Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 June 1879 — Ship Canals. [ARTICLE]

Ship Canals.

Since the opening of the Suez canal, ten years ago, various enterprises of the same kind, and in some cases of equal importance, have been projected in different parts of the world. The Russian Government has twice considered the possibility of uniting the Caspian and the Black sea by a canal between the two great rivers of the Caucasus, buMhe difference of level, and the absence of any definite prospects of commercial advantage, seem to have caused its Onal abandonment. Another canal has been projected for the purpose of rendering Central Asia mere accessible, by turning the Oxns once more into the Caspian sea, through the channel from which it was diverted by Octai Khan in the thirteenth century, though it may be doubted whether the already diminished stream could cover this extra distance without becoming absolutely nnnavigablb higher up. Several important canals for purposes of irrigation have been set on foot in Northern India, and one, at least, partially completed. M. De Lcssups has eclipsed his former exploit by the colossal project of pouring the Atlantic upon the Sahara desart, though it seems probable that this scheme, from various causes, can be only partially accomplished, if at all, The Darien ship cenal, now under consideration, is perhaps the most important of all; but, like many other great modern achievements, it has merely revived a conception several centuries old. The first suggestion of it originated with Vasco Nunez de Balbac, a Spanish explorer, who was the first to reach the Pacific shore in the reign of Charles V. The Suez canal was begun by Pharaoh-Necho, under whom, as Herodotus tell us, “ 120,000 Egyptians perished in digging this passage.” The Mont Ceuis tunnel was at least partially anticipated by the rockrending exploits of Hannibal to 215 B. C. The circumnavigation of Africa was the idea of Xerxes, and the overland route to India was that of Alexander the Great.— New York paper.