The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-21
BALTlCCANAL OPENED
Continued from First Page.

tpAAAHGeG from aSc-
ting OF more than thirty-hve feet been nee
essary. At Bruasbuttei midway between
GIuckstadt and CuxhaYen. IL joins the
Eloe. and the junction OF the two seas is
complete. The features % supreme impor-
lance may be briefly summarized.
The canal is on sea level There are
locks al the two entrances. but that on the
Elbe Will always be open except at ebb or
high tide-that is. at least three hours
twice day-and that at the Baltic en-
trance may remain open for half the year.
for there is no appreciable rise or fan of
the tide on that side. The depth of the
canal will permit its use by an ironclad OF
la.0vo tons Even the British Majestic
might float with safety in this channel.
which is more than 50 feet in depth and
over 30 feet in breadth. These dimensions
are uniform throughout the entire course
OF the canal, more than 61i7 miles in
length. The greatest care has been taken
10 avoid all awkward curyes-about two
thirds OF the entire distance the canal
runs in a straight line: for the remainder
curves with large radii-never less than
100 yardS-haVe been used. Not even the
Manchester ship canal has been construct
ed with greater care or attention 10 dura-
bility. The whole bed OF the channel has
been stone lined, and the retaining walls
made OF substantial thickness and at
gentle gradient.
At any part OF the canal two steamers
of over leo tons apiece can pass with
ease. but at seven places the channel
has been greatly widened, so that steam
ers of over l0.oo0 tons can pass in safety.
The depth and breadth of the canal are
50 great. and its construction is so sub
stantial that a speed of over six miles
an hour Is TO be permitted. The average
time of transit. therefore, for all steam
ers should not he more than twelve hours.
and much saving can be made by adopt
ingt he canal route. 1t is calculated that
Hamburg steamers will save fully forty
hours. and English steamers from all
ports south of Harwich al least twenty
four hours IN the run 10 the Baltic.
Moreover, the gain in safety should not
be forgotten The difficulty of the navi-
CATION in the sound is proverbial; the
wreck chart of the Danish waters looks
appalling. The average number of vessels
annually stranded or wrecked in them is
given by J. 5. Holeburg, OF Copenhagen,
as over go in the eight years between
1878 and 1885.
There is no doubt, then, that very large
number OF merchant vessels will adopt the
canal route. in fact. the greater portion Of
the Baltic trade must inevitably use IT..
During the summer of 1890 the tonnage OF
vessels passing through the sound
amounted to 100000 tons a month. Hull
alone sent 6i,3Oo tons, LONDON ndlI lhdt
amount Lelth and Newcastle sent 1850
tons. but these ports Will continue to use
the sound owing TO their northern posi-
ton. If the canal secures tWo-thlrds or
one-half of this amount of tonnage II
should prove a paying speculation to the
German government The price paid for
this great work was fixed at 1560co,0o0
marks, and even the extra amounts paid
for fortifications barracks. and purely
military and naval accessories have not
greatly increased ii.