The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-02

Clearly there is saving OF fifty per cent in dis
lance and q proportionate saving in time between
the canal and Cape routes. The distance and time
by railway between Alexandria and Suez by the
present travelled route via zagazig Ia very nearly
the same as that through the cana but the expense
and deay necessary In breaking cargo at Alex
andria, transporting 1t across the isthmus and re-
shipping 1t at Suez are so great as to give the canal
very greatly the advantage for the future
Indeed, there can be no good reason for doubling
that the canal company can Afford under almost any
circumstances to give transit TO steamers ut rates
when will defy successful competition the part
Of the railway company for the transit OF heavy
goods across the isthmus. As regards the route
round the Cape the case is different. 1t Is estimated
that from I'VE to six million tons OF shipping en-
gagged in the India and China trade now annually
double the Cape Of Good Hope. considerable share
Of this trafc 1t is the hope OF NJ de Lesseps and his
c0-projectors to be able to divert to the ship canal
Whether they Will be able to do so remains to be
seen, and In the opinion of many well informed ship
pers ls very doubtful. It is well known that large
proportion of the products of the East seeking
European markets viii not AFFORD to pay steam
freight in addition to the toll required by the CON-
pany under its present tariff, and 1t Is equally Ger.
tain that the canal and its eastern ex-
tension, the Red Sea, cannot be successfully
navlgated by sailing vessels. The consequence
will be that the Cape liners and clippers will con.
tinue to sail their present route till compelled, by
competition, to seek the short cut across. Steam
WILL however sooner or later, supersede sailing
sells altogether. Steamers fitted with auxiliary
screws, Of light draft and otherwise adapted to the
navigation OF the canal and the Red Sea, will be
built expressly for the trade and when they are the
tra1c through the canal will largely increase and
that round the Cape be proportionately reduced.
The following facts, compiled from the onclal
register Of the canal company, though 1t cannot de-
termine the probable extent Of the future Dus-
ness OF the canal. may serve in some degree fur
nish the general reader with safe basis upon which
to estimate its relative importance to the several
European Powers
N. de Lesseps estimates that from 2.0OO, 900 to
3OoOo VIII pass through the canal during 1870
and that this amount will be doubled the following
year. see no good reason for thinking the estimate
excessive; for must be borne in mind that all ves-
francs two dollars per tom on their measurement
tonnage, whether they have the cargo on board or
not.
The English and the French VIII, for some time at
least, be the largest customers OF the canal CON-
pany, their rival steamship lines, the Peninsular
and oriental and Messagerles Imperlalcs furnishing
now the chief mediums Of communication between
Europe and the East But In this respect as In many
Others this new highway must effect radical and
permanent change. II permanently successful 1t
must practically cut on Alexandria Marseilles and
southampton from the monopoly they have so long
held Of the Mediterranean trade with Egypt and the
East, and open the field TO successful competition
Brindisi and other ports on the eastern coast OF
Italy, by reason Of their greater proximity to Port
said, win share largely in the rich trade Of Marsees
I'M ipufa au vvt hoon
mldabe competitor for the trade OF Central
Europe. The Austrian Lioyd's limo Of steamers
from the latter port is doing q steadily In
creasing business, and dlready giving evidence that
1t feels the stuulus. So far % tho passenger, mall
and fast freight trafc with the East Is concerned 1t
seems well nigh certain that these two ports viii
suppant their older and Weather rivals altogether
new commercial era Is dawning on Central
Europe, the events and results OF which 1t Ia now
impossible to determine. As for our neighbor Alex
andra, which has furnished altogether the most re-
markable instance OF growth In the East, 1t seems
not unlikely that the canal will operate unfavoraby.
Boats VIII proceed from European ports direct to tho
canal instead OF to Alexandria as hitherto. Thus
left aside, save for the purposes OF local trade, IL
must decline almost as rapidly as it has risen.
British Statement Of tho Canal Revolution
Its Probable War Uses and Danger to the
Empire In Hindostan.
From the London Saturday review, Nov. 90.
NJ de Lesseps, with laudabie aaroitness, Used Eng
lish prejudice as lever to move the sympaLhies and
the speculative inclinatons OF hs coungrymen. IL
seemed plausible inference that work which was
commercially or politically injurious to England
would confer corresponding advantage on France.
II was not difficult Tor French engineers show that
Mr.. Stephens0n's unfavorablc Judgment was prema-
ture, not erroneous; aud certain that every
amateur politician on the Continent OF Europe would
take pleasure III thwarting Lord PalmerstOn. The
war plnra par lasa
trustworthy than the conlecturaI statistics OF other
undertakings; but even In commercial enter.
prlses men are often inclined To hope what
they wish. Large sums have been raised by
repeated issues OF shares aud deDentures, and
tho great deficiency Of funds which would
nevertheless have occurred has been overcome by