The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-08-15
The SneZ Canal,

This great WORK, IN one vie" VI Iue ei'o'
icisms which have been passed upon ILL., Is
Triumphant. NJ. LEssEPs, its distinguished
lauthor. has recently published report
sfrom which it appears that the canal Is now
twenty seven feet deep throughout, ana
THAT, after eighteen months constant use
1.-The banks have suffered no percepIlDle
abrasion By the water, nor has the depth
been materially lessened by shifting sands.
1There have passed through the canal the
past wear the ship Nestor, drawing twenty
1.-TWO feet and three inches; the Jumna, OF
three thousand tons burden, and the Arl-
IONA, over seventy feet wide, showing that
as regards depth, uniformity OF current,
and width, the canal affords ample facilities
for commerce between the Pacific and At
lantic oceans. AS many Us fourteen vessels
passed through it in one day. Several dis.
tributing points for Indian products have
been formed, and Port Said has grown SO
in Importance as TO threaten the CONNER
cial prominence of Alexandria.
This dissipates all the stories that have
appeared about the canal being too shallow
for the large ocean vessels. and about it be-
coming steadily more and more shallow.
Concerning the financial exhibit Of the
work the statement is less encouraging.
Since its completion it has fallen short OF
meeting expenses and interest account by
about 81, 000, 900, which NJ. LEssEPs hopes
to meet by loan of that amount, in the
expectation that in 1872 and hencetorth
the canal will yield sufficient profits to
meet all its current liabilities. 1t is ex-
pected that the French people will take
this loan in order to preserve their pre-
ponderating influence in the management
of the great work.
The exhibit Is not so bad rs might have
been expected, in view of the French and
German war and the destructive civil war
| in France, which must have greatly Inter
rupted commerce via the canal. Yet, not
witbstanding thisS13 ships, measuring, alto
gcther, 1881 tons, with 46,374 passen'
gers, passed through the canal during the
| eighteen months and Il half which ELAPSED
between the completion of the canal and
the 3lst of May last. An increase of fifty
per cent. is expected the present year.
We have not expected that the Suez
canal would pay in direct money profits
such great works hardly ever do. Tho
stock in them seldom fails to decline in
value until it reaches the point at which q
dividend upon the stock may be paid. The
Suez canal, of all works of its character
SHOULD pay well if any such ever can. II
had the most eligible route-free from
heavy rock and blasting. 1t was simply
the removal OF the sand, and the placing it
where it would not readily return to ill VI
the canal. Had there been much rock in
the route the cost of the work would have
been immensely enhanced.
| Not only docs the Suez canal stand q bet
ter chance to remunerate its owners thar
any other improvement of magnitude al
all approaching that of this canal, but
from it's level character: and freedom from
locks, it must have long way the adyan
tage Of any water line Of communication
that is likely ever to be made across the
American continent at or near the Isthmus
, of Darien.