Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-08-01
THE SUEZ CANAL.
a DESCRIPTION OF THIS sTUpES.
nous WATER WAY.
Do IIcsscps's Indomitabic Perscvcr-
ance Finally Tristmphcd-How Opcr-
ated--Total Cost-Nurnbcr OF YES
sells Which Pass Through IL.

In 1851 VI. dc Lcsscps visited AleSan-
dria, Egypt,at the invitation of the Vice
roy, who gave him residence in that
city, and enlisted him rs companion
across the Libyan desert. 1t was during
the Journey that the project to build the
canal was first placed before the Vice:oy,
vino approved of it ut once and granted
the first concession in 1851 4 company
was formed, and ON the 9TH OF Novcm-
Der, 1858, the subscription BOOKS were
opened i'll Paris and the stock subscribed
for by the 30th of the same month. The
subsequent concessions needed were OBJ
taiucd in 1856, 1863 and 1864, and two
Others in 1859 and 1876.
The work of constructing the canal
commenced in 1859. Its total length is
lightweight geographical miles OF navi-
CATION (9a.90 statute niles; sixty are
actual canal formed by cutting, fourteen
are made by dredging aud eight miles re.
quircd 10 work us the natural dcpth of
the lake was more than equal to that of
the canal. The machinery represented
i'll all IL 900 horsepower. One of the
marine dredeers built by the company
cost $40, 600. The number of men en-
ployed ut one time exceeded 30, 900.
The whole quantity of earth and sand
excavated is stated to have been so, O0O,-
600 cubic yards, which, il placed in
''gufahs, one after another, would form
line which would surround the world
three times.
The terminal harbors are important
adjuncts of this great work That Mt
Part Said is formed by two brcakwatcrs
constructed Of blocks of artificial stones.
These blocks were made of sand from the
harbor bed and of hydraulic lime OBJ
tanned from France. These were we'll
mixed together with water, and put into
wooden cases and rammed with sand.
The wooden cases were removed after
two days and the blocks left TO dry in
the sun, which required two months to
complete. When ready for use each
block weighed five tons, and as many as
10000 of the blocks were used The
western break water ut Port Said is 69lO
feet i'll length, while the eastern is 602O
feet; together they enclose IN area of
about 450 acres. The entrance ut Suez
is also protected by brcakwatcr.
At every five or six miles in the canal
there is passing point--sidings called
gures-to enable vessels to moor for the
night, or bring up in order to allow
others to pass-nll movements being
regulated by telegraph from Port Said,
lsmnilia or Sucz.
The canal was formally opened by
vessels from nearly all the maritime
nations OF Europe, on November II,
1869, although ii WAS not then fully com
pletcd or in IL very perfect state. Yet
the gallant protector, who mad struggled
for fourteen years to carry his scheme,
was rewarded for his labor and per-
severance, having, moreover, had the
satisfaction four years previous, of seeing
the first "a small) vessel go through the
canal
The navigable depth is 25s feet with
width OF ~ feet ut the bottom, vary
ing, OF course, and at the top according
to the character of the cuttings.
The total cost of the undertaking was
about 500, 600, 900, much of this being
due TO the Instructions placed in the way
OF the work by the British Government.
As is now seen, the construction of the
canal has strengthened, rather than
weakened, the commercial Importance of
England, and has increased the growth
and Importance OF all the islands of the
Pacific and OF all the nations of Asia.
The scheme OF opposition was evidently
deeply laid one, and is shown by the
purchase by England. later on, of large
interest i'll the canal company's shares.
Traffic on the canal has greatly in
creased the past ten years, the tonnage
figures each year being much larger than
the year preceding. Indeed, IL vessel at
certain seasons of the year is considered
fortunate in getting through in forty.
eight hours. The number of vessels
which passed through the canal in 1855
was 1887, with a gross tonnage OF
S,430, 04S. Oh this number 1880 were
British ships. Bat three American YES
sells passed through the canal that year.
The management Of the canal is as
nearly perfect rs it is possible to make
it. Before entering the canal all vessels
are required to drop anchor, and Can.
tains bind themselves to abide by, and
conform to, all required arrangements.
Vessels measuring one hundred tons and
upward must take company's pilot for
the whole length of the canal, who indi-
Gates all particulars concerning the pas.
sage through.
Navigation ut night Is authorized only
under special circumstances when tho
Captains full responsibility for mishap.
is assumed in writing. Sailing vessels
are obliged to be towed through
The quickest passage ever known
through the canal was made by the steam.
ship Meihong, of the Messagcries Mar.
times. She left Suez at 5 o'clock A. NJ.
stopped and landed passengers at Ismnilia.
and arrived at Port Said at z o'clock i
NJ, going through in fourteen hours.
The receipts-of the canal in 1883 were
about $12, 100000. The net profit.
were little short of S., 900, 900, and tine
total dividend paid to shareholders wa,
15s per cent.