The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-06-21
The Suez Canal,

Concerning the Suez canal there are
now two questions agitating the Eng
lish public mind. l. Will it be likely
to fall into English hands 2 Can
it be made pay if it does? Prior to
the definite settlement of the problem
whether the canal was in any sense
such a success as was claimed for it,
its system of management was made
the subject of every general complaint.
There was too much routine and cir
cumloeution, or what might be called
"red tape" Forms and vouchers
were needlessly and almost erdlessfy
multiplied; rule and regulations were
absHrdly stringent, and bylaws were
lidiculou sly searching and minute, and
a conviction grew up that the practi
cal business element must enter more
largely into the management of the
canal, if it vas ever to be developed
into a business success.
In addition it was discovered that
the system of management was SO
eno.m ously costly as to absorb a very
large portion of the revenue, which
ought to be employed in necessary i'm.
provements, and that a more liberal
system of rules and regulations would
have the effect of inviting a much
larger traffic. 1t is altogether proba.
BILE that a number of these require
ments, against which ship owners and
ship captains protested so strongly,
were, to a degree .salutary, but the fr-
iritation consequent was undoubted and
the canal was accordingly unpopular.
For instance, the captain of a vessel
was not allowed, for some inscrutable
reason, to pick up his own anchor if it
got adrift, and if out of two or more
ships belonging to the same owner, and
engaged in the sane traffic, n was
grounded, its COMFORTS we're not per
mitted to render it any aid, in any
manner whatever. Z These and many
other regulations of similar import,
were made the subject of many and
serious complaints, and their persist
ent enforcement had the effect OF di,
verting a large amount of trade from
the canal.
1t is NOT to be denied, however, that
a great many improvements have been
made within the past year, and that
important economies have been intro
duced and put into practical opera
ton through a reduction of the 'hith-
erto expenditures of administration.
The canal has now passed that point
in which the expenditures exceed the
gross earnings, and notwithstanding
heavy current expenses have been
NECESSARY to keep the enormous dredg-
ing machine in constant operation,
the monthly balance sheets, make a
good showing. az a-.ie Ire .aor--
+ Clearly this indicates that the devel-
oPment of a paying traffic is quite
within the range Of possibility, and
English capitalists are already begin
ming to discuss .he question whether
it is or is moi advisable for England to
take a more active part in the manage
ment than has hitherto been the case.
We notice, from English papers, that
a short time since, a party Of eminent
English capitalists, with the Duke of
at their head, have made
an inspection OF the canal, and it is
quite generally believed that a move
ment is on foot to organize an English
company with a view of purchasing a
controlling interest in the canal, and
establishing a system of management
which will be still better calculated to
develope and foster a larger and more
traffic. In the event Of such
control being established, we may
reasonably expect to see the canal be-
come a more valuable property. Few
additional expenditures will be incur
red for engineering expenses. The
since its opening has been con-
deepened and RideDed, nearly
ALL its awkward corners have been
rounded off. and there seems to be a
large opportunity offered for making
this immense water way through the
sands of the DESERT the channel of a
vast, increasing and continuous traffic,
Negotiations are already pending
which it is proposed to furnish the