The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-08-29
inter OCEANIC.
Scientists Make Some Strong
Suggestions Favoring a
Ship Railway
Across the Isthnius, because 1t
will be Cheaper and quicker
Than n Canal.
Lackey, the BsancO Ficnd or
l.unatic, Taken From jail
and Hung on q Tree.
INTER.OCEANIC.



ship Railway w.. Canal.
ANN ARBoN, Mich. August 2S.-The
following is M abstract OF an address
of Captain COrthill OH the lntcr-
Oceanic Problem and Its Scientific
solution" delivered before the Associ-
alton for the Advancement of Science:
"The accomplishments of science iu-
crease its requirements. The most
serious obstacles have been overcome,
all, except this one that lies in thu
centre of the world, narrow neck
of land uniting two continents, anu
allowing no passage. An interests
and free interchange of commerce
IL seriously hampcred by this inter
oceanic problem. The great expense
of trans-shipmcnt excludes the use OF
ordinary railways. Cereals of the Pa
ciilc and other products, both agricul-
tural and manufactured. traverse long
an expensive routes to the markets
Our manufacturers, who turn out
over S5,OO0,OO0,0O0 worth annually,
exporting only per cent, cannot
participate IN the $1,000, 100000 worth
of trade in the far Pacific countries
"Thc American isthmus has been
ioA loui AbHs II ltt~
been examined, surveyed and plans
made and projected, but nothing re-
suited. There are three routes, Pan
anna, Nicaragua and Tehuantcpec
Assuming tho praciicability of the
last, its advantages will be ackuowl-
edged,
ats commercial advantages are adj
vanced by the fact that II Is near the
aXial line OF productions, passing
through Hong Kong, San francisco,
New York aud Liverpool, and its
nautical conditions are much more
favorable. The true scientific method
il that which transfers ships from
ocean to ocean mostly promptly and
economically. This method is ship
railway. Its details embrace the lift
ing dock with the system OF hydraulic
rams, so arranged rs to hold up aud
perfectly distribute the weight of
vessels, aud regulated system of car
riage supports are to be placed under
vessels hulls road bed, to be built of
material to be found along the whole
length of the railway; the superstruC-
ture, 10 be long steel ties, on which
will be laid heavy steel rails weighing
about one hundred pounds per liueal
yard. Powerful locomotives, weighing
lO2 net tons, with capacity of 5000
gross tons on the level, will haul ships
across the lsthmus. Three of these
will haul u maximum weight Of $3.50
tons, fifteen miles an hour on grades
up to twenty feet to the mile. Abrupt
changes in the direction of the road
are made necessary by following the
valleys and are accomplished by means
of floating turn tables. The harbors
at both ends are conimodious aud ex-
ccllent.
"a large number ofcxperts who OK
omIned the plaus, testify to its prac.
ticability and economy. The time
has passed for proving the feasibility
of the method, and its superior econ
omy in construction and operation is
the next subject to be considered.
Ordinary canals and railroads have
been tried. The latter being superior
in economy aud dispatch: lu the
ship canals and ship railways the
difference in favor of the lat
ter IL the greater. Historical
of moving the freight by canal aud
railway shows that the latter is far in
advance in economy, and in question
of time there is still greater difference.
The carrying out Of tendencies evil
dent In the cost OF railroad trsuporta-
ton, and instead of the average load
of fifteen tons or thirty, the max imunl
moving on two rails. put OH | 800 tons,
moving on six rails and with great
concentrated motive power, freight
will be hauled for two-lenths of n
mill per ton. The difference OF speed
would be one TO two miles on shin
canal to ten on ship railway. The
expense OF transportation by canal i,
five times that of a railroad
Its startegic advantages are impOr
tant and obvious. Seven million tom
of freight are in sight for transporta
ton over the railway in 1889. Thu
railway can be built aud equipped il
four years and fifty millions dollar
in cash, will complete evcrythin,
ready for business. The estimate ii
stock and bonds, allowing for all pos
slble contingencies is S75,OO0,C- }, an'
even with only four milton tons tn,
net profit would be al per ceuI
The beneficial results cannot be owe
estimated.
The address printed in full is Illus
trated by drawings of the lsthmui
The following resolutions wer
adopted by the association:
WHEREAS, The attention of this a
ISOLATION has been called to articles
the public press purportiug to Civ
and presumably by authority. an o
fetal repoi1 OF u commission Appoiu
ed by the treasury department to IL
yestigate the condition of the Unite
States Coast Survey office, in viii,
report the value of certain scieniii
q work is designated as "Inesgre y NJ
h WHEREAS, This association desir
to express a hope that the decision
to the utility OF such scieutitio wo
& may be referred 10 scientific III,
Resolved: