National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-02
eARIBALp1 As An ENGINEER.

His Plan for the Improvement Of the Tiber.
A correspondent Of the New York Tribune,
writing from Rome, says Of Garibaldi and his
new project:
Literally, he lives, moves aud has his being on
the banks Of the Tiber. ! fear at times for his
health, as the air is calculated TO promote his
rheumatism. As yet there is no bad sign. He
looks much better than when he arrived, eats
heartily, sleeps well, and 1 even fancy that he
walks better than at first. His whole soul is In
his project, and he has infected every one around
him with his own enthusiasm. of course, this
idea to neerate Rome from the constant menace
Of tnundation, to ameliorate the sanitary condi-
ton OF the city, ts almost as old as the hills.
There was project for that purpose in l59s, In
1870 about score were published. Some OF them
are limited to deepening the bed Of the river AMI
shortening its course by cross cuts. Others sug-
and carry oil the surplus waters, pouring them
again into the Tiber below Rome. Others, again,
propose the system of embankments adopted for
the Pc and the Adige. But safe authorities
afirm that these projects are all inadequate to
the emergency, and that the cost would be
enormous.
backward in the bed OF the Arlene its chief trIb-
utary, as far as Porta MammOlO; then by q new
channel to lead IL down 10 the sea; TO allow the
old bed to remain for the use Of the city, and for
the irrigation Of the campagna on the lombard
system, and at the mouth VI the new river to con-
stIuet seaport to be connected with the Old and
New Tiber by cross channels and with Rome by
railroads. The idea meets with much praise from
competent engineers. The Originators Of other
schemes and their partisans are, of course, p-ei-
udeed in favor of their own plans; but the only
real objection that have heard is that until the
Roman Campagna is purged all excavations are
fatal, and that the mortality among the work
men will be enormous.
At any rate the Government. only too de-
lighted TO keep Garibaldi employed, AMI away
from the Chamber Of Deputies, has agreed 70 de-
vote large sum for preliminary expenses Of sur
veying, etc., and Minghetti Is disposed to sup
port a bill for the guarantee Of per cent. in.
terest on the capital STOCK. Still uD to yeSter-
day people laughed and shrugged their shoulders
and predicted that nothing would come OF 1t.
But an enthusiastic friend Of Garibaldi, T. b.
Potter, NJ. p, is in Rome Just now, He would BE-
delighted for Garibaldfs name to be associated
with such an enterprise, and he wrote to Antonio
Garibaldi advising him Of the scheme. This
works in Vienna, Chatham and Malta, had q
scheme Of his own for reducing the Tioer, but it
was rejected some years ago. On the receipt of
Potter's letter he came in great haste had an in
teryiew with the General yesterday, ami agreed
to undertake the entire work If the Government
" II guarantee the per cent. on the capital.
Undoubtedly much opposition must be over
come before such an arrangement can be effected.
There is 10 be a commission for the study Of the
best plan, and am sorry to hear that Sigaor
Sella, the aolest and most honest of ItaIiIn Min-
listers, declines to form part; whether his obiee-
tons are from financial considerations 1 do q L
know. Alter the report OF the commission GAR
D9lui Will present his bill to the House. Then
there will be long discussion Of the question
whether II be right to allow the Tiber to be
turned out Of its time-hOnored bed. We NAV,
therefore, safely calculate that this session Will
pass without decision. GaribaldI Is NOT as.
sailed by any misgiyings. The King. the Min
tstry, the Parliament, the province and the cJm-
mune are all agreed.