New-York tribune., 1883-06-03
THPOUGH PALESTINE BY WATER.

lne conversion Oh Jerubdlcm lntO u scupVio
is q project which would shock the religious
sensibilities of Englshmen, if their associa-
tons with Bible countries had not become so
hard and prOsaic The cessiOn OF Cyprus, the
scene of the first missionary journey, was
looked upon at first as a good stroke of busl-
ness on the part of Lord BeacOnsfield, and
subsequently as a bad investment, its trade
being iuconsiderable, its harbors worthless and
its srategical value with reference to the
Suez Canal of small account. An experienced
traveller goes to the summit OF Ararat because
it is more conspicuous exploit in mountain
climbing than the well-worn Alpine passes
offer to venturesOme spirits, and consequently
will make thrilling chapter in book, ana
not because he has suspicion that the keel
of the Ark ever grounded there. year ago
a campaign was conducted in the ancient Land
of Goshen and n stronghold stormcd on the
site OF one of the cities of bondage and IN
the rapid movement of the troops and the
press of diplomatic and administrative ques-
tions no leisure was left for the
temptation of the religious associations OF
the signs and wonders of Egypt. Rail
ways have been planned between the Jor-
dan and the coast, and the sole consideration
has been whether they would pay dividends
on the cost of construction. In like manner
this new project for constructing an inter-
oceanic canal through the Holy Land and the
region beyond the Dead Sea is regarded In
England only in its practical aspects of utility
and availability as n waterway TO India.
As the details of the scheme are recited IN
The Times CLondon), the proposed canal Is to
unite the Mediterranean and the Gull OF
Akabah, the eastern arm of the upper waters
of the Red Sea. a great trench Is to be hol-
lowed out from Haifa in the Bay OF Acre,
through the PLAIN of Abstraction to the valley
of the Jordan, tapping the Lake of Gailee.
The course of the river will be diverted lower
down for the sake of converting Jericho and
Jerusalem, and possibly Bethlehem as well,
into saltwater ports, or halfway houses on
the canal. Beyond the Dead Sea lies desc
late region seldom traversed by European
travellers, through which canal will have to
he cut to the Gulf of Akabah IL is
sandy valley which was once the bed
of sea, but now abounds IN scorpions
and serpents-an uninhabltable desert waste
The entire water route from sea to sea, in
cluding Lots great salt marsh, or bitter lake,
will measure 200 miles, and varying In width
from 900 feet to 10 miles, will float vessels
of tbe largest size from the Mediterranean
to the Red Sea. While the projectors refer
casually to the prophecy of Ezekiel that there
is TO be a broad sea in the heart OF the desert
and that "the fishers shall stand upon it
from Engedi even unto Eneglain," sacred asso-
Citations have little to do with their scheme OF
an interoceanic canal through Palestine. They
talk lightly of draining the Lake of Galilee,
changing the course of the Jordan, increasing
the business facilities of Jerusalem, and steam
ing through the Dead Sea. They are prepared
to pay $j,000,000 as recompense to the
natives whose property may be injured by the
submerging of 800 square miles of the Holy
Land As for the losses In religious venera
ton and sacred feeling, they roughly estimate
that these would be amply compensated for in
the revival of business activity.
II is not probable that the present generation
will witness the consummation of this scheme.
Even if NJ. dc Lesseps does not enlarge the
Suez Canal, British shipowners and capital
lists will not favor a water route Of 200 miles
through Palestine when another only half as
long can be found on the isthmus. Neverthe
less q company has been formed with the
Duke Of Marlborough as chairman, to raise
sufficient capital to enable body of engineers
to survey the Jordan valley, take soundings
in the Dead Sea, and explore the desert as far
as the Gulf of Akabah. The last section of
the route is the one which offers the most for
mldable engineering difficulties, and this will
be the first TO be surveyed If the engineers
reports are favorable, negotiations with the
Porte for an exclusive right of way will be in
order, unless the imaginatons of the project
ors are caught by some other glittering scheme.
A suggestion for an inclined railway to the
crest of Mount Sinai may divert them from
any serious endeavOrs to convert Jerusalem into
a seaport and Bethlehem into stirring place
of business.