New-York tribune., 1872-12-05
PATHWAY FROM THE
EUROpE.

PATHWAY From THE WASI ~
EUROPE.
The present is an era less distinguished for
novelty in design than for success III the ac-
complshment of great engineering undertake
ings. The Alps Tunnel and the Suez Canal
have been the dream, If not the PROJECT, OF
eminent minds ever since railways and steam
ships were constructed; now that these are
finished it is felt that we are only at the be-
ginning of this class of enterprises. Hence we
look forward with confidence to an inter
oceanic canal between the Atlantic and Pa
cGc; but while this awaits the slow determl-
nations necessarily preluding work so enor-
nous, we may with profit consider what there
is of this sort to be done at much less expense
nearer home We have already expressed our
aversion to the idea of undertaking gigantic
system of National improvements under the
direction of Congress; but the subject to which
the President has just directed Congressional
notice may thus perhaps gain wider consider
alton among those whom it more especially
concerns.
The great problem of the West is, how to
get its products to the Atlantic seaboard, prin-
cipally with view to reshipment to Europe.
/ 1t is roughly and perhaps inaccurately stated
4 by Western producers that they get but one
fourth of what consumers pay for everything
raised in the Mississippi Valley; the other
three-fourths 60 to railroads and middlemen.
4 The feeling upon this subject is very strong
1 at the West it touches the pOcket-nerve. In
the Presidents Message various measures are
dwelt upon as possible remedies, and inyesti-
cation is recommended. Among these Is a
nlan to connect the Ohio and Tennessee
Rivers with the Savannah and Ocmul2ee, by
slackwater navigation, the rOute for which has
been surveyed and reported on Then there
/ is slightly novel phase of the very old pro-
4 iect of the Kanawha and james River Canal,
TO connect with the Chesapeake and ONO
Canal The President also aludes, somewhat
] indefinitely, to a much boder project. of
which the value is at least more questionable
"a system of land-lOcked navigation from
Maine to the Gulf of Mexico.
There is a simpler plan than any of these,
the serviceablencss of which Is more demon
strable. 1t is old, being one OF those sug-
gestions which naturally occur to thoughtful
J man with map of this country before him.
] Again and again, estimates of what 1T would
i save to the country even were there no great
changes in the directions of trade to result
from it, have been laid before the public.
The outlet of our greatest river is barred from
! the ocean by the isthmus of Florida. The
! annual commerce which threads It's devious
way through the coral reefs which guard
Florida Pass, is vaIiOusly estimated from
4 S75O,0OO,0OO to S1,OO0,0OO,00O A ship canal
] through Florida, near, for instance, Tampa
Bay would pass through district but little
above sea level, to harbOrs of deep water on
either side, and could not be exceedingly
costly Mobile and the water communications
! of Alabama would be directly benefited at
once and the trade of NewOrleans would be
immensely increased
So long as the South alone was to be as
sisted by this improvement, the prospect of
its execution might be indefinitely delayed.
Without discussing the reason, we suppose the
fact will be admitted, that works of this sort
are talked of at the South very long while
] before they are begun. But if our Western
| friends fairly take the project into considera-
ton, its cheapness and efficiency will hasten
its adoption. There are already numerous
instances of successful shipments by way OF
the Mississippi to Europe. Well-stowed grain
did not heat well-packed meat did not spoil.
An iron steamer for this trade was built at
Dubuque last Summer. But suppose Florida
cut by canal, and the present waterway by
Lake Ponchartrain made navigable, so that
steamers from the Upper Ohio, Mississippi and
Missouri can pass through to the Atlantic
avoiding both the Mississippi bar and the
Florida Keys-will anybody doubt as to the
speed and profit of such voyages to Europe
Railway freights are estimated as eight times
as costly as water-carriage: surely here is
margin enough. What Frenchmen have done
in Africa, Americans can certainly do at home.