Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-18

- w n sOA DODll AHAos
The indications are that extraordinary
efforts viii be made this winter to pass
the bills providing government aid fol-
Capt. Esds' TehuanteI &c ship railway and
the Hennepin canal The ship railway
bill was introduced into the Senate Tues
day by Senator Vest, and notice of the
purpose of the Hennepin canal projectors
was given on the first day of the session
when the project was thrust upon the al
tention of the House in very fiowery
way.
The country is familiar with Eads' ship
railway project. 1t has been discussed in
the public prints for several years. TIE
present bill, however, differs somewhat
from the bills introduced into previous
Congresses. 1t asks the government to
guarantee revenues of the ship railway
company to the amount OF s., 100000 a
year, for the period OF fifteen years after
the completion of the railway, Mexico
having guaranteed revenues ID the
amount OF 81, 100000 a year for the same
period. The guarantee is not to be in
force until ship of 1900 tons burden has
been transported across the isthmus to
the satisfaction of the government.
In consideration of the guarantee the
shiprailway company undertakes to trans
port all government vessels, property,
mails and officials aud to transmit all gov
eminent telegraph messages across the
isthmus for the sum of $500 year. 1t also
agrees to transport all vessels Of citizens
OF the United States from ocean to ocean
for 70 per cent. of the sum charged for
Transporting vessels belonging to citizens
Of other nations, Mexico excepted, and
also to refuse to transport the vessels Of
war of nations engaged in hostilities with
either the United States or Mexico.
The fact that the President referred to
this ship railway project rather fayOrably
in his message will give it a standing IN
Congress that it would not perhaps other
wise have. Even those who do not regard
it with favor will now give it respectful
consideration.
Whether or not the government ought
to grant the aid asked for is question
which different members of Congress
will doubtless answer differently. AS
Stunning that the project is practicable,
ana the government is not TO be respOn-
sible for anything until it is demonstrated
that it is, this country can afford to take
some risks in assisting to make it a sue
cess. While it is a private enterprise,
and while there ought to be no difficulty
in getting the money TO build it, if it
promises as well as its projectors think it
does, nevertheless 1t can be readily seen
that it is something that private capital
would hesitate TO take hold of unless
there were greater guarantee against
loss than the project itself offers. If the
amount of capital required were small,
there would not. of course, be any request
for government assistance. 1t is the
enormous sum needed and the doubt
about the success of the project which
make capitalists hesitate about investing.
II the railway should be built, and should
answer every requirement, the benefit it
would be to this country and Mexico, and
to commerce, would be almost incalcu-
liable.
There is not a great deal that can be
said in favor of the Hennepin canal
project that would justify the construc.
ton of it by the government. The route
Of it is wholly within the state of Illinois.
1t would connect the Illinois and Missis-
sippi rivers, and Chicago would be chiefly
benefited by 1t. The argument in favor OF
il is that it would effect a saving in
freights each year equal to half its cost.
If it would. why do not capitalists take
hold of it and build it? What better In
vestment of money could there be? II
the government should undertake to build
canals to save freights why should 1t not
build railroads for the same purpose?
1t is stated that the canal would not
cost over $6,000,OO0. Those who have
given the matter careful consideration do
not hesitate to say that before all is done
that is really contemplated five times that
sum would be required. Whatever may
be the conclusion reached with regard to
the ship railway, it would be wise proba-
bly, for Congress to let the canal scheme
alone. If it should appropriate the money
for the canal it would only establish a
precedent for similar schemes.