The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-11-24
The SueZ Canal.

In the New Orleans Republican we find
long article the construction Of this great
enterprise-one of the greatest triumphs of modern
science-from which we make up the following sum-
mary Itisnow nearly twenty years since NJ. Lesseps
a banker in Paris of good deal of enterprise, in
considering the disadvantages under which steam
navigation labored in creeping around the Cape of
Good Hope became satisfied that shorter route could
be made available by cutting canal across the Isthmus
separating the Mediterranean from the Red Sea- After
much trouble and good deal of delay he succeeded
in arousing the spirit of commercial enterprise in
France In 1854 he unfoded his plans to the Viceroy
of Egypt. 1t some time after before charter
was obtained and the work commenced The English
government, fearful that their possessions in the East
Indies might be ipered, interfered, and prevailed
upon the Sultan of Turkey to oppose it. Of course
the Pacha of Egypt who subject to the Sultan's
control, had to withdraw, and the project very
nearly falling through; but the perseverance of NJ.
Lesseps was equal to the emergency. With the as.
sistance of the best engineers that France afforded
he constructed e1caVating machines of great power
and merit to work. He brought bill against the
Pacha, who agreed to leave the matter to Napoleon
for adjudication. In 1864 Napoleon decided that the
Pacha should pay sixteen million Of dollars and the
delta lands originally ceded. The work then went
forward rapidly The length of the canal is hun.
dred miles: the width the top 1928 feet at the bot
tom 24s, and the depth &c feet. There is no locks or
rise and fall between the seas, except what is
caused by the tides No where is the country border
ing on the canal seventy feet high 1t comprises
sandy strips of land interspersed with small seas.
One of these is miles long and consists of better
water. The difficulties in the construction of this
canal were immense Before commencing, a canal
had to be dug to the Nile from which pipes laid
across the salt marshes to Port Sad in order obtain
supply Of fresh water. All the provisions had to be
transported on cames. There were from seventy to
one hundred excavations costing each from seventy
to o1e hundred thousand dollars. All the machinery
brought from France and all the coal burned from
England, all of which required untold energy and
perseverance, which furnished by NJ. Lesseps
1t is said the harbors the termin of Port Said and
Suez are miracles of engineering skill and industry.
To prevent the deposits of the Nile and constant dis
Judgments of sand huge blocks of stone sunk and
piled in the harbors. Each of these weighs twenty
tuns, anu tree hunofea thousand tons OF them have
been used in Port Said alone They consist of hydraulic
lime brought from Tbel, in France and sand shoveled
upon the shores This mixture is mostened with salt
water, moulded by machinery and dried the beach
for six months Upon these blocks large and hand
some piers are built at both ports. The entire cost of
this work is about $1,000, 900 of dollars The an
nua trade of the canal it is estimated, will amount to
100000 tuns, and the gross receipts $40 ooo
The time gained the Cape route is at least twenty
days. Already, English and French steamers are be-
ing constructed for canal navigation. The whole of
Asiatc commerce will probably adopt this route.
This grand enterprise is one of the most prominent
signs of the progress of the age.