Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-03-10
COLOSSAL PROJECTS.
Great Undertakings which nre Hinder WAY
All Over the World.

ioot Sibhhtlc eHtsrpFlBcs and I'M
dertakings by which to increase
and perfect tho system of the
worlds commerce 10 such n extent
that coming generations will md but
little to do in that direction. Among
them must be counted the submarine
telegraphs, the successful piercing Of
the Alps for railroad purposes, the Pa
ciiic railroads, the great lines Of steam
ships for transportation Of passengers
and freight, aud above all the congruc-
tion Of the Suez canal, and last, but not
least, the tremendous railroad network
all over America as well as over Europe.
Since the unhappy consequences Of the
year 1873 have gradually died away, in
Vulnerable plans and projects for
gigantic measures TO increase the facili-
ties for the commercial intercourse Of
the world have been partly executed al
ready, while others will soon be taken
in hand.
Prominent among the latter are the
construction Of the Panama and Mica
ragua canals, and the project Of Captain
Eads 10 build railroad across the 18th
mus Of Tehuantcpcc, in Mexico, on
which hc proposes 10 carry ships Of any
and all sizes from ocean TO ocean. In
connection with these projects stands
the construction Of complete railroad
net all over Mexico by American CAPT
talists, and the finishing Of the South
crn, 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 uayiga-
tion and shipping is concerned, there is
III contemplation stock company
Whose object it j, 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 Missi.-
sippi is now passable 10 the largest
vessels, and great projects ale being
planned for the improvement Of the
lcyccs Of that river. 4 navigation com
pany has been formed at New Orleans
for the purpose Of monopolizing the
total navigation 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
increasing emigration 10 the United
States Hamburg and Bremen are chiefly
engaged in sacl enterprises. In France
the construction Of canals and railroads
is pushed forward; it is the intention
Of that country 10 expend $1,000, 600 900
in such improvements. In the East, Rus
Fia is cnergciically pushing tho compile
tion Of its railroads toward the South
and Asia. Austria intends to construct
an important railroad from tho Danube,
through Scrvis and Bulgaria, toward
Cons;antinoplc. The project of Lcsseps
TO pierce the 1sthmus of Corinth seems
20 have been pushed into tho back
ground through tho Panama canal
project.
In Asia, also. great railroad enter.
prises are planned and partly in con
struc,ion. The Chinese. who only q
short while ayo destroyed and dcmol.
ishcd little railroad built by Euro.
pcans at Canton, because they regarded
the locomotive as being built in the
devils workshops, have now concluded
to construct railroad system on their
own responsibility, in order TO connect
all the chief cities of tho interior Of that
vast empire with Pekin. Undoubtedly
the pigtails are driven TO these enter
prises by their fear of the Russians, who
are tearing piece after piece from the
Celestial empire. and who at the pres
eni time are preparing Tor general
attack.
That England, like Russia, entertains
its plans and projects for the construc-
tion Of railroads through Asia toward
India is a well known fact. When Eng.
land secured the possession of Cyprus
the fact that that country intended to
build railroad in Asia Minor at point
nearest and most convenient to the
island, which should run along the
river Euphraies toward the Gulf Of
Persia Preliminary surveys have al
ready been made; but when this plan
will he executed the English govern
ment seems TO regard as secret.
As compared with England, the
Russian plans and projects in Asia are
simply tremendous. 1t is Russia's in
tontion not alone to connect the Caspian
sea with the sea of Aral, but also to