INTEROCEANIC CANALS AND RAILROADS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 51, 1 March 1881, Page 4

INTEROCEANIC CANALS AND RAILROADS.

From the American letter of the Otapo Times we take the following interesting account of the various schemes <oo foot for establishing communication between the Pacific and Atlanlio Ooeana:-— The rival schemes for connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans by means of b ship canal arc engrossing a great deal of attention, but they are rudely challenged by Captain James Eads, who proposes to build a 'ship railroad across the Isthmus of Techuantepec, in Mexico. This famous engineer was recently in California, the mioing debris problem having been submitted to him because of bis knowledge of hydraulic engineering. He is a modest, but capable and energetic man, and hie great work of deepening the channel at the entrance of the Mississippi River by jetties has given him world-wide fame. Captain Eads was poohpoohed by scientists when be piojected tbie work; but he quietly undertook it with bis private resources, agreeing to receive a Govercrnent grant-inlaid when it bad been satisfactorily done. It is needles to say that Congress did not dispute his claim, and the money was cheerfully appropriated. This deepening of the channel at New Orleans must work ft remarkable change in the transportation business. Ic will makf the Mississippi a great factor in the carrying trade. Ad present four times the amount of friegbt from the west crosses St Louis Bridge for the eastern eeaporta that goes down the Mississippi River * but with all the immense resources of the railroads, there is b block of trcflio on the Eastern lines, and the other day it almost extended as far west as St Louis. TLTs block muet continue while the L^ke route ie frozen; and the only possible relief is the river navigation to the Gulf oi Mexico. Now, ao it costs noibin# to transport merchandise and breadstuff from St Louis to New Orleans, the current of the river eupplying motive power, it follows thai this means of outlet will be generally adopted for breadstuff and heavy freight, and it is being so utilised this season. Large floats are constructed, on which a rude deck-house is built for two or three men on boarJ. A epar and a single sail and a sweep-oar to steer are all that is required. On arrival at New Orleans, where timber is scarce, the pine wood in the floats is sold ; the stanchions and sweep-oar fetch high prices, the former for furniture and the latter for shipbuilding purposes Thus not only does the rough timber of the float pay wages for (be trip, but it leaves a handsome profit to tbe owner. Well, as I was saying, tbe set of commerce from tbe west is down the Mississippi to New Orleans, which lvill also be very soon connected with this coaet by the Southern Pacific Railroad extension. This will raise New Orleans to a leading position, perhaps the leading one in the Union, and ae its sanitary condition is now admirable, there is no reason to feer an epidemic But it aleo plays an important pert in the interoceanic canal railrcai question. Captain Eads has just returned from Mexico, where he obtained the needed concession, and he boldly traverses the Nicaragua and Panama routes. He says that the denizens on the Musissippi Valley will not consent to the Nicaragua route ; and for the De Leeseps Panama scheme, he thicks it chimerical. It is 12CO miles nearer to Sao Francisco, tnd proportionately to other Pacific ccasfc ports, from the mouth of the Mississippi, via Tehuantfpeo, that is via Nicaragua; nod as the Mississippi Valley is destined to supply the markets of ell the country Bouth of the Mexican line, it folloWs that its interest lies in openiDg the shortest practical route. New York, Boston, and Baltimore have no sucb direct interest. They are mere forwarding or distributing points, and for their purposes (he longest route is as good as the shortest. But with St. Louis, Cincinnati, aud the great producing weßt it is different. Even Chicago is directly interested in this question, and manifests its appreciation of the natural water route to the Gull port, by a project for building a ship canal from Lnke Michigan to tbe Mississippi. Moveover, it will cost four times as much to construct a ship canal across the Nicaragua route as to build a ship railway across Tehuantepec. It is right to s&y De Leeseps laughs at E&ds and his ship railroad ; but the Frenchman will pocket nearly a million sterling as a promoter's commission if he floats the Panßma stock, bo that he is safe in any event, while Eads proposed to construct tbe first ten miles of the ship railroad as be did the Mississippi jetties, and trust to bis country for a vote in aid afterwards. At this point I ebould add tbat although tbe Nicaragua project is before Congreßs in the shape of a bill, with General Grant at its bead, it seems to bang fire ; and prominent citizeDß are beginning to doubt whether after all, it is to the interest of this country, looking to the development of trade, and its political Bscendency in tbe future, to encourage, or .even per!mit, the severance of North end South America by a ebip canal. I am strongly of tbe opinion tbat tbe United State's should iDterpoße to prevent it ; for m surely es a canal is constructed, the influence of the Acglo-AonericßD Republic will be limited to the Northern half. The Mexican Government has made very liberal concessions to Caplain Eads, and ib anxious to promote the work. It grants one million acres on the Pacific eide for terminal works tied to establish harbors, and a balftnile strip across the Isthmus ; it empowers tbe imposition of 5 dollars per ten on the freight of ships and cargoes passing over tbe road , a concession for a telegraph and passenger railroad line is also given, and the Government reserve tbe right of purchase at twotbirds of tbe value at the expiration of the time. In consideration of these privileges, Captain Eads undertakes to cany on tbe railroad all Mexican ships of war, munitions, mails, etc., free of charge. The work is to be commenced within two years, and completed within ten years from May Ist, 1881. Captain Eads declares it will be finished in four years. He will havejnodiffioulty S raising the capital,