The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-07-07
Colossal Projects Of the Present Time.

1t seems to be the object and deter
mination of the present age to set on
foot gigantic enterprises and undertake
ings by which to increase and perfect the
system of the worlds commerce to such
an extent that coming generations will
find but little to do in that direction.
Among them must be counted the sub
marine telegraphs, the successful pierre
ing of the Alps for railroad purposes,
the Pacific Railroads, the great lines of
steamships for transportation of passen-
gers and freight, and above all the con-
struction of the Suez Canal, and last.
but not least, the tremendous railroad
network all over America as we'll as over
Europe. Since the unhappy effects and
consequences of the year 1873 have
gradually died away, innumerable plans
and projects for gigantic measures to
increase the facilities for the CONNER
cial intercourse of the world have made
their appearance and many of them
have been partly executed already,
while others will soon be taken in hand.
Prominent among the latter are the
Construction of the Panama and Nicar-
aqua Canals and the project of Captain
Eads to build a railroad across the 18TH
mus of Tehuantepec, in Mexico. on
which he proposes to carry ships of any
and all sizes from ocean to ocean. In
connection with these projects stands
the construction of a complete railroad
net all over Mexico by American capi-
talists, and the finishing of the Southern,
Northern and Canadian Pacific Rail-
roads. The laying of a submarine cable
from San Francisco to Japan and China
will be the logical consequence of the
construction OF all of these Pacific roads.
As far as our own American naviga-
ton and shipping is concerned, there
is in contemplation a stock company
whose object it is to build one hundred
iron steamships for coast, river and lake
navigation; the first seven of these
steamships are now in progress of con-
struction The mouth of the Mississippi
is now passable to the largest vessels,
and great projects are being planned
for the improvement of the levees of
that river. A navigation company has
been formed at New Orleans for the
purpose of monopolizing the total navi-
CATION of the Father of Rivers and its
tributaries.
Western Europe is busy in the con-
struction of steam transports in order
to handle and move the tremendous
American freight and the constantly in
creasing emigration to the United States
Hamburg and Bremen are chiefly en-
| gagged in such enterprises. In France
the construction of canals and railroads
is pushed forward; it is the intention OF
that country to expend one thousand
millions of dollars in such improve
| In hn CT &c
| getically pushing the completion of its
railroads towards the South and Asia.
| Austria intends to construct an impor.
tant railroad from the Danube, through
Servia and Bulgaria, towards Constants
nople. The project of Lesseps to pierce
the Isthmus of Corinth seems to have
been pushed into the background
through the Panama Canal project.
In Asia, also, great railroad enter
prises are planned and partly in con
struction. The Chinese, who only q
short while ago destroyed and demol
ished little railroad built by Euro
peans at Canton, because they regarded
the locomotive as being built in tn,
devils workshops, have now concluded
to construct railroad system on thei
own responsibility, in order to connec
all the chief cities of the interior Of tina
vast Empire with Pekin. Undoubtedl,
the pigtails are driven to these enter
prizes by their fear of the Russians, VIII,
are tearing piece after piece from tn,
borders of the Celestial Empire and VIII,
at the present time are preparing for
J general attack.
That England, like Russia, entertain
its plans and projects for the construc
tion of railroads through Asia, toward
: India, is a well known fact. Whe
England secured the possession of Cy
prus, it was generally admitted to b
proof of the fact that that country in
tended to build railroad in Asia Mino
at point nearest and most convenier
to the island. which should run alon
the River Euphrates towards the Gulf {
Persia. Preliminary surveys have q
ready been made; but when this pla
will be executed the English Govern
ment seems to regard as secret.
As compared with England, the Ru'
sian plans and projects In Asia are sim
! ply tremendous. 1t is Russia's intentio
not alone TO connect the Caspian Sc
with the Sea of Aral, but also to max
the River mur-Darja navigable as ia