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

vitality important to Russia and England ana the
whole Western World. The future Of the East in
wolves no less contingency than the life and
death OF European civilization. So long as the
East, with lis numerous population. lay In the
deep torpor which rested upon 1t for centuries there
was nothing to fear Moslem civilization enabled
Europe-and even as small portion OF Europe as
England-to hold Asia in check with ell its hum
dreds OF millions OF men. A small body OF French
and English soldiers had no difncuity In going to
Pekin and burning the Summer Palace. It was
rined cannon against bows and arrows; iron-clads
against calico forts. But that invasion
taught China lesson. Since the fall
OF Pekin there has been q great change
IN the East Japan has led the way in opening her
ports to commerce and shaping her institutions
according to European IDEAS The Chinese have
Krupp batteries and Clyde built shps-0f-war. The
government Is bustly engaged in recognizing the
army; and when next any European nation seeks
war with China the conditions will be different
than when the Summer Palace was burned. 1--we
do not increase our influence In Asia, especially by
strengthening Great Britain and Russia In India
and Central Asia, do not see why at no distant
day Europe may not have to hight the hordes OF
Asia as she did in the earlier times. Now is our
time to act. Now is our time to strengthen
European influences In Asia. We may never have
o similar chance.n
SKILLED LABOR.
Resumtng the question OF the Central Asiatic
Railway, your correspondent asked M. De Lesseps
whas he proposed to do about skilled labor. He
answered that he had an army Of workers, ready
and disciplined-the men who hgd served him as
engineers and 30 on, In building the Suez Canal
After the canal was finished many Of his Asiatics
renamed In the East-some to serve the Kbedive
others to aid IN building road to Adrianople.
The surveying expedition would start for Oren-
burg very shortly. Two years Is the time allotted.
While this work is being concluded we shall have
the means OF bringing the new company before the
world. Az to whether the new shares would be
guaranteed by the Russian government or not M.
de Lesseps did not know II support OF that
kind would be needed. But ne had been
assured that II needed there would be no difficulty
In receiving the required guarantees from Russia.
There would be break Of the gauge on the Rus
sian frontier, as the Russian gauge is not the same
as that used all over the greater part OF Europe.
Then, as now, passengers would have to change
cars at the Russian frontier. The question would
not be Of any more Importance than the transfer
from France to Spain which all travellers find
necessary at the frontier on account Of the differ
ence in gauges.
THE CANAL AT PANAMA..
Recurring to the Suez Canal your correspondent
asked M. De Lesseps whether he had contemplated
the building Of Q canal across the Isthmus or
Darien. II have never had time" he answered,
ITO consider this question carefully. Americans have
frequently conferred with me on the subject Ihave
always said that whenever canal is to be made
1t should I've q sea canal and free from locks. All
the schemes for a canal at Panama that have been
shown to me have had locks. ! do not believe q
canal with a lock can be q success. The suez
Cnvx n ~ l4nlr Nv.rA
keep locks IN order you must lay them dry every
two years. This circumstance alone would con-
denim them in q ship canal 1t would be calamity
to make Canal with locks, lit would prevent the
opening of o really good one. Do not mind the
cost; build well. II there are mountains bore
them through. In these days engineering is only
question Of money. There were really no dim.
culties OF material character in building the Suez
Canal Our greatest troubles were In Asia, and
were always Of political character"
THE sUEz CANAL AS A FINANCIAL SUCCESS.
Your correspondent being asked about the sue
cess OF the Suez Canal as a financial matter, M
De Lesseps said -"I know you Americans like facts
and figures, and here they are:-we send, every
year, through the Suez Canal, goods to the value
OF $500, 000, 900 and receive about one-half that
amount. The gross trade H. therefore, $500 O00
We receive about five n-clions or about two per
less even than the insurance around the Cape used
to be In old times. Insurance through the canal
Is less than 1t used to be around the Cape for we
have never had an accident. As to the receipts,
let me take the month Of January since 1870. In
that year, 1t reached $4,000; the next year,
100000. In 1872 it reached $500, 600, while last
January 1t was $400000 Thus our receipts
have doubled every year since we began.
Before our canal was opened the average tonnage
Of an East Indaman was 500 tons-now
1t Is 1000. AS q Liverpool merchant said
to me recently, the Suez Canal has quadrupled the
capital in shipping, for at the same amount OF
capital as before the Liverpool merchants can do
four times the business.
THE CANAL AND THE GERMAN WAR.
Allusion having been made to q rumor that the
suez Canal was about to be sold, M. De Lesseps
said :-"After the outbreak OF the war between
France and Germany there was some anxiety about
the ownership Of the canal. / had several inter-
views with Lord Granville and Mr.. Gladstone on
the subject. ! showed them how difficult It would
be to form an International company that could
own the canal. England would demand prepon-
derating vote on account Of her immense mari
time supremacy Nothing came Of 1t. AS to this
immense supremacy there is only one mercantile
marine that ever menaced Great Britain-that Of
the United States But, although steam navigation
came from America, you have not seen in time how
to adapt 1t to the wants and requirements
of navigation as modified by steam and iron, and
so have been outstripped by the Britishn
ANOTHER VIEW.
Your correspondent might have said that Amer
lea did not apprehend that, under the guise OF
friendly neutrality, England would build and man
pirates 70 sail under the Confederate nag and burn
our merchantmen and drive our commerce to its
DV<k wornp crohf h,
cussion and given 1t @ new turn. &c. thanking
M. De Lesseps for his courtesy, he said farewell.
mIYIz m 4 mY0MA nARn