The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-03-20

waters OF the Pacific and ol the Carribean
Sea are at the shme height, and he proposes
10 e,it q sea level canal from ocean to ocean,
boring an Immense tunnel through the
mountain fSngr which forms tho backbone
Of the 1sthmua. lie follows the route Of the
Panama Railroad, fact which, Of course,
pulls all the influence of that powerful COR
poration ugainst him and his project. Cap
tain Eads' proposition is for the constrnc-
ton o! great ship railway, with lifting
dock at either end, which, he claims can be
located in any place practicable for a canal,
and in some places where a canal would be
entirely irnpractcabe and impossible. lie
says he has thoroughly investigated the
subject, and that he can build ship rail-
way for from one half to ono fourth the
cost Of ship canal and complete it in one
half the time it would take to construct the
water way lie further claims that his rail
way would be capable Of much greater
service to commerce than q canal would or
could be, from the fact that il would save
much time, as it would be able to take n
ship across the Isthmus in one third the
time the water would occupy. In the latter
the movement of large vessel would nec es-
sarily be slow-not more than three or four
miles an hour, or about the sped of an or
dinary canal boat; while uy the railway
Captain Eads is confd' mt of attaining
speed Of twelve mles an hour. lie talks
like man of busin,.ss, and manfests the
utmost confidence in his theory and plan,
and he was Fstened to with respect which
grows out Of the success he has had with
the Mississippi river jetties. The captain
| a,Id Count dc Lesseps met in the committee
room, were introduced, and passed the usual
compliments. They treated each other with
the greatest Difference and consideration
The route rights under which de Lessels is
working are concession made by the Co.
the French navy, some years ago, which
have been by him conveyed to NJ. de Les
seps. In his remarks before the Commit
tee, and in answer to questions, the Count
! OohVSucu thV ii5hJ JuStICS anu Eoou PoilCy
of the United States to claim control of the
work in short, he stands confessed pro
nounced Monroe doctrine man, and pre-
dict that unless an association OF American
capitalists is at once formed to go to work
on the Eads plan the Frenchman will build
his canal. He has broken ground already,
and there is little reason to question his
ability to get ali the money he wants for it
in the markets of the world.
The frequent attempts of female schemers
to black mail our public men has produced
a feeling among them that more stringent
laws are necessary to punish such crimes.
Accordingly, Mr.. Covert, of New York, the
other day introduced bill on the subject,
which was sent to the Judiciary Committee.
1t provides that "any person who shall or
ally or by written or printed communica-
ton, threaten TO accuse another Of any of
fence against the laws of the United States,
or Of any State, or of any ACT involving NOR
al turpitude, with intent to thereby extort
money, property, or other reguhiafY benefit
what ever, shall upoii conviction, be sem
fenced to suffer imprisonment in the peni-
tentary for term of not less than one nor
more than ten years." The law ought to go
a step further and decree adequate punish
ment to the shystering lawyers who are
hand and glove with the "scarlet women
in getting up these annoying, disgracelul
schemes.
Legislation is proceeding slowly, and un.
less more progress is made in the month to
come than has been achieved in the last four
; weeks, Congress will hardly be ready to ad-
journ by the middle of May, as some of the
members are predicting. Dom PEDRO.