The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-09

ports. Hamburg and Lubbock, the tsrmini
OF any canal that should be cut. The
less populous northern moorlandS and
fens OF Holstein were hardly thought or
as a part of the problem. kiel, the chief
town OF Holstein. though known to have
a wonderful harbor, was not important
from trade poiat OF view. The little
old Elder canal, twenty miles long, now
largely absorbed in the new structure.
and for the rest abandoned, perhaps gave
the first notion OF cutting the channel
across at this point, but II was only
mooted after Prussia had settled down
into possession of Holstein. and. for that
matter, after the German empire had
been founded.
The first definite plans were drawn up
In 1878, by Herr Dahlstroen. an eminent
Hamburg engineer. His personal &C
quaintance with Prince Bismarck, who
then, as now, took a peculiar interest IN
Hamburgers, secured for his project the
attention and eventually the support OF
the chancellor. But for long time 1t
hung fire, for much the same reasons
which operate now 10 block the English
channel tunnel scheme. That Is to say
the military party was sharply opposed
to IL. Prussia and Germany had been
made by the sword. and II was natural
that soldierly arguments should be lis
tened 10 first OF all Count Won Moitke
declared that a canal like that would re-
quire A whole army corps to stand guard
over IT, and his hostility set the note for
all other military experts. Many inlpor-
tant commercial eenters. Ike Breslau and
Leipsic, saw too menace TO their own
business In anything which simpihed
Baltic trade. Ltttle by little. however.
as the new empire emerged from its mill
tsry stage of development, and began 10
expand Its industrial and commercial life,
Herr Dahlstroen's scheme conquered It's
way in popular estimation. Won Moltke
himself was at last brought 20 see that
the facilities such canal would give the
German navy In case OF war out
weighed all objections on other grounds
In 1855 the reichstag approved the plan
on June g. Iss7. the venerable Emperor
William, on his last visit 10 the northern
provinces. formally inaugurated the
work.
II Is characteristics OF German exact
ness of method and performance that the
task has been completed on time. The
contract said eight years. and eight years
IL IL. II Is understood. too, that the ex-
panse has been kent within the original
estimates-a SIN rarer achievement.
The whole cost was 40 be E.S..9co, OF
which the kingdom of Prussia contributes
e. 80. eco and the imperial treasury tho
rest and. as has been said, there are no
suggestions that these limits have been
a. u
from that which Manchester sorrowfuily
recalls Her ship canal was 10 cost much
less than that, or the original plans-and
quite properly. for IL IS only tribe more
than half the length OF the Baltic canal
but IN the end the bills have footed up
over n5olo.ooo and the concern Is next
door 20 bankruptcy into the bargain
The Baltic canai-for by that name, 20
avoid confusion with the Dutch waterway
called the North Sea canal. IL VIII he gen
orally known-aIusost rivals IN tnterna-
ttoaal importance the Suez canal itself.
Y is Eixfy-iwo miles long, AMI stretches
81 a single level from the Baltic 10 the
open sea-estuary Of the Elbe- Its east
ern terminus is s. little place called Hoi-
tenau. where. ike the old Elder canal.
H1isheai n ITs4 r enters on the west side
% The broad anA magnificent kiel haT-
Dor. or Keller Ffoyd. and thence 70 the
Baltic The western terminus IS an equal
~ tiny village, called Brunsbutte1. which
iSs on the widening Eioe, tan miles
across from C1lxaavsn. At eacn o. these
tao terminal places there IS an entrance
lock. 80 feet long and 8 aide. with
depth % 80 feet on the s4li. These are the
only locks On the wtole work. AMI these
are more Tor emergencies than steady
uss.
TIE Baltic = almost a taseiess sea On
a. average there is a fiuctnatlon OF haK
fathon o. only sosne i"efs6S-aF 1sys
in the year. The Hoiteaau gates wll os
closed OK these occasions. Uatl the nor
nal level has been restored ~ al other
times they vii remain open. and TIE wa
Ter IN the canal will % % BaItt1 origin,
and on the Baltic level. IL Is different
matter az the Eihs end. There the TIDES
rsu high and strong. and consequently
tae Bransbattsl gates VIII he cio@ed and
opened daily THIS dig~aal opening az the
Esihe gates for snree hours az eAca Tow
tie wlH serve 20 keep Tho canal water
sweet anA fresh flowing. ard i = count
81 up.Dl, as well. 10 help Seoar re Cha n
rel 81 shs E8le, which Continually saiis
new shoals. often 70 a troublesome sx-
tans- Tae locks are ef massive masonry,
azd, Like the e.eaAs4Se.s under eo-.-