The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1885-04-15
Our Exposition Letter.

bid fair to be It's best. The latest single
object Of universal interest 20 be placed on
exhibition, and one deserving OF more than
a passing notice, is complete working
model Of Cap Eads proposed "Tehuante-
pee Ship Railway" now on exhibition, very
appropriately, in the Mexican section Of
the Main building, and is constantly sur.
rounded by an interested crowd OF specta-
tors This most interesting "model" shows
the entire practicability Of lifting the
heaviest vessels ont of the water by means
Of pontoous or floating docks, almost pre-
cisely such as arc on the river In this port
the ordinary method in use for docking
ships in all commercial countries. The
'model" shows the sinking Of the pontoou
in the dock to receive the vessel when she
is raised by lifting block which is capable
Of lifting a vessel Of five thousand tous
gross weight; the dock will be 45O feet long
70 feet wide and l5 feet deep, arranged
with a system Of hydraulic rams placed on
an intermediate deck Of the poutoou. The
object Of these rams is to distribute equally
the weight Of the vessel. The poutoon is
guided in it's upward and downward move
ment by strong anchor rods, or columns,
passing through itfreely, and firmly secured
in the foundations Of the dock. Upon the
pontoon is placed a carriage for supporting
and moving the vessel, and, as shown in
the model, receives and moves of with the
ship with as much apparent ease as any
railway train. The "tracll" or railway, will
have six rails, three standard gauge tracks
Of ( feet 81 inches each. A full detail of
the proposed railway would occupy too
much Of your space aud could not be made
clear with out the aid of diagrams, but the
working of the "model" conclusively dem
olstrates its entire feasibility, and the
gentleman in charge Of the exhibit remark
ed to your correspondent that they would
certainly not be advocating the enterprises
if any doubt existed in their minds Of the
success of the system"
It may be ad led that all the best engineers
in Europe and America h,ve given Capt.
Ead's plan their endorsement, and it only
remains to obtain the necessary capital,
when the work will be begun and prosecu-
ted to a successful completion. Several
surveys have already been made to find a
suitable route across the Isthmus, and the
distance it is known can be reduced to 1874
miles Of track, at a cost not to exceed fifty
millions, though Capt Eads himself be-
lieves he can complete the entire work at
total cost of thirty-fve millions. The re-
suit of this mammoth undertaking will be
to revolutionize the carrying trade of the
world, and cannot fail to be of incalculable
benefit to the people, not only of America,
but of Europe and Asia. To the people of
the entire Mississippi Valley it must espec-
tally prove of vast commercial interest,
opening up, as it must, new and most de-
srable trade with the entire Pacific coast,
and its now far off Islands. This route
will reduce the distance of ocean travel be-
tween San Francisco and New Orleans 12, %
551 below that via Cape Horn, and lessen
the distance between the former city and
New York, by water, 1O,797 miles, aud be-
tween San Francisco and Liverpool the Ship
Railway will reduce the ocean travel from
Is, SO3 via Cape Horn to 1927 miles or a
saving Of fifty per cent Anyone can thus
see what important results are inevitable
on the completion of the new route. That
conflicting interests are likely to antagonist
the enterprise may readily be expected but
when the people learn of its certain advan-
tages they will overrid all opposition and
compel the necessary aid to insure its sue
cess, which will be another step towards
the solution of the vexed problem of cheap
transportation. Mr.. E. L. Corthell, Chief
Engineer, is in charge of the "model" to
explain it and illustrate the commercial fea-
lures by large map Of the world.
IDAHO.
The exhibit made by this territory is
called the "Gem" display of all the States
and judging from the valuable minerals
aud other products shown Idaho is Ger.
taiuly rnre gem. 1t has been the good
fortune of your correspondent to meet quite
a number of gentlemen from this territory
aud if the balance of Idaho's population
''are made from the same cloth" it must in
deed be a pleasure to dwell in such a country
not even taking into consideration that
Idaho's climate is doubtless the year round
the most delightsome within the boundary
lines Of the United States. Col. Geo, L
Shoup, Of Salmon City, a very wealth!
gentleman, is the U. S. Commissioner
while Mr. A. j. McNab, a prominent miner
is the acting commissioner now present il
charge Of the exhibit. To the interes
these gentlemen have taken in showing ~
Idaho's great wealth, the "Gem" teritor,
is indebted for a representation at th
Worlds Fair, as all the expenses so far hav
been born 10y them, and they are not at al
light amounting TO some S25, OOO TIL
. Legislature Of Idaho should uoJ fail at thei
uext meeting to reimburse these gentleme
for their public spiritedness, Although
Idaho has quite a number Of industrie
! from which her thrifty people derive wealth
Z yet mining is the chief, and the beauhfJ
3 glass cases filed with rich specimens al
b converting the thousands who daily examin
tLov, fhef Taobo bog NO ev7v,l5-i,s ss q riC