The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-23

would be the erect Of this railway upon the already
large export trade Of England to India, and init
mated that Russian manufacturers might send to
India the calicoes and cheap cloths which Man.
chester now monOpolizes H. de Lesseps an
swered-'That Is another argument like what was
used In England against the Suez Canal. People
said, Pierce the Isthmus and there is an end OF
England's commercial supremacy. Her immense
trade with the East viii be absorbed by Germany,
France and Italy. They viii be nearer and OF
course will possess her markets. And yet that
canal has been OF the most advantage to Great
Britain. So would be the effect of an
Asian railway. Suppose, Tor argument that
not Q ton Of English goods were to 60
over this road: even then it would confer
Q benefit on England. The zoe, 900 OF Hindoos
In Asia and Russia They would gain in wealth,
and would be able to buy more literally OF English
products. Still make this as an argument. The
new line win have its share OF English trannc, do
not fear. English merchants will take the nearest
road home no matter under what nag 1t les"
RUSSIA TO GIVE GUARANTEES.
Your correspondent asked II it was not possible
that the Russians would impose transit duty or
tonnage tax upon English trafhc. NJ de Lesseps
said that OF course this could not be, as the CON-
pany before its formation would obtain guaran-
tees from the Russian government on that subject.
NO MORE TROUBLE ON THE srEPPEs THAN ON THE
PRAIRIEs
In response to question as to the material dif.
nculties In mountains and wtntry weather, and 50
on, in the way Of successful building Of the road
NJ. de Lesseps said he saw no reason why there
should be any insurmountable difnculties. There
should be no moro trouble crossing the Russian
steppes than In crossing the American praries. As
to snow, there were railways in Russia-the cold.
est parts-that ran in all seasons. There was no
reason why they should not do so in Asia.
INDIA BOUND TO EUROPE.
Aluson was then made to the circumstance
that the country to be traversed by this line was
one Of the most thinly populated in the world and
the question was asked how could country with
out people support railway. M. de Lesseps said -
~ am not calculating that the line az far
as Samarcand will pay. Ny real object
Is to reach India When the railway
system was new the question in all minds was,
whenever new scheme was proposed, What
kind Of country will you traverse Is it populous
or notf What are its resources But now we
always ask, What have you at the end Of your
line II this question is we'll answered. no one
feels any doubt as to the success OF the railway.
SO when this road reaches Peshawur, we have two
hundred millions Of human beings rich and fer.
tile country half the size Of Europe-we have, In
fact India at one end Of the line and Europe at the
other. Y Is road from one dense population to
another, and upon the through traf1c will it depend
for its dividends. without any local traflc what
ever 1t would be o success"
THE PATH OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
M. de Lesseps then proceeded to speak Of some
of the difficulties cncountering railway in an en-
cheering sense. "As soon," he said, las we cross
the Russian frontier we enter mountainous coun-
try, and we continue through mountains until we
reach Peshawur. Some Of the mountains reach an
altitude of 200 feet. Our main troubles will be
In Angnanstan. Here we should have to pass the
Koosh mountain, chain OF the Himalayas. But
men have gone under the Alps ana over the Rocky
Mountains and we shall find way either under or
over the KOOsh. In studying this question have
been much struck with the circumstance that
more than two thousand years ago Alexander the
Great penetrated India by this very route. Quin-
thus Curtius tells us that Alexander passed by
Samarcand. which he called Maracand. In Box
hara to this very day the memory OF Alexander Is
o popular legend, and nurses sing his feats to
restless children. The bards sing OF him as
Iskander the Great How the great warrior
ever entered India is not exactly known. There
have been many discussions on the subject DID
he make use Of the Cabo0l pass and 60 BY way Of
Peshawur9 Did he 60 by way Of Kashmir, and 80
follow the Valley Of the Indus until he came to the
Punjaub' Now, as we are told that he sent on his
two Generals, Ptolemeus and Hephastion, to pre-
pare bridges OF boats to cross the Indus 1t would
look as II he crossed the Cabu Pass. 1t is certain
that he sailed down the Indus with feet OF 1000
vessels, and found the Indian Ocean somewhere
near the present town Of Kurrachee. Another
striking fact is that Alexander is the first European
conqueror who ever entered India by land. All
since-Dutch, French, English and Portuguese
invaded by land"
THE RIVAL ENGLISH LINE THROUGH EUPHRATEs
VALLEY.
M. de Lesscps continued by saying "a greater
diculty than this is the political one. Everything
will depend upon the attitude Of England. II the
rulers Of that country will insist that the line is
aimed against the integrity OF the Indian Empire
then there will be difficulties in Afghanistan. As
to the proposed road by the valley OF the
Euphrates now discussed under English auspices,
1t is absurd to think that 1t Will rival the am
defending. No one would more gladly welcome its
completion. am in favor of that road, II for no
other reason, because OF the benefit 1t will confer
upon the suez Canal. Every agency that encour-
ages movement and circulation between the two
continents will help the canal. All bulky goods
would 20 by sea, not by land. The passenger
tarln might be limited, but the passenger tariff
does not really pay. Freight would increase in
far greater ratio than any decrease Of the passen
ger tranic. Still the builders Of the Eupbra.es
Valley road will have their own troubles. They
are not to be envied. They Will have to do with
the Turks; and Of all troublesome races the Turks
are the worst. You cannot give them wages
enough to induce them to work. In the Sultans
Empire there Is only anarchy. was in Constants
nople recently. During my stay Of three months
there we're no less than three changes In the Minis
try, and none OF the changes seemed to be for the
better cannot but believe that Turkey Is not only
sick, but dying, and that the elimination, the
downfall and obliteration OF the Empire of Moham-
med, will come sooner than we anticipate in this
part OF Europe. Still, ] am anxious for the CON-
pletion 1.-THE Euphrates Valley Railway. 1t VIII do
my enterprises good.n
THE PERSIAN GRANT TO BARON REUTER-.