Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-07-27

| ence across the isthmus, AMI by that
means salt water had been introduced
and formed these lakes. The great
trade between Europe and Asia, and
particularly between England and her
Indian possessions, seemed to necessi.
late shorter water route between the
two continents than that around the
Cape of Good Hope, but it was to the
efforts of Frenchman that the build
ing of the canal was largely due. The
project of building the Suez canal was
suggested by NJ. Ferdinand de Lesseps
to the khedive, Said Pacha, in 1854.
The history Of the building of the canal
Is well known, but some Of the details
showing the immensity of the work
| may prove of interest. The entire
length of the canal from Port Said
harbor to Suez harbor is nearly 100
miles. The canal itself, from entrance
to entrance, is 90 7-10 miles. The es-
tablished surface width is about 32S
feet, except in difficult cuttings, when
1t Is not more than $50 to 100 feet.
The bottom width is from y to 100
feet, and the depth of the canal is
no point less than 26 feet over that
surface. The total amount of earth
removed was about 400,000,000 cubic
yards. At the opening of the canal at
on the Mediterranean side is tho town
OF Port Said, place of several thous-
and inhabitants. This city grew up
entirely from the building of the canal.
The barber at Port Said has the gen.
eral form of q triangle, the base rest
ing on the shore. On the longest side,
on the west, protecting the entrance
from moving sand, is mole or break
water $500 feet long. 1t is proposed
to extend this mole $500 feet further,
and work on the same is constantly 90
ing on. This mole is built of concrete
IN blocks OF thirteen cubic feet. On
the eastern side there is mole of $3.50
1eet, protecting the channel between
the two moles, which mas a depth of
twenty-sveen feet.
PORT SAID.
The outer harbOr of Port Said is
equal to 40 acres, and will permit
twenty line -battlt ships to swing free
~ 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 ships 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 canal 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 to make the bed
of the canal, was used to fill the ground
upon which the town OF Port Said
stands. On the western side of the
canal for distance of twenty-four
miles lies Lake Menzaleh, shallow
body of water. Twcnty-six miles from
Port Said occurs the first bend in the
canal. 1t curves slightly to the east
wardlfor distance of two miles. Then
it again pursues a southerly course I'M
til it reaches Ell 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.
ters of the canal company in Egypt,
and Is about fOrty-two miles from Port
Said. Ismailia is strictly European
town, only the officers of the company
and employees and other Euro
peans being allowed to reside there.
An Arab village is located some dis
tance away. Repairing shops of con-
siderable Importance are established
here, though the principal shops of the
company are located at Port Said.
Lake Timsah is about mile and half
in length and about two miles in width.
Through this lake a channel has been
dredged and rocks necessitate a very
sharp 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 short distance, the
banks averaging sixty-two feet high.
At this point, SIS previously stated, the
canal runs through a rocky country.
After leaving Serapeum the canal runs
south about seven miles and enters the
big lakes. These lakes, which have been
re-created by the building of tbs canal
are of considerable size, and the larger
affords anchorage for ships. After leav-
ing the lakes the canal runs almost
south till it comes to Chalouf, where
the land is again high, the banks reach
ing the hight of fifty-six feet. Two miles
beyond is SueZ, the entrance to the
canal from the Red Sea. The town of
Suez two and a half miles from the en-
trance of the canal, but the company's
offices and q number of residences
of emplyes are located at the
mouth of the canal. There is a fine
natural harbor at Suez. From this de-
scription it will be seen that the canal
runs either through 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 Ia
1869, and is owned and managed by
! the Suez Canal company. The COM
pany is a French corporation, but d
large portion of the stock is held in
England. The work of building the
canal occupied about fourteen years,
and the entire cost was $50, 1913, 665,
averaging $808,936 per mile. The
working cost of building the canal was
about S43, 100000. The rest was de-
voted to paying outside expenses in
connection with pushing the project