National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-13
TEHuANTEPEo SHIP RAILWAY.

VIII the country be benefited by the Tehuantepec
ship Railway What will its cost be to the Gov
ernmont2 viii the Benefits of the road be an
adequate return for its cost9 These are thcrcnl
questions for Congress to determine before final
action on the Teluantepec bill. Whether the
scheme is or is not practical is not III Issue. 1t
is not at oil necessary that Congress should pass
upon that question. Its projectors Insist that It is
practicable. Thoy offer an irresistible array Of
proof that loaded ships Of great tonnage have been
lifted from the wnter aud dookcd without injury,
and they offer scientific testimony Of the very best
value that such ships, after being docked, can be
transported by rail with safety. Any ono who has
been
AT SEA IN HEAVY WEATHER
has realized that there is nothing in the jar mo-
ton Of the train moving at 10 or Is miles an hour
TO compare with the strain Of vessel which, al sea
in storm. lifts its head on one wave and strikes
with tremendous thump on the breast of another,
or OF loaded vessel that under the force Of great
winds, lays for hours with one gunwale under
water, as is frequently the case.
But even III the praCtlCnbity of the Eads scheme
was less susceptible ofproof It ought not to inter
iero in any way with the proposed action OF Con-
gress 1.-THE ship railways not practicable. moth
pie provision for this.
NO SUBSIDY IS ASKED.
All that the projectors desire is that interest to
limited extent should be guaranteed on the bonds
entire pIactcability of the road is demonstrated
not by the opinions of scientists but by the surest
and most infnllible ofttsis-,he building of part
OF The road and the transporting OF loaded vessel
over IT, III the ectOrs fail to do this SUI Cessiully
the Government is TO givethenltnothing and guar
antec them nothing. They take all the risk II
they fail the loss Is all theirs and only in the event
of complete and demonstrated success is the Gov
eminent asked
TO GUARANTEE ANYTHING.
For these reasons, as the Government risks moth
ing and promises nothing in the event OF failure,
Congress wastes time in testing the arguments on
| the pfaclcbbility of the scheme.
II the road succeeds will its benefits TO the coun
try correspond TO the amount the Government will
be called upon rs a guarantee7 This is the real
| question, aud all discussion should be confined to
1t. Certainly If the road be built and operated,
transporting ships of6,00O or even 1900 tons with
cargOes from ocean to ocean, les advantages to the
| commerce OF the world Will he incalculnbe ;.and
| II, as proposed vessels of this Government are
Transported free, and the ships of
MERCHANTS OF THE UNITED STATES
are carried at onehalf the rates charged to the
merchants of all other nations, except Mexico, II
will give to American mere hants an advantage of
costs which cannot all TO enlarge their carrying
II 1t docs not quite revolutionze frelghtago from
Australia and Western Asia Considering how
little this Government is asked to guarantee that
ard the great possible advantages that may follow,
II does seem that Congress will miss opportunity
to foster our commerce and enrich the whole
country II 1t permits this project TO expire for want
of needed encouragement-DetroH Post and hi
bttnc Minus