The New York herald., 1879-12-25
CAPTAIN EADS' PROJECT.
The Panama Ship Railroad Scheme De-
Scribel by It's Protector. -as
RAPDl7Y AND CHEAPNE% OF CONSTRUCTION
improvement in the Danube's Bed Compared
with Those On the Mississippi. is-

for the improvement Of the Mississippi River, ar
rived yesterday from Europe on the steamship Cor.
manic. and reporter of the HERALD found him at
the Albemare Hotel in the afternoon. partaking Of
rather late lunch and busy also with preparations
for continuing his journey to st. Louis in the
ing. He. however. found time to say that no had
been absent from the country about four months,
and then proceeded TO interview the reporter ~
to whether General Grant would take the presi-
dency Of the Nicaragua Canal Company. what wore
Grants chances of o nomination for the Presidency.
and finally asked. "What they doing In MaineY'
These questions appeared to be answered to the
Captains satisfaction. and then he gave few par
tculsrs OF his visit to Europe.
He said:-"One OF my principal objects was to
visit the Suez Canal. and great and ndimportant work
1t is. was furnished every facility by the author
tiles. and everything done for me that could be
done 10 enable me to mako my inspection completes.
No one can this great work without having
most unqualified admiration for the genius Of IA.
de Lesseps. 1t is. as everybody knows. canal dug
through sandy desert. encountering very httls
rock. and the engineering difficulties must have
been very great. am glad to say that il is sue
The traffic this year has not been larger than
that of the previous year. but it is still gaining
greatly in favor with the maritime public"
II understand you paid visit to Hungary. Cap.
tain; had that anything to do with your official con-
nectiop with the Improvement Of the MississipI1
RiverT" ac n,
"None Whatever as far rs my expenses were con
cerned. paid all the expenses myself. My object
to obtain information there that might be appi
cable to the Mississippi River scheme. The
Minister OF Public Works Of Hungary gave me every
facility for the examination OF the Danube and the
Thesis rivers. He afforded nae an opportunity fce
the examination Of the plans adopted by that govern
ment for the Improvement of those rivers and
found that in all important particulars the plans
we have adopted at the mouth OF the Mississippi
were the Same those OF the Hungarian engineers.
examined 15O miles of the River Danube and the
district 1t drains. The Danube bears some
analogy to the Mississippi. but the Theiss
not quite 80 much. Our plan at the.
mouth Of the Mississippi was to concentrate the
flow Of water whore 1t spreads. from a~ide surface
into narrower space. thereby incresSng ~ depth.
That has been pretty nearly compistSd end q ve5
successful. The Danube has been deepened SUB.
stantially In the way. Sndt the work there h
also success. The Rhine In soue parts hes hada
similar treatment with equally patisfDtoty resuls
France. With all that have seen IN Europe have
returned moro and more satisfied Of the yropriety,
Of our plans and OF the advsability Of continuing
them along tho Mississippi River"
THE IsrHMUs SCHEME
"May ask. Captain. whether you arc equallyf
sanguine to your railroad scheme acroDs the
Isthmus Of Panama.
Eyes. I am. In Europe have received every en-
couragement, and encouragement OF substantial
character. quite enough to justify me in commence
ing the undertaking. Very shortly after my arrival
in Europe found letter in the London Times from
Mr.. +. ]. Reid strongly tndorsing my railroad
scheme. Mr.. Reid is very high authority. He il
member Of Parliament. and he is Chief Constructor
'As to the canal schemes. have you any preference
for one oyer tho other 2
do not think the canal is the best solution Of tho
difficulty. am. however, free to say that am for
is railroad or canal. am persuaded. however. that
there will be no canal in this generation feel con.
fdent that It will take from fifteen to twenty-five
years from the time it Is commenced.
THE RAILROAD SCHEME.
''You think the railroad would y CONSTRUCTED
~ am sure 1t would, and il would also be cheaper.
have no hesitation IN saying thst Tor sum not
exceeding onethird of the esttmated cost of the
csnal-about $50.OOO.000-the largest ships which
enter the port OF New York can be when
mus on a railway constructed for the purpose
within twenty-four hours from the moment they arc
taken In charge in one until they delivered
would not DO necessary to have any sleeper grades
than those on our chief lines OF railroads. The
roaaoeo need no. 10 over iVsry Zee, woe nor nave
1t 70 sustain the car or cradle upon
which the ship is placed: The vessel
would be lifted from the sea to the level OF the road
by lock or other hydraulic device. The lock would
be twice the length Of the ship. and only onehalf Of
from the sea. The bottom of the other half Of the
lock would be ut the sea level and on this the rail-
way would commence Into the upper part OF tho
lock the cradle to carry the ship would be run aud
the gates at the land end would then be cosed Tho
ship would then be foated into the deep end
or the lock and the sea gates closed, after
which water would 10 admitted to I'LL tho
lock to height sufficient to float the
ship on the car to tho upper lift. after
which the water would be drawn on and the gates OF
the land end opened. and the car and its burden
would be then started on It's journey by rail- At the
similar lock- the gates closed over track aud those
at the sea end OF the lock closed also. This being
done. the lock would be ready for hling after which
the ship could be hoated on the car and moved to
the deep ena OF the lock. !he water would then oe
allowed 10 escape from the lock- the snip lowered to
the ocean level the sea gates opened and the vessel
would be then ready to resume her voyage in the
other sea: That Is my plan. as 1 stated It before
went 70 Europe. and my observation OF public works
0ns ns sarrrr % sn sne, oosr i's