The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-20
Why America and England Should Unite in Constructing
Water Line Across The lshny.
REVIEW OF EXPLORATIONS
The Maximum and Minimum Cost-ImpOr-
tant Statistics-The Work from
National Standpoint.

OF tue suDJcct u consoeEou
again and again. from year to year. from generation to
generation and from age to age, until the tme the
combination Of circumstances the facilities for
ton aud the collected together and the work
Is accom- lished The Suez Canal is notable exam
pie. From the earliest days OF modern commerce the
desire for It's construction prevailed among CONNER
cial men. Its supposed impracticabty, as we all
know, stimulated the search for water routes the
Indies resulting In the discovery OF the Cape OF Good
Hope and tho continent Of America. Prior to these
events The oil the East depending upon the
transit by land, centred in and made the greatness
and wealth OF the Mediterranean republics. They
were the mariners Of the world ut that epoch. After
tho great discoveries OF vasco dc Cana Columbus
the enterprise and hardwood Of the nations
especially the English rapidly developed their mari
seas remained almost without dispute the hands OF
the Inhabitants OF the British Isles With It, and
advantages OF the route by sea- long is came the
control OF the whole of the commerce OF the East
England became the entrepot for its distribution
Europe. Conquest oil Eastern territory and wealth
and power soon followed The enterprise Of tho
Anglo Saxon equal 10 tho OCCASION, and they
have kept what they have until the present time
BRITISH CoMMBRcE
Tho peaceful SUCCESSES Of commerce have had more
to do with the supremacy Of England than achieve
European politics tho protection of British Eastern
is palpably and avowodly the principal OBJ.
ject oil the British government Even now when the ad
OF the great scheme of Russan ambition has
commenced war OF which no man can ioretell the
conclusion, such protection is the only end aud of
British statesmen. Britain has acquired a principal
interest in the Sucz Canal and IL is beyond question
that It Is deemed necessary she will fight Tor the con-
troll OF it, And yet If she assumes the protecto
rate OF Egypt and the supreme control OF the canal
is doubtful If 1t can be 60 managed Is TO sustain the
supremacy Of British commerce with the East When
the great enterprise advocated twenty years ago
by Mr.. Lesseps, who has carried 1t to completion he
met with scanty encouragement from far-seeing Brit
ish capitalists. The eminent British engineer Mr..
Robert Stephenson, while giving reluctantly favor
able opinion to Its practicaoility, did not ndorse
the desirabity OF its construction. Lord Palmerston
positively hostile and perhaps His Lordship FORE
saw certain effects which are now IN process OF devcl
opment which are surely injuring British commercial
interests in a continually increasing degree
Time and money the greatest elements In
mercal economy. The prepondcrance OF either in
certain proportions will surely settle the course Of
trade. While the enormous advantages OF economy In
transport from the East remained with the route by
tho Cape Of Good Hope tho control Of such commerce
certainly IN the hands OF British merchants All
for distribution, all Continental nations paid to
Great Britain corresponding tribute.
srgz CANAL
The Suez Canal and steam have changed all this in
small degree. The Mediterranean ports still exist
Lines Of steamers from Marscilles, Genoa, Brindsi,
Trieste and other ports are already bringing Eastern
products directly TO the ittora countries of the Mcd
terranean. The Northern nations are completing their
railway commentators through long miles
OF well cut tunnels, through the ST.
Gothard, to the Mediterranean shore An
other cut is contemplated through tho Spengen.
When completed. Germany and the Austrian States
will surely resort to the Mediterranean ports for their
Eastern commerce, and the distribution of that com.
mercc, that great source OF British wealth, will as
surely, under present circumstances, psss away from
British merchants. Indeed, whatever may be the re-
suit OF the present war; whether Russia succeeds in
gaining possession Of the Bosphorus aud the Black
Sea becomes Russian lake. Constantnople becomes
free port and the Bosphorus ana Black Sea are
thrown open to the world, Southern and Western Rus
sia will draw all the articles OF Eastern product d.
rectly The IDEAS of Russian aggression upon India
may be dismissed immediately. The material con-
quest Of India will have been accomplished. Britain
may govern the millions Of India and retain her EN-
pre, which often threatens to DO q burden upon
the imperial excbcqucr She Will reap but slight
With regard to the great beyond India Great
Britain Will as surely find herself al disadvantage II
nothing changes the of trade which has set in
through the susz Canal. Nay, Whatever advantage
there may be in the future Increasing commerce OF
her own colonies of Australia and New Zealand will
inure 10 foreigners rather than TO Britops.
That foresight OF some OF these effects caused the
opposition OF the sagacous Palmerston and Of British
cap tals.s TO the construction OF the canal Is more
than probable. Eut the OF the occasiob lessops
too strong for them. The idea had grown upon
men, and the time had arrived when the were
WITHIN the grasp OF enh usiastc and powerful opc
rator He collected and combined hts resources, and
the canal Is a fact. 1t has existed long enough
to provo that 1t will be permanent, and Its
utility has increased to such an extent
that It's becoming selfsupporting and
remuuera,ivo institution within very short period
may he safely predicted. British vessels by far the
most which pass through 1t as yet and from
this might bc presumed that the dangers to British
interests to which alIasion has been made, are fac
tious. But the bulk OF the cargoes do not 30 to
England, although the ships arc British. From the
supremacy OF their naval architects the furnishing Of
ships Will long remain in British hands, but in time
ships will follow the cargoes Another element OF
national prosperity and wealth Will pass away.
That there is ground for these be
verified by reference 10 the condition Of BRUSH Eastern
commerce for the last Ave years. True 1t may be,
that other causes have operated to injure It, but the
facts are prominent and palpablc. As the consumers
are the direct route OF transport 1t would be folly
expect that time aud should both DO sacr-
feed by carrying past the points of It's ultl
mate destination for distribution, no matter under
what flag the transport be made.
DAREy CANAL
There is however another project for an inter
oceanic canal which is not dead. The Atlantic and
Pacific to be connected The necessity for
such connection has been apparent to all men since
the Pacific shores Of America were FIRST discovered,
and though the project has sumocred from timo to
time and has been neglected for various causes, 1t
always commands attention in somc degree. The sue
cess OF the Eastern Canal ana Its effects upon the
worlds commerce, bring the necessity for its con-
struction still more prominently forward and 1t ap-
peals still strongly 70 tho consideration OF states