New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-01

resources of working journalists. They were ex
pected at Hamburg TO witness all the functions
OF the day and night in dress suits. including a
Barmecide feast at the Rathhaus. to take mid
night drive to the lower Elbe, and then at
o'clock In the morning to start by special train
FOR Kie where they would remain on an eX-
cursion steamer until s in the evening Witness
ing the arrival Of the canal fleet. As the pro-
grainme for the remaining days was ordered
with the same disregard OF the conditions or
work. rest and health. I high rate of mortality
In the profession may be one Of the sequels or
the opening Of the canal. What rendered the
heartless arrangements for the correspondents
more exasperating was the fathery and amiabe
tone Of the printed Instructions But criticism
may be ungracious 1t is not 10 be forgotten that
love Of detail is a German characteristic ana
that It is the secret Of the thoroughness with
which every great Undertaking is conducted. The
canal itself would never have been completed
within the prcarrangcd limits Of time and ex-
pensc without the same painstakng care and
method at every stage Of construction.
THE CANALS APPEARANCE.
A canal may be useful. but it never can be
picturesque Brlck-faced banks may interest an
engineer. but their scenic attractions for sight
scers are speedily exhausted; and for long dis
little else 10 be seen The Brunsbutel entrance.
where the procession OF twenty-three VesseIs
started for its protraoted passage through the
canal. is protected by two great moles scien-
tifcaIy constructed and surn ounted by light
houses The outer harbor is separated from the
inner harbor BY two immense locks. While the
canal is finished. the wharyes and other appoint
ments Of the terminus are still to be provided
There are empty spaces and barren levels to be
filled before the canal town can be built at
the terminus. Nothing but the site OF this
future scene OF commercial hustle and &C
fiyity IL now to be seen. The engineer may find
much 10 admire in the substantial construction
OF moles. looks and embankments but for the
spectators on the exhibition fleet II was the duii
beginning Of IA tircsomc monotonous journey
Of sixty-four miles
As the hours passed there were no scenic ef-
fccts 10 relieve the eyes Of the spectators. Dur
ing the earliest stage Of the journey the canal
was high above the level Of the surrounding coun-
try. and the embanknents alone were 10 be seen.
Whatever Glimpses there were Of scenery were
dull and creary. From time to time there were
wide sdngs where vessels would be enabled
10 pass each other: and there were landing
stages for ferries at long intervals At Grunethai
there was the fine arch Of steel bridge span
ming the canal. with massive embankments and
symmetrical approaches This was one of the
most impressive sights of the passage. as the
banks were high and the bridge. with its sub
stanta but.r was executed in really
grand style Of engineering art.
There were two other railway bridges. but
these were at low level. and essentially COM
monplace There were few villages and signs
OF life until the old garrison town Of Rends-
burg was reached This was the most interest
ing point of the journey. although the quaint.
picturesque effects OF Characteristic German
town could not be seen 10 good advantage from
the decks of the fleet. The bottomless marshes
and ouicksands where the most laborious work
of construction had been done were now behind
the procession of canal craft. and there was
marked Improvement in the scenic effects. al
though the sightseers by this time were too
weary to enjoy them Ferries and villages
were multiplied: there were wooded hills IN
place of marshes: the canal for long dis
lance was a channel midway in series of
wide lagoons; huge wndms were constantly
SEEM and many beautiful groves. with fine
trees. were close at hand. At Levensau an
old-fashioned somnolent village. with high
matched roofs supported by narrow brick
foundations and with tangled thickets and
clumps OF high trees shutting 1t In on all Sizes
there was a really impressive spectacle An
aerial bridge similar to the one at Gruneh'hai
WAS here seen. with buttressed towers and a
wide steel span, across the canal inns was
one of the most costly works OF the canal. anu
the winding approaches leading TO 1t on each
side were splendid examples OF German road
making.
FROM LEvENSAU TO KEEL
From Levensau the waterway ran with only
q few changes of direction TO Holtenau' ana
there were glimpses Of the roadways leading
from Kiel. Of villages near and far. OF pleasure
grounds and a noble alley Of arching trees at
Knoop. and finally Of Kiel Harbor. with It's
wonderful fleet OF floating fortresses The
locks at Holtenau connect the outer with the
inner haven as at Brunsbuttel. and are SINH
lar In construction. There will be canal town
here with wharves and storage-houses. and all
the shipping appointments Of port; but
Imagination Is needed for filling the empty
spaces Of the inner haven, and Transforming
the festival scene outside the locks into future
scenes OF orderly and prosaic commercial ac-
tivity.
For eight years about eight thousand men
have been employed in the construction OF the
canal. which has been finished within the limits
Of time and financial estimate originally set
Although the waterway runs. In the main.
through marshy levels. and the highest eleva-
ton did not exceed seventy feet. there were
many natural obstacles TO be overcome. and
the work was difficult in many respects. The
engineers began with preparations which were
neglected BY the French at Panama. The lire
Of the canal was surveyed with the most sys-
tematic thcroughness. There were hundreds OF
miles OF surveys paper for every mile actu-
ally constructed. There was an old-time smaller
canal running large part OF the way, which
had to be alternately used and diverted; there
were watercourses and small lakes to be either
tapped or drawn off. and there were treache:-
Gus swamps to be fathomed and either adapted
TO the plans Of the engineers or avoided with
intelligence and practical skill. Then there
were the two Ravens to construct Mt the ends