The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1900-10-27
SOUTHAMPTON TO LONDON
FOR BIG CANAL CONSTRUCTION,
Adopting am Americas Transit plan
--Schelnes kept Qpiet-Ia Handr of
i C.. =. Yerkes, of Chicaso-MuchO Op-
position Eneountered.

London, Get. 2l.--The latest and most
important project on foot in England, so
the Associated Press learns, is the con-
struction Of canal from Southampton to
London. The surnise as to the far reach
ing consequences such a step would en-
tail is scarcely less interesting than the
fact that if 1T is accomplished it is li-,ely
to be through the instrumentality Of
American capital. Coming on top Of Lon
don's adoption Of the American transit
system and utilization Of American money
and brains, the latest project may well
be said to cap the climax. No word OF
the new scheme has yet been mentioned
in the papers and few people know of its
existence. NEVERTHELESS the route from
Southampton to London has been care
fully surveyed BY competent enginecrs,
who declare thel lanal is: not only feasible,
but that it could be built at q compare
lively small expenditure. The whole mat.
tel has just been put in the hands Of the
same firm of contractors which is handling
Charles I. lerkes' new London railroad
4 although the, Chicago lp....onaire himself
| is not Known to be taking an active part II
it at present. Indeed, the lcgal and Olhel
difficulties which it is necessary ito over
come before the construction Of the cana
is assured are so great that some tim'
must eiapse before the financial part of tn
matter comes up prominently. -
j The opposition encountered by the pro
moters Of the Manchester and Liverpoo
/ in parliament and elsewhere would prob
J ably be as nothing TO the jealous effort
[ of other cities in the same direction II
: this case, for since the American line Q
!, steamers made Southampton its port 9
] call Southampton has 80 improved itse
!. and has SO affected the trade OF 0the
t ports that it already regarded with
Ell Jealous eyes, What commercial revol,
/ tions will; ensue from a ship canal enal
Q ling trans Atlantic and other liners
). land their passengers in the heart OF Loi
' don many hours earlier than any otht
! route can be easily judged by the GROWN
8 popularity Of the smaller steamship lint
t now sailing direct to and from London b
Vi the slow route of the Thames. =
The underground system has at lai
stimulated the owners Of district railroa
t stock to buy those securities in the bell
r that an electrical installation must r
, place the present steam and smoke, whie
make travelling on the old undergroun
d railroad such an obnoxious experience fl
5 all foreigners.
t Murray Griffiths, probably the large
= owner of district stock, had a conferen
). with Mr.. Yerkes' representative in Londe
q Friday but they both have denied tn
It there is any expectation of necessi'
r. that Mr.. Yerkes will interest himself
q this new enterprise. ..4s.
Isl Griffiths, whose buying sent up the stot
) 10 points, informed a representative OF t.
.sl Associated Press that he believed an ele
o tric, installation could be satisfactorily a
y complished if the directors could only
d brought to realize the necessity Of 'keepil
IS mp with the times. iys B3