Connecticut western news., 1881-07-20
AN AGE OF GREAT SCHEMES.
What is Being Developed in this
 Century.

What is Being Developed in this
 Century.
 The extension of the telegraph to all parts of the world and the ability to use money speculatively in distant countries, together with the readiness with which wealth can be aggregated in vast sums, are leading to the organization of i'm mense enterprises in which capital is to be employed in masses of public works, which not only involve large outlays of money, but which cover long periods of time. This is literally an, age of great enterprise. ..vt t-
 Take the proposed Channel tunnel, for instance. Eminent engineers say it is practicable; the work has actually been commenced; in ten years it is within the bounds of probability that travellers will pass from England to France in g railway carriage. Next in order will be the utilization of the Desert of Sahara. At first it was proposed to convert it into great inland sea; but the latest, and probably the most practical scheme, is to construct arailway from some point in the Mediterranean to Central Africa. France successfully solved the Suez Canal problem, in spite of the opposi- tion of Great Britain. French enter prise proposes to open commercial re- lations between Europe and Asia by way of the Panama Canal and is carrying out the project in face of the Monroe doc- urine and the unconcealed disapproval of the American people. The French. man evidently considers it his mission to redeem Northern Africa and restore it's old grandeur and fertility. To ac- complish this, what would be so effec- tive as railway penetrating to the trop- ical regions of the dark continent? Nothing has been said recently about the railway down the valley of the Euphrates, but undoubtedly it will be some day undertaken. In our own country there are four great trunk lines, in addition to one long established, which aim to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Sometime during the year 1882 the traveller from New York may leave the Grand Central depot, and within five days be within a stone's throw of the h Ills of the Montezumas. Capt. Eads, by his jetty system, has succeeded in opening the mouths of the Missis- sippi, and he proposes to convert that famous river into an inland sea by a levee system, which would make it of uniform width from Cairo to the Gulf. This in time would not only make 1t of uniform depth, but would clear out all the Instructions. Swamp land sufficient to cover the costs would be redeemed by this scheme, for it would make avail able for cotton and corn culture dis trict of country equal to the area of several small States of the Union. TLe Hennipin Canal will some day convey ships from the Mississippi to the Lakes. Perhaps even the Erie may be made 8 ship canal from Buffalo to Albany.
 In other directions, see what schemes are under way. Gas lamps are to be abolished and cities illuminated by cleo trio lights blazing from poles two hun dred feet high, making the night as light as day for all who dwell in densely pop ulated communities. Then, far-reach- ing domestic revolutions are impending. The heating of our houses and the cook ing of our food is soon to be done by steam or superheated water. The public, in time, will have nothing to do with the coal dealer or the ashman. Already New York and other large cities have been mapped out into districts, and heat for warming and cooking purposes is to be offered to each householder at such moderate prices as to put an end to the present system of heating and cooking. Then, there are new motors which will change the face of the world if they prove successful. The Keely motor may be an illusion or fraud, but electricity is now being used for propelling railway cars. and in Paris it has successfully furnished motive power for an omnibus. The ability to store electricity after the Faure formula has immense possibilities. Even if no new motor is developed, the application of stored electricity would make possible the navigation of the air.
 Look, too, at the gigantic consolida- tions which are under way. Practically the Vanderbilt interest owns series of connecting railroads from New York city to Ogden. Jay Gould and Robert Garrett are supposed to be contem- plating 8 consolidation between the Baltimore & Ohio and the Southwestern systems, which would make those two men masters of one-third of the railway properties of the whole country. The entire telegraph system of the United States is now monopolized by one man, and the same great speculator has laid his plans for capturing all the sub- marine cables of the world, and it is not impossible that he may succeed.
 One hesitates to pursue this line of thought, for, though dealing with facts, one seems to be verging upon the ex- travagant in every new statement made. We live in stirring times, in which in- vention is active, enterprise worldwide, and the money of the world is available for projects calculated to extend con- merce, subserve human comfort and add to personal and national enrichment. N. y. Hour.