the g0r
Gus achievement. Falling in ruins under the
princes WHO succeeded to the throne, the canal was
restored under the PtOlemy; but after the eX-
pulsion OF the Greek dynasty 1t once more partially
Tell TO ruins, until II was successfully re-establshed
by the Emperor ADRIAN ana several centuries later by
Amrou, the lieutenant OF the Caliph omar, who TOOK
Egypt between the years 63S and $40. Under the
Mussulman rnle-a period OF wars and upsertings--
civilization experienced general eclipse; the canal
was neglected, forgotten, lett exposed to the fury
OF waterspouts ana the invasion OF the sands. Lat
terry 1t was difficult to discover any traces Of it
the moving plains Of gravel and dust. These traces,
however, though indistinct, have been sufficient to
fortify the convinced and persevering explorer Ia
the plan that lie had formed. Along those indca-
lions he drove mis- staxes, he commenced to WORK,
ana after nearly ten years OF struggling, unceasIng
Oh HCtsslUt ldUOT, ue it
end of his task the most dIilcult part OF which Is
finished, and the entire completion Of which only
requires iev months OF less rough and costly work.
The entire European press recently registered tnat
memorable despatch sent by the VlcerUy OF Egypt
his Minister of Foreign Affairs, then resident in
Parls:-
srRArxuM, March Is, 1885,
To His Excelency NUBAh PAoHA, Paris
was present when the waters OF the Mediterranean
let into the Bitter Lakes. Cairo full OF
Tor great work ana confident OF It's aE
The total length of the canal Is to be 100 English
miles. brief review or tile works that had TO be
accomplished In order to attain the point now
reached alone, To a certain degree m lleate the
grandeur OF the undertaking. the difficulties that II
has had to conquer and the activity and skill with
when II has been conducted.
First OF all port or entrance and shelter had to be
coast, which was effected by an artificial mole and
The jct,y, against which the waves. Of tie
OF stone Weighing fifteen tons eacn and
dressed on the spot. On that beach, desert but u
few years since, now stands a town, numbering not
less IMAM 1000 Inhabitants. The canal opens INTO
the harbOr through cutting In the layers OF sand
and mud, through which il proceeds FOR con-
or Menzaleh, which probably formerly a
gulf OF the Mediterranean, afterwards closed
by the accumulated deposits from the mouth
OF the Nile. lie shifting bottom and Olt-ayitated
surface or this aguue, about ten leagues In
length, presented fearful obstacles to the engineers.
From kantaTa northward, TO Port SAID 1t was
necessary to protect the canal rs lt proceeded, By
long and deep lateral bitches, and by Keeping
number OF steam dredgers continually SO work,
From kantara to FL Feudane the work consisted In
the e.nOva OF clay and sand, with which rampant
was erected on the west bank, IN order guard
against the sand winNs coming from the desert. 1nen
at FL CIR It was necessary To cut through rocks
and mountains OF sand for upwards OF two miles
ana In many places the cuttings 100 feet Deep
At the commencement 900 men were engaged on
these works the subsequent maintenance OF which
only required from 20J to S0O. From FL CIR the
canal enters the Lake of Timsah, on the shores OF
which now stan,i5 tue pretty town Of Ismai.a, sur
rounded by gardens and budding vlues-thanks to
the canal OF sweet water-whch, after the plans of
a a Is FS sa Then N eaa a the Bses
Lakes whose muddy Waters presented Us many O1
stacles ana diiculties to the sneaees as they mu.
met with at the LAKE Of Menzaleh. Fortune, how
s h II MS ow fO% he MsdeT
fanea1 mp to Serapeum, aad from the Bitter Lakes
to ChalouI separated from Suel only by distance Of
sixteen miles at the most consisting or soil more
easily handled, more uniform and comparatively
easier TO pierce and TO remove from that moment
the cutting may be SAID TO have been COM
pieted. Before the end OF 1850 Africa Will
cease to be continent, 1t will be an island
Isolated from the other regions Of which our hem
ispnere is composed. IL viii be separated from
countries placed at great distances from u.s. which,
though shaking or the daily progress OF civilization
VIII be brought nearer IN snch proportions as win
hereafter insure them continued intercourse with
otRer nations, the benefits OF an active commercial
exchange and tue advantages Of fruitful and mani
fold Industry. the route OF che suez Canal viii
shorten the Instance 10 the far East By 1900 leagues
Tor Constanln9ple 3,3pl Tor MarSe lies, 2,oOO Tor
Amsterdam, Liverpool, London and ST. Petersburg,
100 Tor New Orleans and by 2,40O for New XQrK
BY that outlet for the waters Of tue Medter-
ranean new life Is being developed Tor all Central
Europe, for countries when hitherto were, to O Ger
tam extent, excluded from distant traifc and over
sea commerce. Austria, Italy, Greece and Turkey
are called upon 70 become the necessary
medIat0rs In all transactions between the East
and the West Already efforts are being
made to profit TO the utmost by the diminu-
ton OF distance which will follow the cutting OF
the Tsthmus, which TIL now has opposed Ilsur-
mOuntaDe barrier 10 tho progress of European nay
CATION. Vessels Of the heaviest tonnage can pass
through the canal. winch has uniform depth OF TWEEN.
t-sx ieel and breadth Of 200 feet which IL increased
10 $50 ieet at certain parts. steamships can pass
through by Their own motive power while the sail
ing vessels VIII be towed. Recent trials have proved
exactly al what speed the canal can he passed with
ont detrlment 10 It's banks. powerful sdewheel
Jug tue AeXalltre, belonging u the company trav-
eled over the par, already finished presence or a
lrlal commission composed Of Admiral Exceiinans,
me ciei officer OF the transport service OF the cana,
ana Tue contractors for the works and obtained a
1 speed ~ 1fteen kilometres about ten niles Der
| nour, without IN any manner damaging the banks.
me length OF the canal belng 100 miles,
me distance between the two seas can he effected
: wlfnn the space OF twelve hours. The question,
therefore, 80 highy important the postal directors