New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-20
The Great American Scheme for Ref1lliur
tho Caspian.

Exit M. de Lesseps, enter Mr.. SpaIding,
of America! We have been in the habit of
regarding the construction of the Suez
canal as gigantic achievement, but Mr.
Spslding has conceived geographical en-
terprise which fairly takes ones breath
away 1t Is neither more nor less than the
turning of the waters of The Black sea into
the Caspian, thereby connecting the latter
with the Mediterranean, bringing back the
volume of water into the Caspian TO an
equality with that which existed thousands
of years ago. The American engineer who is
well and favorably known in his own coun-
try, is SO far in earnest about his scheme
that he has already commended it to the at
tention OF Russia, al d his paper is now in
course OF translation and publication into
the Russian language by Colonel Muller, of
the Russian War Minister'S staff. The plan
has also been submitted to the president of
the imperial geographical and statistical
commission. Ii the work conceived BY Mr..
Spalding could be successfully accom-
pllshed, one great result would be to bring
within the area of civilization and Europea n
influences large portion of the Russian
empire which is now inaccessible, and
which possesses a vast wealth of timber
and other resources. In addition to this,
the large tract of land in the vicinity of the
Caspian sea, which in recent ages has be-
come barren and sterile, might be res ored
to its former fertile condition. 1t certainly be-
h0Oves Russia to give her best consideration
to this scheme-gigantic and hopeless as it
may appear upon the first Chancellor Mr.
Spalding extends to her q warning to the
effect that Through the operation of natural
laws great desert is in process of forma-
ton in the midst OF the Russian empire
In order to arrest the shrinking of the
waters of the Caspian and to heigh'en their
Level, he proposes to cut an adit, $50 versts
in length, across the ridge which divides
the Black sea from the Caspian, so as to
pour in the waters of the Western system,
and thus connect the two seas. Other
points of this scheme he states as follows:
'BeginniDg in the basin of the Caspian sea.
az point fifteen metres below the level of
the Black sea, q cutting $50 metres wide
should be made westward to such a dis
lance that at its western extremity it wouid
reach Q depth of ten metres. The surface
OF the earth at that point would be five
metres below the level of the Black sea.
Here this broad and deep cutting should be
discontinued. and narrower and shallower
cutting should begin, which should be car
RED all the way across Into the political,
military and Commercial results of this
scheme we Can not now enter, but they are
almost as tempting as though one had
Aladdins lamp brought within ones grasp.
VI course the enterprise is one which would
occupy years of engineering skill and vast /
labor: But an empire like Russia should |
be able to afford both the cost and the toll, |
it the scheme were deemed feasible. Tbs
has almost ceased to be known |
to humanity; Shakespeare anticipated the |
time when man would be able go Tut q
girdle round tho earth in forty mipuree,"
aud we have now the electric telegram. |
Will the future connect Mr. Spaldine. Of |
America, with the greatest effort IF engi.
,eering enterprise the world has yet sesnf
London Echo.