Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-02-11
.GBGLAND'S GREAT CANAL.
ONE OF rHE MOST MARVELLOUS ENGINEER
ne WORKS EVER ATTEMPTED.
Costing S75OOOOOO, it has Transformed the
Inland Manufacturing Ci'y Of Manchester 10
Commanding S,ap1r.-Ihs Outcome Of
Trade Rivalry with Liverpool
cor,ri7,,,s By ths Bassn Press Syndicate.

cort-f9bfe7 d. ne Wils6n Press SyRaitdts.
While warlika rumors and political
troubles are worrying the governments
of Continental Europe, John Bull IS
conQratulating himself over the sue
cessful completion Of one or the great
est pieces Of engineering his thrifty
mechanical genius has ever attem pteu'
For generations past, the cities OF LlY-
erpool and Manchester have been rivals
In trade, population and everything
tbat nertaips 20 material progress.
with All the advantages or spiendld
water front and the finest DOCKS 20
England, the city on the Mersey sun
found IL no easy task TO keep ahead OF
the busy. pushing inland borough,
whose great factories and Tar reach
ing industries gave 10 q commercial In
rorrance second 90 no city Ia Britain.
IiverpOol. however, controlled the cot
ton import trade aud the rates or water
COMMUNICATION with foreign ports and
for many years Manchester capitalists
have been talking of deyising a plan 10
get over the Liverpudlian monopo!y.
Now that the plan has taken practical
effect. the two great cities are stlll IN
hot competition; but while Manchester
gains by the canal, Liverpool will hardly
lose. as the inevitable lowering OF
prices must greatly increase trade anu
bring enough to both.
Although the formal cermony OF open
ing the canal does not take place until
after Easter, 10 has already been intor-
mally opened. The occasion was
great day for Lancashire aud every
part Of that famous manufacturing
centre seemed 70 be represented Ia the
crowds that lined either side OF the
great waterway. There are 10000
Shareholders in the Canal and 10 really
seemed as though the entire number,
with ali their relations and the balance
81 the population, had come out 70
grace the occasion. A procession OF
eteamboats, gavly decorated, and their
deeks crowded with holiday visitors,
sailed down the Canal, led by TWO
Official steamers. and accompanied by
fotilla Of smaller craft AT one polns
90 or 80 ships, crowded with bunting
and swarming with spectators, were
clustered 10 some OF the locks, ana
their occupants made a lively demon
stration as the steamers sped past.
After the Informal ceremonies, the
actual business Of the Canal began, and
vessels came 70 10 singly, AZ Irregular
Intervals.
Works and ietties are being con-
structed along the bank at several
places on the line OF route, and the en-
gineer-in-chief, Mr.. Williams, declares
shat before many years have passed
the canal will be practically converted
into one long dock. SaltpOrt, Weston,
and Runeorn already indicate the use
10 which the great waterway will be
put bv shipOwners, aud numbers or
large vessels are already seen lying at
the wharf sides loading and unloading
their cargoes.
ID is ten years since the work was be-
teh has-n Gyg changed Manches-
..sr from an Inland city 60 q seaport;
but the idea of doing so was ten years
ago a novelty. 10 was mentioned In
she early part OF last century, or at in
tervals from then till 1925, when 1t
made It's appearance as practicable
scheme. It was then proposed TO
make the river Dee the starting point
Notifications Of this scheme were pro-
posed from time 20 time till, in 1877
Mr. ri. H. Fulton, C. f., proposed a
scheme for a snip canal In few years
public interest was aroused and In ISL,
the late Daniel AdamsOn AID Mr.. Lead
or Williams interested themselves IN
the scheme Mr.. Adamson was a man
of boundless energy and and Mr. Lead
or Williams, by his construction OF the
canal has proved himself in the front
rank OF engineers. Mr.. AdmSOn COM
municated his enthusiasm 20 others and
soon matters were in shape for placing
before Parliament Mr. Leader VIII
llams then proposed a scheme which
was adopted, but Parliament made
many alterations before the bill WAS
II owed 10 pass.
10 was in 1853 that the long Parlia-
mentary fight began which cost some
thing over 81, 500 600 10 was necessary
20 90 three times TO-. Parliament before
tho necessary powers were obtained, so
strenuous AID partially successful was
the opposition coming frOm Liverpool
Rnd the railway companies. The bill