Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-07-02
CROSSTADT.
The Opening ofthe Canal at NJ. Peters
burg and the Accomplishment Of
Peters Design.

The opening of the great sea canal
from CroHstadt to St Petersburg was
an event OF great Importance to Russia
and the countries in commercial rela-
tons with her by way of the Baltic.
Hitherto Cronstadt has been the actual
port Of st. Petersburg for all vessels
drawing more than nine feet, and
cargoes have had to be lightened some
20 miles up the shallow waters of the
river to ST. Petersburg. the present
canal is intended to obviate this trans
shipment, and thus to save good zeal
of time and money to merchants and
shippers. Vessels of deep draught
have never yet been able 10 approach
the capital. Various measures for
overcoming this inconvenience have
been broacked and discussed ever since
the foundation of Peters city. Peter
the Great himself planned a canal Is
fathoms wide along the southern
shore of the Finnish gull, from the
Fontanka canal, which runs through
the town, 10 Oranienbaum, opposite
Cronstadt; but this appears to have
been abandoned before completion.
The plan of the present canal was MA
tured between 1872 and 1874 The
work was only actually begun in
1877-7S, three or four years later, in
consequence of injury suffered by the
dredging machinery on the way from
England.
With this supplementary communi-
cation Cronstadt will resume its orig
inal character of fortress, and the
scheme for makisg st. Petersburg a
will be complete. Most of the
work of excavation was made by nine
bucket and grapple dredges, which
removed on an average about 1900
cubic fathoms per day. The imperial
decree ordering the construction was
signed by the late czar on the 1st~13th
June, 1874, and ON the 12th>24th
November, 1883, the present emperor
and empress witnessed the introduc
ton of water into the canal The
cost of the work thus far is estimated
at 10, 265, 400 rubles.
THE OPENING POSTPONED.
The canal has long been navIgable
for merchant steamers of Is and 16
feet draught, but the main difficulty
in the trial last fall was the passage
from the basin of the canal into the
river, close to st. Petersburg town
No vessels had as yet done this. Lit
tie trouble was expected in passing
through, and IL was, therefore, al
ready arranged that the official open
ing in the presence of the emperor
and empress should follow a few days
later. Every preparation was accord
ingly made. A pavilion was got
ready for the imperial spectators,
with the traditional window of Peter
the Great looking out into Europe to
the west surm0unted by Peters own
words. The grand ceremony, how
ever, had to be postponed as soon as
it was seen that the passage could not
yet be made with ease and certainty.
Three vessels were appointed to run
up the canal and through into the
Neva. They were the American
built cruiser Africa, 300 feet long,
commanded by Capt Doupassoff of
Danube fame, the paddle boat frigate
Olaf and the fine tygo>funnel imperial
yacht the Deajava. All three made
the canal up to the harbor without
any difficulty.
Fhe Africa, drawing IL feet, first
esSayed the passage into the Neva.
0 wing to the strong current meeting
her at the entrance TO the river and to
her great length she answered badly
10 her helm and getting too close to
the side of the narrow canal she soon
stuck fast aground. All the Juggling
that day was of no avail, and it was
only after much effort on the morrow
that the Africa was able to clear the
channel into tie river. Her two com.
panions followed, but not gracefully
or easily, and the first Russian ships
of war ever IN this part of the Neva
dropped their anchors close to the
Nicholas bridge and surrendered their
decks TO thousands of visitors from
the admiring public.
THE sTRATEGICAL IMPORTANCE.
A word as to the strategical impor-
lance of the new canal, which is expa-
tiated upon by the Cronstadt Messen-
ger, the official naval Gazette, in
rather long article. Up to the present
the Russian ships of war behind the
forts at Cronstadt have had no water
in which to fall back, in case of an at
tack upon the Cronstadt defenses. out
of the way of the enemy's fire, as dur
ing the expedition of Sir Charles
Nepier. Now, as was shown during
the naval maneavers last year, they
will Re able to take refuge in the canal
If necessary, right 10 st. Petersburg.
But the more important consideration
is that large ships of war, constructed
o. kept there in reseree, can in future
be sent down the canal to Cronstadt
fully eqipped, without the need of
docks and all ready for sea or
to encounter the enemy.