Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-05-11
A Magnificent Scheme.

The triumphs OF human genius and in
dustry in the peaceful contest with natures
Obstructiveness 10 mans dominion over
material things have ever proved the
GROWING glory Of nations by perpetual
ing their fame after every other trace of
their existence has disappeared. Already
the successful completion of the Suez
Canal IS influencing the political and
social condition. Of the civilized world,
and the union of the waters OF the Red
Sea and the Mediterranean is cementing
and dissolving alliances and sapping the
foundations OF more than one European
throne. The Mont Gents tunnel, once re-
garded as an impOssibility, now forms a
closer bond between two peoples than all
the treaties that were ever inscribed on
parchment, and busy brains are engaged
in planning a submarine line of commu.
nication between England and France, un-
dismayed by the difficulties that will At
tend such stupenGous undertaking. In
our own country immense results have
been and are about to be produced by
schemes for the facilitation and develop
ment of commerce and manufacture
The Erie Canal has made New York what
she is to-day--the commercial metropolis
of the North American continent. The
Pacific railroads tic the East 10 the West,
as the Mississippi ties the North to the
South, for the building of the former and
the improvement OF the latter are cal
culated - develop an immense area Of
territory hitherto unoccupied and fill il
with busy cities and blooming fields.
Then, again, we look at the speedy
attainment Of navigable line Of
inter-oceanic communication across the
Isthmus us a necessity to our progress and
the promotion of our commercial interests
in the Pacific. All these grand undertak.
ings, either already accomplished or TO be
so within reasonable time, will enable us
to contemplate intelligently aud set the
proper value on the magnificent scheme
recently proposed TO the Russian Govern
ment by an eminent American engineer,
Nr. Spalding, and which bids fair to
eclipse all others in the magnitude and
importance of its results. Ii Is nothing
less than the restoration Of the arid plains
and valleys that surround the Caspian and
Sea of Aral, in Western Asia, TO their
original condition as the bed of a vast in
land sea, and the rehabilitation OF the
barren steppes of Russia by the healing
moisture that will fill the air, over what
~ now Wislt, UdIc Ol scBttallOu dHa
unfit for occupation by man. This can
be accomplished by cutting canal from
the Black Sea eastward, toward the Cas-
plan, which is nearly 200 feet below the
former In level The undertaking would
be similar in many respects TO that of the
Suez Canal, but, owing 10 the great fan
inland, the work of excavation would
be largely performed by the inrushing
waters through the narrow cut first made
for their admission. The glory Of this
great conception, in all its details, belongs
to one OF our own Countrymen, and there
can be but little doubt as to the feasibility
of forming great Asiatic sea by the pro
posed plan, on the waters Of which nayies
could, in the future, exercise the same in.
tluence they now possess on the Mediter.
ranean.-N. y. Herald.