The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-02

be one of the most important in its CONNER
cial results. has advanced so far in its pre-
liminary stages that it's completion is only
a question of a few years. The only other
work in the world that can compare with
1t in its rev~olutionizing influence on inter-
national is the Suez canal, and
as that was one of the greatest achieve
ments of the nineteenth century the COM
pletion of the N~icaraguan canal will surely
stand among the greatest. if not at the
head. of the list of those of the twentieth.
Such works as these demonstrate in a very
striking way the mastery of man over ma
ture, for they practically reconstruct the
physical geography OF the earth and revo-
lutionize conditions once supposed to have
been unalterably fixed by the hand of the
Creator.
Another great work which will undoubt-
edly be completed within the next genera
ton is an international railway connecting
North and South America. Considering the
distance and the engineering difficulties to
be overcome. this is one of the boldest
works ever conceived. yet skilled engineers
have pronounced it feasible and preliminary
surveys confirm their judgment. In fact,
much of the distance is already covered,
and while that which remains to be tray
ersed presents almost insuperable difficult
ties. they will be overcome. 1t is as certain
aS aDyfhinp in tha ft,frra c.n bo that t,o
early years of the twentieth century will
see a continuous railway connection be-
tween New York. by way of Mexico and
Central America, and every considerable
city in South America
Another ~stupendous work now under way
and being pushed with all the energy and
resources of a great government is the ST.
berian railway. This is one Of the boldest
railroad enterprises ever conceived. 1t never
would have been assumed by private capt.
tai, and probably no other government but
that of Russia would have undertaken ii.
but when Russia undertakes a thing of this
kind she knows no such word as fail. I'm
der government patronage this great work
is being constructed with so much energy
that already trains are running on the east
ern division from Vladivostok. on the Sea
Of japan. we'll into the interior, and 1T is ex-
pected that the entire division will be in
operation before the close of this year. The
western division is being pushed equally as
rapidly, and the middle section, on which
work is the most difficult. will, it is thought.
be finished by 1898. Thus the beginning of
the next century will witness the compile
ton of a railroad which will be second to
none in the world in extent, quality Of con-
struction and perfection of equipment, and
which must necessarily bring about a great
industrial development in Russia and affect
the political and social fabric of that coun-
try and indirectly influence civilization ev-
erySyhere.
In addition to these great works might be
mentioned the ship canal schemes, of which
several are being projected in Europe. One
of these, to be built by Russia, will connect
the Baltic and the Black sea, while another.
to be constructed by French capital, will
! cross southern France between the Allan
tic and the Mediterranean and furnish a
short cut for ships without passing through
the Straits of Gibraltar.
From this partial list of great engineering
works. either now in progress or soon to
be undertaken, 1t will be seen that the next
century is likely to witness the consumma-
tant as any that have crowned the nine
teenth century. The world is being made
over again, and the human race is progress
inu mora rapidl,, thnn ouor h.fo..