The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-02-27
A New Survey of the Route Ex-
pected.
THE SHIP RAILWAY PROJECT.
Facts CONCERNING the rehususspec scheme.
Now Considered Certain That Within Ten
or Twelve Years the Two Oceans VIII
He Connected by Water.

I "
enterprise would like to pass a bill at one,
committing the government to the scheme
but this seems impossible The attention
of congress has been directed anew 20 ON.
OF the most interesting of all recent en-
cheering prospeots-the proposed shiT
railway crossing Mexico at the isthmus OF
Tehuantepeo. The senate recently repub.
lished as public document a lecture de
livered before the Geographical society OF
Washington by one of the engineers of tina,
project one who was associated with the
late James b. Eads, the famous engineer,
for several years. Many senator's believe
the ship railway the better method of cut
ting the American isthmus. They prefer
it TO canal for the reason that IL can be
more quickly constructed and at less cost.
Engineering Dinacultisa
The Canadian parliament has recently
made an appropriation for completion of
the Chignecto ship railway In Nova Scotia.
That railway was begun some years ago
and partly completed but of late has Ian.
guished for want of funds 1t Is now be-
lieved 1t will be finished In few years,
and IL 1t proves an engineering success IL
Is considered certain the Tehuantepeo prof
cot will be regarded with still more favor
In the public mind. The Chignecto rail
way Is not very Lonesome IA miles, /
think-but IL Is planned on lines very
similar TO those which Mr.. Eads set for his
larger and more important enterprise in
the Tehuantepec peninsula, and IL one Is
successful from mechanical and operat-
Ing point of view there Is no reason why
the other should not be. The mere size OF
the vessels 10 be carried or the length of
the route means only that provision must
be made accordingly. III the engineering
difficulties can be overcome ON the shorter
route, they can be overcome In the same
way on the longer one.
10 most people IL seems a dream TO talk
OF carrying great ocean ships across the
country on wheels without injury to their
hulls or discharge of cargo or passengers
But Mr.. Eads, who was one of the most
successful engineers of his time, staked
his reputation upon the soundness of his
plans, and he has been Endorsed by great
number OF eminent engineers In this and
othor countries. So far as strain upon the
ship Is concerned, practically the same
diihculties are met in putting a vessel In
drydock, and this Is done every day. IL
Is true, in drydook ship Is at perfect
rest, whereas on the ship railway IL would
have to bo kept In motion "a hours or a
largo part thereof In order to reach the
other ocean. But the track will be made
almost as smooth as a still sea, and the
pneumatic cushion system, Ii Is claimed.
Will absolutely prevent any injury TO the
hull.
Mr.. Eads Plana
IL Is predicted by public men and en-
gineers who knew Mr.. Eads that II he Ind
lived the Tohuantepeo route would now
DO nearly or quite ready for carrying ships
from ocean TO ocean. Mr.. Eads' heart
was In that work as few men give them
selves to task, and when told that he
must die, In Cuba, some years ago, ne said |
to his physician: But l can't die, NV
work Is not finished" Death conquered |
that indomitable spirit, but bis work lives
after him, and il would not surprise any /
one familiar with the situation to see /
congress take up his plans and push them
toward completion.
MIR. Eads proposed to construct barbors
at either end of the route, and to float YES
sells In docks, or basins, built for the pur-
pose, so that tho hull should rest in a
sunken pontooD. When the ship was In
place, the water would be pumped out of
the compartments of the pontoon struc-
ture, and quickly the structure would rise
to the surface OF the water, bringing the
ship out high and dry. Then the pneu-
matte and rubber faced cushions would be |
adjusted to the hull in such way that the |
slightest superliuous pressure In ono part
Or tendency to list or roll, would be taken
up by all other parts, and the ship be thus
softly nestled, as secure as II In her natural
element When all WAS made ready, sew.
sral locomotives would be hitched to the
Marriages on which the ship rested, and
5he whole mass would be drawn across the
at rate Of eight or ten miles an
hour.
The isthmus of Tehuantepec is the first
PASS between the oceans az one goes south
ward from the Rio Grande. Here tho land
larrows, too, SO that IL Is but 175 miles
rom sea To sea. BY using a river nayiga-
Die to ocean going ships for some miles on
mo Atlantic side Mr.. Eads' surveys short
med the length of the rail- route to about |
100 miles. According to his plans, he
would have three tracks parallel, all laid
u very heavy steel upon entertainments as
lrm us engineering science could make
hem. he would have stone bridges In
tead of iron.
Opinions of Engineers. |,
1t Is estimated that within "a hours of
NV "'ii'o' vi ~ SUPP AT one OF tne harDOre |
could be docked, adjusted to the pom
Don and carriages, carried across the con
iDent and he delivered safely In the waters
II the Other ocean 1t Is also estimated
hat n single line Of rails could carry the |
nitro commerce. offering, which Is esti.
mated at 1000, 600 tons for the first year
4 operation.
According TO recent estimates, tho rail
way could be completed and stocked, in
luding the necessary harbors and break.
waters, for $50, 900, 900 gold This Is less
han one-half what the engineering com
mission estimated the Nicaragua canal
would cost. An important difference be-
weon ship railway and canal In such
rainy country as the American istbmus
$ that the former IL always above the
iood line, while the latter IL always be-
ow IT, Another important consideration
s that the railway line would be 600 or
700 miles nearer the United States and
ust so much nenrer the axial line of COM
nerce.
II Is now considered certain that within
o or IL years, by either canal or ship rail
yay thu nassino of chipe fro,,, ,na y>...~ |