Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-01
LATE NEWS BY WIRE.
Over 100000 Persons See the Man
chester Canal Opened.
TWENTY-FIVE VESSELS PASS THROUGH.
The Great Manufacturing Town
Becomes Seaport
- n r II "
TWENTY-FIVE VESSELS PASS THROUGH
S c EN- ES OF THE AY
THE MANCHESTER CANAL.
Over u Hundred Thousand Persons
See the Vessels Sail Through.

u hunureO InOuSanu PERSONS
See the Vessels Sail Through.
| MANCHESTER, Jan. 1.-The Manchester
| ship canal was opened to general trafic
today. and Manchester thereby becomes
a port of entry. with all the benefits that
accrue to such a port. TtA weather was
fine, the sun shining brightly. and being
a holiday. the banks were lined at many
places by thousands of spectators anxious
TO witness the passage OF ocean-going YES
sells to Manchester.
Fifty thousand tickets had been issued.
and these admitted the share holders and
their friends to points OF vantage near
Manchester. The procession started at an
early hour from Warrington, on the Mer-
sey, sixteen miles east OF Liverpool
At the head of the procession was the
steamer Norseman, conveying the direc-
tors. She was followed by other steamers
bearing the members of the corporation
sea-going vessels. decorated with flags and
buntings, Joined these steamers at the
locks.
Today the ceremony was performed with
much eclat, and the procession was greeted
with hearty cheers as 1t passed along in
the direction of Manchester. Though
today saw the formal opening of the canal,
1t Is hoped the queen or Prince of Wales
will open 1t with elaborate ceremonies at
Easter.
1t is estimated that the crowds collected
along the banks OF the canal numbered over
100000 persons.
There were twenty-five cargo-laden ves-
sells in the procession. Some of them were
from the leading British ports, while 9TH
ers were from Mediterranean ports, Hol-
land and Norway. The first cotton cargoes
consigned direct to Manchester, from the
southern states are expected to arrive on
the steamers Ohio and Eerango, from New
Orleans. and Glen Isle and Finsbury, from
Galveston.
The Manchester Ship Canal.
Work began in 1886. The course of
thirty six miles was divided into eight
sections, and there were plans for five
locks. The citizens of Manchester
took the deepest interest in the en-
terprise Many tradesmen subscribed to
the 500 and slOo shares. SO rapidly did the
work progress at first that 1t seemed that
Manchesters ship canal would escape the
series of disasters which have followed
every great engineering work of the kind
But 1t did not escape. The first misfortune
came in the death of the contractor an
engineer of unusual ability. 1t seemed
certain that under his direction the work
would be completed within the specified
time, January 1, 1893. Following this came
labor troubles, the bursting of dams and
other accidents which swallowed up money
IN none was left to prosecute the work.
Two of the eight sections had been conn
sunk. dispute between the company and
the dead contractors heirs further compli-
Gated matters. After a settlement was eff
fected the company carried on the work
itself for six months At the end of that
time 1t could secure no more money.
Then 1t was that the Manchester city
council went to the rescue and said that
the great enterprise should be completed
1t appealed to parliament for power to
pledge the city taxes in order to borrow
needed money. 1t was then estimated that
s7.5OO.OOO would be sufficient, but this sum
was soon found to be too small by half.
Another application for the privilege of
borrowing as much more was made The
bitter opposition of the Liverpool members
helped Manchester more than anything
else in passing its bill.
The project was transferred from the
original company to the Manchester city
council and the work was prosecuted with
vigOr. Twenty thousand men were employ
ed at one time. Water was let into the last
section December G. Now the work is all
completed.
The cost of the canal has been about
sSO.0OO.OOO. 1t is estimated that its revenue
will be at least 5000, 900 annually