The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-01
PARIS A SEAPORT.

m an that none of the monuments which embel-
ish his capital hid power to nre his i'm aRln Y
ton like the forest OF masts below London
bridge Yet there was a time under the Emper
Julian when Lutetia OF the PARISH active
maritime town, and so late a. the reign OF
Charles the Bold the sea-cleaving gallevs Of the
Mortimer forced n way to the city walls. II the
hulls Of our day are larger, the hand of man can
render rivers deeper, and the project of making
the Seine once more acc assiblc 60 sea-goln0 ves-
sells of average draupht cannot DO accounted
chimerical in nation which betrayed In large
measure the outlay exicted by the Iez canal
Paris demands that sea going ships " mean
tonnage shall come directly to Its own quays,
without transfer or tightening OF cargo, and en-
gineers reply that, Notwithstanding the present
shortcomings Of the river, the achievement Ia
possible without extravaRant expenditure. But
this state Of tbiDRsis very far from being attain
ed to-day.
AT present vessels are sure TO find a depth Of
six feet between Paris and Coma ms, but beyond
the latter town, In spite Of the works decreed in
1896, the draught Of water docs not exceed 1--WE
feet, and occasionally falls short OF three. OF
all the improvements formerly proposed, the
partially completed dam at villez Is the net re-
suit, and IL follows that the condition Of tho
river Is altogether unsatisfactory. Not only Is
II Impossible for sailing craft OF mean tonnage
to ascend the Seine ss far as Paris, but the
eravest obstacles are presented to the move
ment OF Internal navigation, since even canal
boats cannot be despatched with more than a
third or quarter Of their normal load, and are,
moreover, subject to continual stoppsge. by
these delays and difficulties water transport Is
so much discouraged that in seven years. be-
tween 1885 and 1873, the trafic between Paris
and Rouen decreased twenty Ave per cent. The
da6rtanciaa NJ ha call far
remedy, and the Government and municipality
have been reused to undertake the work in
earnest. In order to appreciate the trans forma-
ton which will presently be effected, II may be
well to note the conditions OF the problem.
The feet which now uses the lower Seine,
either through it's whole course or In transit
from canals on the east aud west. may be dis
tributed In two classes, namely, boats of $50
tons or less, engaged in the carrying trade for
the Interior aud barges Of con siderablv greater
draught, either towed or carrying their own mo-
tive power, and mainly employed In the trans
port OF heavy freight between Havre or Houen
and Paris. We may remark that towaee is here
| performed by tug boats drawing trains Of barges
not seld ON half mile In length. 1t Is essential
whore the depth is but seven feet that all the
links OF such "A chain should be kept In the line
| OF the channel, and hence the impossibity Of
| travel by night. On the other hand with a depth
Of ten feet IN the channel, all anxiety would dis
appear for barges drawing but six feet OF water.
| and a great economy In time and running ex-
| penses would OF course be secured by the op-
| portunity OF nisht travel.
Even with a mean depth OF seven feet main
| tanned throughout the course Of the lower
Seine, the vessels engaged in neavy tram whose
present capacity ranges from 300 to $50 tons,
might be enlarged to 1--WE or six hundred, and
shta IL anil. Of 70
atom or " per cent. OF the actual freight charges
| between Paris and Rousn. II 10 estimated that
this Improvement of the river. although rela-
lively trivial, would speedily call forth tram
OF 100000 tons between the two last-named
cities, on which the amount saved to commerce.
would reach three millions OF francs.
These economies, however, are Of slight Inn
portauce compared with those which would he
assured by depth OF ten or twelve feet, be-
cause In the latter case most maritime craft
could ascend the Seine as far as Paris, discharge
at her own qusys. aud thus escape the multi
form exp enses and commissions sntsiIed by
transfer OF cargo. As regards coal, for instance
It Is computed that the sum retrenched In thi:
way would be equal to $40 ton. It Is plainl,
difncult to TX Within a few inches the precis,
limit OF depth at which huviai navigation mai
be transformed into maritime. Some sea-goin.
vessels draw less than eight feet, but these ar,
rare. Toe majority OF those which ply in thu
British Channel aud Mort eea, or carry on tn
coasting trade OF France, have a soniewha
larger draught. With uniform soundlngs, how
ever. OF ten to eleven feet, very many Of then
could reach Paris; with thirteen feet Of water
almost all of them, and with a depth of nine
teen or twenty feet the French capital might be
come port like London.
The plans for the renovation OF the river sub
- IL T..
Of the Seine by the engineer charged with th
construction Of the works, NJ. de Lagrenee, cor
tsmplated both provisional aud ultimate In
niovements. With an outlay Of less than thre
millions OF dolls rs it Is asserted that an averag
depth Of seven feet can he almost immedla
occurred, which would enable all boats and barge
at present employ ed in the river trade TO NOV
without stoppases, nd with full cargoes. by
more exhaustive system of dredging, and tn
addition OF some elaborate works which woul
entail a supplemental ex penditure Of $500 Co
soundings OF ten and half feet could
, guaranteed throughout the course Of the lowe
Seine. which would thus be thrown open to
considerable nun Der OF ocean vessels. The plar
4 OF NJ. de Laerenee have been approved by IN
Conseil- General, but only on condition that a
parts OF the scheme shall be prosecuted simu
taueously, the speedy access Of maritime tram
| being recognized as tue prime OBJECT Inc sui
stantial result OF this undertaking will be
Q change a winding river Of very unequal oreadt
a into a relatively straight and narrow can,
. equipped with dams ana locks Of great solidit
d an protected by lateral walls.
= Remonstrancss have not been wanting IN a.
. Paris press against the modest proportions an
x aims OF the new enterprise, but the authorize
T.: invested with its control have been shrew
"A enough to undertake what they are certain
accomplish. Many years viii doubtless ell Us
>, before ocean steamers Of large tonnage will
% enabled TO ascend the SEINE. II indeed such
% state of things should be deemed desirable. d.
, the larger part Of foreign commerce is still pc
l. formed by vessels OF mean burden, aud Il
, probable that the day Is not far distant whe
y; the items of commerce interest daily reportt
" nv the All intic Caols will bs expected to II
cude list Of arrivals and cleafauees at the pO
y, OF Paris.
:! Rea sons for Voting for Hayes and Wheeie
m GiO0e.
{. l. Hayes aud Wheeler are not surroundt
!, by PR jndices and have good war record. al
l. they will command tho sympathies OF knglaI
III and give new impetus To the English lausuap