The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-17

Ono need be fulfilled with no spirit q pro
nhacv a. foretcll. even now, thu a great canal
.,onna,t,nr tba Pacific and Atlantic oceans
Iii, ,+,in,y M constructed and at no dis
tant day. somewhere through the narrow
iethfuus which Joins the two American CON
tinents 1t Ii great, stupendous enter
nrIae and will, when completed. constitute
tbe rrandest achievement of engineering skill
mud nbvsicaI labor that the world has ever
aeen There are difficulties In the way OF It's
accomplishment that nre absolutely appalling
to au ordinary apprehension: yet all these
will surely DO overcome and the living gem
GRAFTON will yet soc the meeting ofsthe two
great waters. and the largest vessels passing
each other beneath the overhanging cliffs and
between the granite walls or this artificial
highway.
The time has now como when tho wants OF
men anticipate discoveries. and they are &C
cordinRly evolvcd-wheD the world makes
known Its needs and genius, science and on
ergy step forward to meet its demands.
Some time ago the world notified Mr.. Edison
that n comparatively costless electric light
was absolutely necessary, and straightway
he and score more Of seientists set them
selves to work to supply It. That they will
eventually accomplish their purpose there
can be no manner Of doubt. The world de-
mands this canal, and If Mr.. Lesseps does
not construct 1t, some one else will. When
we consider the agencies that are at work on
the project, and the powerful influences be-
hind urging them on TO Its contamination,
- t,.J "A rs nj.
cess. 1@.5m m45@ 55=
The Obstacles In the way Of this work, al
most insuperable Us they appear, and the
giant labors that Will be necessary to over
come them, arc lost sight Of In contempla-
ton Of the beneticent influences it's success is
destined to exercise upon the commerce and
civilization Of the world. Ono has but TO take
a map of the Pacific and cast his eye over the
vast and fruitful lands this short canal will
place In direct communication with tho trade
centres Of the world In order to SEQ the
s'Vlsion of the world, and all the wonder that
would be-" Besides our own and the Pacific
slope OF South America. japan, China and the
eastern shores Of Australia, tho only portion
OF that country now developed, to wit: the
provinces Of Victoria, Queensland and New
South Wales, will be placed In direct and
rapid communication with the Atlantic States
and Europe. In previous articles we have
pointed out the effect Of this canal
In diverting the commerce with
these countries from the old, long
and perilous routes around the storm-vexed
extremities or Africa and South America. and
the inealculabe benefits that would thereby
be forced upon New Orleans. IL this article
IL lis our purpose to treat, not Of these coun-
tries, with whose products and resources the
world has long been familiar, but Of another
fruitful and salubrious region, Of which but
little Is now known. but which this canal will
Immediately open up to tempt the thrift and
enterprise of the civilized world. 1t is that
vast subdivision OF the earth known to geog-
raphers as
POLYNESIA.
Under this name, which signifies tho re-
gion OF many islands" are comprehended
the numerous islands and groups Of islands
scattered throughout the great Pacific ocean,
between the eastern shores Of Asia and the
western shores of America. In It's widest Sig
niticance the term Polynesia might be under
stood as embracing the islands OF tho Indian
Archipelago to which the name Of Malaysia
island Of Australia, with lis dependency 81
Van Dieman's Land. But excluding these
islands, and New Zealand, there lie between
them and the western shores OF America a
vast number Of Islands Of exceeding fertility
and beauty, Of which but little Is known, and
whose resources are as yet entirely undevel-
oped. These islands extend from the twenty
third degree Of north TO the thirtleth OF
south latitude, and include the Sandwich, La
drone, Galapagos, Caroline and Kingsmill
groups north OF the equator, and the
Fiji, Friendly, Samoan, Cooks Society,
Marquesas and other groups too numerous
to MENTION south Of it. It Is through this
labyrinth Of islands that the steamers OF the
Pacific Mail Company plying between San
Francisco and Melbourne and Sydney, AUS
tralia, thread their way, touching at the more
important ones on the route, such as the
Sandwich, Fiji and Samoan groups and at
Auckland In New Zealand, thus affording in
direct communication with numbers Of other
islands, whose trading points are at these
different islands. Still there are great number
of these groups, such as the Marquesas, Socie-
Nv. Low and Others with which there Is no
sort of regular communication, and which are
never approached except by whalers or casual
traders. All Of these islands lie directly on
fine route from Panama toSyndey, New South
Wales, and would be brought into direct com
mnnication with the world by means OF the
proposed interoceanic canal, and made tribu-
sary to New Orleans.
FROM DIR. A. VAN CAMP,
of Washington City, who has been spending
Some weeks tn our city, we have obtained an
s Sume amunt Of valuable information in
regard to these wondrous lands, which he de-
scribes as
Summer isles Of Eden. lying IN dark purple
spheres Of sea" ,
ofunapproached fertilityand surpasslng BEAU
ty, with breadths Of troplc shaae t any Iet ~
most ~ s,s entirely undeveloped and remaining il
age sae eeannibals. Dr.. Van Camp has spent It
many years Of his life in these regions, a1la