New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-16
CAPTAIN EADSS RAILROAD.

The contract Of the Mexican Government
with Captain Eads may lave exceedingly I'M
pOrtant results. 1t may work great changes III
the political relations OF different nations, as
well rs i'll international commerce. The Suez
Canal changed the face OF the eastern heni-
sphere after n fashion neither anticipated nor
desired by the Frenchmen who took leading
part in the undertaking. Beyond question, the
face of the western world will he greatly
changed, whenever ships can pass with their
cargops from the Atlantic TO the Pacific Ocean,
either by canal or by railway. If Captain Eads
can carry out his plan, however. results will
follow vastly different from those to which a
completed canal at Panama would lead. And,
whether his plan entirely succeeds or not, it Is
likely To lead to relations between the United
States and Mexico which may be of the utmost
importance to both countries. politically and
commercially.
The concession by the Mexican Government
gives certain important rights 10 citizens OF The
United States, and others who may be asso-
catcd with them. These rights, those citizens
NAV look to their Government to defend, within
certain limits, whether it lends credit TO AID
their enterprise or not. But Captain Eads has
also acquired the right tn con 'olidatc with the
Tehuantepec Railway, which has a valuable
concession, can he quickly built, ami would be
of great service In facilitating the work on tho
marine railway. Moreover, he mas tho right TO
hyp0thcclte the revenues OF the works to be
built, either to thu United States or to any other
Government he may select, in return for aid in
the construction by guarantee or loan OF credit.
If the consolidated company makes reason
able propositions to the United States, the qucs-
ton will arise whether the Government can
afford to refuse its aid. Very remarkable powers
in the neutrality-suspicious. which it would not be
pleasant to see pass to any other nation would
I've secured by the Government which may aid
tie enterprise. Great Britain would not be in
disposed to acquire, for the defence Of its COM
merce in the Gulf of Mexico, tie same COM
mandng position which its hold upon the Suez
Canal has given in tho Mediterranean and Red
Seas. 1t seems not unlikely, therefore, that
some terms will be devised upon which the
United States can properly and safely assist the
enterprise sufficiently to prevent any hypOtheca-
ton of revenues to any other nation. In that
Gaze. whether the marine railway should finally
prove successful or not, the United States would
secure virtual control Of means of transporta-
ton for freight passengers, troops, and naval
supplies, from its Gulf ports to California
$500 miles shorter than the route by way of
Panama, and from New YOrk to San Francisco
1000 miles shorter.
Exceedingly close relations between the
United States and Mexico aIe likely to result
from this undertaking. TO the citizens of this
country who engage IN the work will 20 large
grants of land, complete control over a strip
of land hall milo In width across the Isthmus
and over harbOrs on both coasts, and valuable
rights of export and import. Assuming that the
grant to Captain Eads and the grant to the
Tehuantepec Company will be consolidated.
since it is understood that the two interests aIe
disposed to unite, the consolidated company
will also have a large subyention paid by the
Mexican Government in its custom house certi-
Gcates. Meanwhile, other citizens Of the
United States have valuable grants from the
Mexican Government in aid OF railways from Ell
Paso and from Laredo to the City of Mexico.
and thence to the Pacific coast. In every part
of Mexico, the friendly influence of Americans
will be felt, if these works 20 on, and relations
in many respects more desirable than n political
annexation are likely to glow up between the
two countries. The Gulf of Mexico will become
in effect an American harbOr. 1t can be entered
only by two marrow channels, between Key
West and Cuba, and between Cuba and Yucca
tau, and ship cannot pass through either
channel out OF sight of land. Defence of the
commerce between tho United States and the
lshmus of Tehuantepec would be compare
lively easy, with control Of good harbor at the
mouth of the CoatzacOalcos River. While en-
gineers of high repute have expressed strong
confidence in the success Of Captain Eadss plan
for transportation of ships with their cargoes by
railway, the ultimate result of the undertaking