The daily gazette., 1880-03-15

EADs' SHIP RAILWAY Across THE
srHMUs.-Captain Eads' met the Con-
z 'essional Committee on Saturday and
answered such objections as the commit
tee made to the feasibility Of ship rail-
way. across the continent. Captain
Eads said that there were "th:ee routes
where low grades of 53 or 55 feet to the
mile were practicable. 1t was possible
that grade of not over 80 feet could be
found at Panama. Fifty-three feet TO
the mile was practicable at Tehuante-
pee, and he was satisfied that less than
that could be obtained at Nicaragua. 1t
was hard to tell which was the prefer
able route without making further ex-
aminations with the view Of locating
. railroad. Routes might be found
much better than any yet discovered"
The canal constructed as NJ. de Lesseps
proposes could not be constructed short
Of $3.50, 100000. If constructed with
locks it could be done much cheaper.
"a ship railways cost would depend
on the location and the question of har-
bors. Jti would probably cost more to
get . good harbor at Greytown than TO
get one at each end of the line at Pana-
ma. Fifty millions of dollars, includ-
ing harbor aad every expenditure. The
expenditures would be much greater
at Panama than at other parts of the
isthmus on account of the incessant
rains.
"With no detention on account Of tue
money the railway could be put into
operation without difficulty In four years
troln the time the construction was be.
gun. The railway can be worked GER
tainly for 40 per cent Of its revenue"
Captain Eads' proposition ought to
command favor with Americans. 1t
looks even more feasible than canal.
Then 1t would be new, and such gi-
gan'ic affair as would give greater eclat
to the country than q canal would do
which after ali is only following the
plans Of the ancients. Captain Eads
sald'he had lno doubt that such rail-
way could be run with safety at the rate
Of twelve miles an hour. And added
"there is no doubt but that a single
track railway could transport more
ships in q day or in any given time
than 1t is possible for single canal t.
do"
The sum Of money named is not be
yond the ability of our people, and
the railway project will permit of the
work being entirely compeleted by
Giving us also the choice OF routes
which is great matter.
The Tehuantepec route is much tn,
nearer for us, being SO much closer t,
our gulf ports while the Nicaragu
route passes through one of the fines
agricultural and mineral regions on tn
Continent. The ability for locomc
tives to climb moderate grades is we
established, while it would seem tha
wide cars running over three or fou
rails at twelve miles per hour would b
far less liable TO jump the tracks tina
cars that are now forced over two raj
with safety at aspeed of thirty to fort
miles an hour. Railroading is yet
its infancy. 1t will hardly be qual
ter Of century before cars double I'll
width of those now used will be ru
between our great cities, giving all til
conveniences that the ship or I'll
mansion affords.
Another recommendation which
ship railway has over canal is in til
fact that it will give more work t
American shops and American man,
facturers. The locomotives and m;
ehinery will all have to be made in I'll
shops of the United States the ire
rails for the tracks would be the pr,
duct of our furnaces. Thus a grei
deal of the money would be distribu
cd among our own people, while in tt
excavation of the ship canal the none
would nearly all be required to be e.