The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-23
~ / HEN
The Great Central Asiatic
Railway.
Interview with the Builder Of the
Suez Canal.
RUSSIA BUILDING A RAILWAY TO INDIA.
The Central ASiatic Compared with
the Central Pacific.
'SEVEN DAYS FROM CALAIS TO CALCUTTA"
Russian and English Rivalries
in Asia.
What Palmerston Thought Of the
Suez Canal.
THE EUpHRATES VALLEY RAILWAY.
The Road Builders on the Path of Alex
ander the Great.
the PERSIAN GRANT TO BAR0N REUTER-
Is China Aiming for a War
on Europe
Suggestions About the Ca
nal at Panama.
The Suez Canal as a Financial
Success.
the PERSIAN GRANT TO BARON REUTER-
Is China Aiming for a War
on Europe
Suggestions About the Ca
nal at Panama.
The Suez Canal as a Financial
Success.
PARIS, July Q, 1873.

PARIS, July 2, 1873.
The interest now felt in Eastern questions may
owe Its new life to the enterprise OF rulers like the
Khedive and the Gear. With q new Paris rising on
the site OF the capital Of Pharaoh and Q kingdom
bidding fair to rival that OF Sesostrs taking shape
under the genius OF his successor, with Japan &C.
cepting civilization by an imperial edict and Rus
sian armies marching swiftly on Khiva and Central
Asia, it is natural enough that Asia should assume
the importance 1t now holds In the eyes Of the
world. 1t was this feeling that led your cor
respondent to seek speech with n. de Lesseps, the
famous French engineer, whose success In building
the Suez Canal gave him world wide fame, and who
now proposes another enterprise, less novel, but
none the less gigantic-the union OF Europe and
Asia by means OF . railway, to be called tue Great
Central Asiatic. M. de Lesseps was pleased to
meet Representative OF the HERALD, journal
which had always been kind to him. As your cor
respondent entered he was Just giving an order to
his secretary TO complete the purchase OF list Of
books-sixty-one in number-on Asiatic subjects.
This done, he addressed himself to conversation.
AMERICAN INTEREST IN EASTERN QUESTIONS.
Your correspondent explained to M. de Lesseps
the great interest taken in Eastern questions and
more particularly the industrial and agricultural
developments Of the East, by the people Of the
United States. Much OF this he might say, was
due to the policy Of the editor Of the HERALD who,
for three or four years, had been steadily
directing his enterprises towards the East,
and who, at his own expense, had organized ex-
pensive expeditions into Africa and Asia In the In
terest Of science and civilization. Naturally,
therefore, nothing would be more interesting to
proposed railway through Central Asia, which was
now in progress Of maturity.
THE RUSSIAN RAILWAY TO INDIA.
N. de Lesseps said that he had observed with
wonder and admiration the energy and genius OF
the HERALD, and was pleased to note its interest
in Eastern questions. Az to the railway scheme,
we had no doubt seen the correspondence pub
hshed in the Journal des Debats between himself
and Prince Orion, the Russian Ambassador. That
correspondence showed the goodwin OF Russia
toward his enterprise. IL may say, more par
ticuarly." continued M. de Lesseps "that gave
nv note to Prince Orion, as he was leaving for
Ems. At Ems he saw his sovereign, the Gear.
The reply came in four days, showing the interest
felt In the enterprise by the Gear himself. This
reply. as you will note, granted all 1 requested,
ana gave me authority for an exploring party un.
der N. Cotard, who was with me at Suez. This
party will survey the country from Orenberg to
Semarcand."
THE FIRST EXPERIMENT.
Your correspondent asked If there was any
special reason for this being surveyed.
''Only this" said M. de Lesseps "that desire to
build the first section within Russian territory.
There will be no political complications to en-
parrass me in my work. And this will also be the
case with the section from Samarcand to Pesh-
awur. Our purpose Is, as soon as we have sur
veyed these sections, to push our exploration
parties as far as Afghanistan and British India
provided we find the route safe. II there should
be troubles from the people, any other cause,
then we should return TO Samarcand and start for
the British possessions on new route. These ex-
ploratons will not be paid by the Russian govern
ment, but from our own means"
Your correspondent said IL would probably be
most expensive proceeding, but M. de Lesseps
answered that it need not cost more than 5000 Ooo
RUSSIAN POWER IN CENTRAL ASIA.
question was then asked as TO what difficulties
were apprehended from the wild nomadic tribes
Of the plains, between Orenburg and Samarcand
N. de Lesseps said:--'T do not feel any
serious apprehension. The policy of Russia
has prepared these roaming barbarians to
respect the enterprises OF civilization. SO long as
II Is known that Russia is friendly to our scheme
we have all the advantages OF its moral power Its
agents and oncers are also our friends. Further
more, the enterprises OF Russia In Central Asia at
the present time will serve us. Before we are
ready Tor work the Car will have concentrated
and consolidated his power in Central ASIA
Khiva must fall before the strenuous exertions or
the Russians. That will add largely to Russian
power and Its prestige among the wild people. I
am quite confident that before we have laid our
rst section Of rail or built first bridge the road
viii be as free from molestation or danger as the
road In European Russia. You will mud parallel
case in your American Pacific Railway. That was
built in o country inhabited by Indians Infinitely
wilder and more irrecaimabe than any in Central
Asia. am told that your road mas had civllizing
erect upon the country 1t traverses. 1t will be he
same with the road through Asia. Like your road
this will have many great engineering difficulties
10 encounter and like IL we meet them at the end
OF our route. You have the Rocky Mountains and
the Sierra Nevadas: We have the huge masses Of