River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-08-03
PORT SAID.


twenty line-of- battle ships to swing free
ly at anchor. As this harbor is expos
ed to northeast winds, an inside basin
has been constructed. in which there is
ample room for forty-fve ihips to be
moored with shore lines from the stern
and anchors at the bow or between
buoys. For the first twenty-six miles
from Port Said the cana runs straight
inland and almost due south. The
banks are very low, the country
through which it runs being the bed of
an extinct lake, and much of the earth
which was removed te make the bed
of the canal, was used ID fill the ground
upon which the town OF Port Said
stands. On the western side of the
canal for a distance Of twenty-four
miles lies Lake Menzshh, shallow
body Of water. TaCnty-six miles from
Port Said occurs tie first bend in the
canal. 1t curves slightly to the east
wards for distance of twomiles. Then
it again pursues southelly course I'M
til it reaches FL Guiser, This is the
highest point of land On the whole
course of the canal. The banks of
the canal at this point are eighty
five feet high, and two sharp curves
occur, making the point one OF diff
Guilty for long ships to pass. One and
one-half miles beyond is the entrance
of Lake Timsah, at which the town of
Ismailia lies. This is The headquar.
tiers of the canal COMPANY in Egypt,
and is about forty-two mihs from Port
Said. Ismailia is strictlya European
town, only the officers of tie company
and employees and cher Euro
peans being allowed to rside there.
An Arab village is locates some dis
lance away. Repairing Ships of con-
siderable importance are established
here, though the principal hops of the
company are located al Port Said.
Lake Timsah is about mile and half
in length and about two niles in width.
Through this lake channel has been
dredged and rocks necessitate very
sb arp curve in the lake
COURSE OF CANAL.
After leaving Lake Timsah the canal
takes an easterly course, running
through low land till it reaches Sera-
peum. At this point high land is again
met, but only for a short distance, the
banks averaging sixty-two feet high.
At this point, IS previously stated, the
canal runs though rocky country.
After leaving Srapeum the canal runs
south about seven miles and enters the
big lakes. These lakes, which have been
re-created by the building of this canal
are of considerable size, and the larger
affords anchorage for ships. After ieav-
ing the lakes ne canal runs almost
south till it cones to Chalouf, where
the land is againhigh, the banks reach
ing the hight of ffty-six feet. Two miles
beyond is Suez, the entrance to the
canal from the Red Sea. The town of
Suez two and lalf miles from the en-
trance of the canal; but the company's
offices and lumber of residences
of emplyes ire located at the
mouth of the canal There is fine
natural harbor at Suez. From this de-
scription it will be seen that the canal
runs either Though marshy lakes or
very low, sandy land, and at only three
points do the banks attain to any con-
siderable altitude. This is an import
ant point to consider in connection
with the defence OF the canal from an
enemy approaching by land, as will be
shown. This canal was completed in
1869, and is owned and managed by
the Suez Canal company. The COM
pany is a French corporation, but a
large portion of the stock is held in
England. The worf of building the
canal occupied abolt fourteen years,
and the entire cost was $80,S93 ,665
averaging $808, 936 per mile. The
working cost of builling the canal was
about $43, 100000. The rest was de-
voted to paying outside expenses in
connection with pushing the project
through.
DESTRUCTIBLE PROPERTY.
The canal has no locks nor elabo-
rate works of any SOFT, but it has con-
siderable property in the way of build
ings and machinery. At Tsmailia, as
stated, there is quite settlement, and
stations are located every five miles
along the canal. A telegraph line ex-
tends along the cana, with an Office at
each station. Lighthouses, bouys,
ETC., are located n the lakes. Of
course, all this property falling into
the hands OF an emmy could be de-
stroyed and would hive to be replaced
before the canal could be put in COM
plete working order, but traffic would
not of necessity haze to be entirely
stopped until the work of reconstruc-
ton could be completed In all prob
ability the utmost damage that could be
done could be so far repaired in ten days
time that ships could be got through
the canal. Really, about the most Sc
rious inconvenience that could be
caused would be to cut off the supply
of fresh water, and tat would not be a
difficult undertaking The fresh water
is obtained from a pace called Zagazig,
a point about half way between Cairo
and Isnaailia. The water is brought
from this place to Imailia by means
of canal. and the fresh wafer canal
continues from thi point to Suez,
while supply is conveyed from Is
MALTA along the caal to Port Said by
a double row of water pipes. The
other means of procuring fresh water
along the canal and at either end of
it are very slight and insufficient.
To cut off this supply Of fresh water
would stop business along the canal,
and. while it wouldbe a very simple
matter to restore he supply when
once the country was rid of the Egyp-
tan army. yet, as long as the latter
held control of the fresh water supply,
the canal would be practically at their
mercy; and, of couse, with this water
supply cut off, it would be difficult to
maintain force for the defense of the
canal. This is the grestest danger that
threatens the canal IF the water sup
ply could be kept up, the defense OF
the canal could be easily maintained.
MAssACREs ANDoUTRAGEs.
ALEXANDRIA, July E.-The country
Is drifting into fearful anarchy. Afro
cities equal to any ever perpetrated In
Bulgaria are committed with mpunity
Two Germans at TuRh, who had beer
sheltered by the station master until the
train was ready to start, were caught
on entering the train, their heads held
over the carriage door and then
throats cut. Another Christian was
placed OH the rails and an engine run
to and from over lis body.
THE MAs5ACRES.
An eyewitness Who arrived to-day
from Tantah gives appalling details O
the massacres. Eehty-four Europeans
native Christians and Jews, including
the English telegsphers, were tortur-
ed, disembowehd and torn IL
pieces. The women were violated
before being tortured. Most of them
we're dragged into ghe principal square
and murdered in tie presence of the