FLOODING THE SAHARA.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1549, 8 June 1882, Page 4

FLOODING THE SAHARA.

De Lesseps seems to never weary of scheming to change the face of the globe, in vthe invests ,*oi commerce *mcl navigation.' First he cut 'through the Isthmus of Suez, thereby establishing a highway to the far, • East that had never, be?n dreamed of before, and 'which would not exist to-day but for his energy, skill and enterprise. /Next he set. to work to cut 'thfe Anierican continent in' 1 two by means of the Panama Canal, and, in spite of ■ the mosb tremendous natural > and political obstacles, it 'looks 1 as if he will accomplish a feat the results of which must be of almost incalculable importance to the entire world. And now he is actively promoting no less a scheme than the flooding of the Sahara Desert, whereby Tunis and Algeria would be converted into au island, and the rich and fertile regions of Central Africa would be made, accessible by water. It is true that only the first of these jnighty undertakings is as yet an accomplished fact, but the success which attended that gigantic effort, and the enormous benefits' which have resulted from it, encourage the world to believe and hope that a similar good fortune will befall the enterprises which he has how hi hand. The Sahara project, like those of the Suez and Panama Canals, does not originate with De Lesseps, but has been contemplated for many years by many people. No practical steps have been taken with regard to it, however, .until now) •when it appears that De Lesseps has induced the French Cabinet Council to formally approve ot the scheme. The point at which it is proposed to admit the sea is where the desert closely apapproachesthe Mediterranean, westofthe GulfofCabes. The low lying portion of the Sahara which would be inundated by this cutting is estimated to have an area of neai-ly 130,000 square miles, and its effect, as we have mentioned, would be to practically insulate Tunis andAlgeria. The cost is at present reckoned at about §13, 000,000, but ot course that can be only roughly gu essed at. As to the practicability of creating this inland sea — or rather of restoring it, for there are evidences that it existed during the glacial period — the first engineers and scientists of the day appear to have no doubt whatever. — News Letter.