The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-08-13

MAhANb a oAA-d uAAlA FAVaLtAf FNou-
ISYG IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL RE-
SULTS
A sea In Northern Africa Is one OF the poSibilt
ties of the early future. The Governor OF Algeria
Gen, Chanzy, has ordered the preliminary surveys
for the work. and there Is every prospect Of Its be-
ing soon begun. The report OF Capt L. Roudaire
who was commissioned 10 make the necessary ge-
odesieal observations IN 1873 assures Us that no
where can the contrasts Of nature be greater than
IN the country lying 10 the south Of the province Of
Constanstine The mountain chain Djehel Aures
rises 1000 feet over the arid wastes Of the Sahara
10 the north the county IS fertile but 10 the south
the land becomes intolefable, even Tor the noma.
die Arabs. nom April X 20 the end Of september
Immediately south OF this mountain range begin
the vast swamps which are termed chOtts By the
natives The chOtt Of Mel Kir Is $50 square leagues
To the east 1t communicates with another ehOtt
called sellem, and ffum here to the Gulf Of Gabes
so leagues-there i3a series Of similar sWamps,
the most important Ot which are those of RhaTsa
El-Djerd The eastern. bank OF the latter Is only
eighteen kilometres twelve niles from the Ned
iteranean. These chotts are often dry, and ara
then covered with thick layer Of salts Of mague'
sia, making them appear like sciutillating seas.
There Is considerable danger in crossing them,
and an instance of caravan Of q thousand cam
els having totally disappeared because one mis-
guided leader chose to make step out Of the right
line Is instanced.
The observations made by Capt Roudalre dur
ing last year incOntestbly prove that the bed Of
these chOtts Is below the level Of the Medterane,
an Sea. The depression OF that Of bIelRir Is esd-
mated at some ninety teet with an inclination
towards the east which would place that of Sellem
one hundred and twenty feet below theleyelOfth the
sea. IL has been mathematleally demonstrated that
these ehOtts occupy vast depression Of the soil,
and II is therefore naturalt 10 suppose that this con-
ditOn of the land CONTINUES almost to the Gulf Of
Gabes. By making canal from the Mediteuane-
an to the junction point which Is estimated TO be
only twelve kilometres distant, vast inland sea
would be created; The influence OF such body
OfWater on the climate OF Algeria and Tunis, and
on the products and commerce OF Northern Africa,
would Il il claimed, be immense The climate
would be lTendered more temperate, the rainfall
would be, to greateXieni regulated and theneu-
trail feCundity of the soil would be developed. One
of the strongest arguments in favor Of the prach-
cability o. such scheme lies In the presumed fact
that sea once existed In these regions. Even the
wandering tribes believe that a sea once covered
these plains The testimony Of foreign writers Is
to the effect that there once existed an immensein
land sea, which was known as the Great Bay OF
Triton, and which dried up about the commence
ment Of the Christian era by the formation Of an
isthmus which separated from the Mediterranean.
After the LOtophages come the Machyles, who
are also lOtOs-eaters Their country extends 70
the river Triton which emptes itself into the Is
land Phap
The assertions of Herodotus with regard to the
physical geography and the peoples of Africa have
been strikingly authenticated By the recent dis
coyeries Of sehwelnfurth and other travellers. In
beds were found In distant days the skeletons Of
fish, shells and even ships anchors. The very
name given by Ptolemy and those borne by the
localities In these days are well nigh identical.
There can be little doubt therefore, of the past ex
btenee Of the sea which extended as far as the Sa
hara. The question now naturally arises how
was 1t dried up? The immense evaporation DIVA
ter and the course of the Elm the Mediterranean
which formerly were much higher than now, are
attributed 10 the great causes.
The length Of the projected sea would be about
go miles, by 45 In width. The expense Of cutting
the requisite canal would be only some 100000
francs but this of course Is only mere approXima,
| ton The Suez Canal has had already a very fa.
yorable influence on the climate Of Egypt, and
that Is only narrow strip Of water. The fine sand
of the desert becomes under the influence OF rain
and water, d mOuldy soil Of incredible fertility,
| Even Italy and Spain would be somewhat affected
by the presence of such mass of water exposed TO
| the yapOring rays of an African sun. AS means
| of transport, such sea would practically draw
France hundreds Of miles nearer TO Central Africa
and rs great caravans The ivory, gold dust, os-
trlch feathers and varied products Of that portion
| OF Africa would thus find new market in ex-
| change for the cotton, metals, etc, OF Europe.
Algeria which is fast becoming an important cOun.
| try, would thus acquire new help 70 material
| progress, in which the neighbOring cOuntries-Iu-
| mis- and dMOrocco-w0uld share. Ii carried out the
worl; will be one of the greatest engineering ae-
| cOmplishments of the age.