Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-07-20

uniting the canal with the Nile, as former
engineers had proposed, to cut the canal
right through the isthmus In 4 straight
line to Snez. The most wonderful fea-
ture Of bis plan was the artificial harbors
to be constructed at lynch and Suez.
That at Tyncs was to be carried out into
the Mediterranean five miles in order to
get the required permanent depth, and
that at Suez three miles.
The English. probably for political as
well as for practical reasons. did not re-
gard De Lesseps' scheme with favor. In
1855 European commission was ap-
pointed, and reported that De Lesseps'
plan, somewhat modified, was practical
bic. The result was the formation of a
joint stock company. with a subscribed
capital of $40. 900, 900, of which tho Said
Pasha of Egypt took nearly half. In 1855
at the request OF De Lesseps, another
scientific commission investigated his
proposed plans, and reported that the
construction of a ship canal across the
Isthmus is only question Of time and
money, and added that it could be COM
pleted in three years., sf
The construction of the canal was at
once begun, and it was formally opened
in November. 1869. 1t is eighty-five
miles long. and has its Egyptian outlet at
Port Said, a town of about ten thousand
inhabitants. The Mediterranean is very
shallow at that point, and an artificial
deep channel had to be made bounded by
piers extending far out to sea. Stone for
these piers was at first brought from
long distance. but later artificial stone
was made on the spot, composed of two
parts of sand and one of hydrrulic lime
ground into paste, and nodded in
wooden boxes. After the mold boards
were removed the blocks were left from
three to six months in the open air to
harden. The blocks contain 10 cubic
meters each, and weigh 20 tons. The
western pier is 1000 feet long and, the
eastern pier 5000 feet.
From Port Said the canal crosses about
90 miles of Menzleh Lake, salt water
lagoon from Ito 10 feet deep. The ca
nal through this lake is 112 yards wide
at the surface, 20 yards at the bottom,
and 80 feet deep. An artificial bank 10
feet high rises on each side. For the
next II miles, to Abu Ballah Lake, the
landis from d5 to 30 feet above the sea.
Beyond Lake .Abu Ballah is another
eleven miles Of high land to Temsah
Lake, three miles wide. Eight miles of
high land again intervene, when the
Bitter Lakes are reached, in passing
through which much embanking was
required. From the Bitter Lakes to Su-
ez is thirteen miles. Through, nearly all
the high lands cuttings were necessary.
varying from fifteen to eighty five feet
in debth, some of them very heavy.
The Suez Canal was formally opened
November 16. 1859, in the presence of the
Khedive, the Empress of the French, the
Emperor of Austria, the Crown Prince OF
Prussia and others. The first ship, the
Brazilian, 300 tons, $50 feet long. &c
feet broad, and drawing from 171a te
201a feet of water--passed through the
canal November 81. Since then the cana
has been used continuously and almost
daily. The first year t1s70) 491 ships
passed through; in 1875, 1,494. About
seventy per cent. of the shipping and
tonnage belongs to Great Britain
The commercial advantages of the Su'
ez Canal in shortening the distance be
tween Europe and India are very great
the distance from London or Hamburg
to Bombay being lessened about twenty
four days. The canal charges are ter
francs per ton and ten francs per heat
for passengers. Steamers are not allowet
to pass through at more rapid rat'
than six miles an hour. 4
The Suez Canal cost about 500, 900, 900
OF the 10000 shares 176,e0s were helt
II by the Khedive of Egypt until 1875
in order to obtain money to keep up hi
extravagant style, he was obliged to sci
them. Though England had never ia
vored the canal, it was so anxious 4
control it that Disraeli bought the Khe
! dives shares for $40, ,0OO, 900 without con
! sulting Parliment When this purchas
became known, it created a great sensa
tion, ESPECIALLY in France. These share
bought by England will give no return
to the owners until 1894. the Khediv
having alienated the dividends till tina
time to the company.
!, Now that England controls the Sue
Canal she will fight to keep it as sh
! would for one of her territorial possess
sions. Without it her interests in Indi'
would be constantly in danger.
ssDragging Palms."