The record-union., 1895-01-15
TIE NORTH BALTIC CANAL
y Great Engineering Feat and the
Result of 1t.

n Great Engineering. Feat and tho
Result of 1t.
The completion of the North Baltic
Canal marks the successful ending of an
Undertaking OF much greater difficulty in
many respects than the Manchester Ship
Canal. The idea OF connecting the Baltic
and North Seas by canal IS a very OLD
one; IL fact, the first waterway, between
the Irave and El1e Rivers, was built as
long ago as l39l-9S, while Chaucer was
living, and twenty years before the battle
OF AgIncOurt. Thirty years later another
canal was built, this time between the
AiSter and Iraye Rivers, and nearly four
centuries later third WAS constructed
between HOitenau, near kIel, and Toen-
ming. But they were small affairs, though
good enough for the time when they were
built. About the middle of the present
century there were numbe OF projects
Tor a n5W canal, but 1t remained Tor
Ham burg merchant and sbipowner, II.
Dahistroem, 10 put forward and properly
promote suitable scheme. His plans
were approved by the German Empire
and the Prussian Kingdom in 1856, and
an Imperial Canal Commission was ap-
pointed 10 manage the work, for which an
appropriation Of S39,091,0J9 was made.
The building of the canal was begun
June >, 1887, by William |. The line
runs from the mouth Of Elbe River
distance OF I'll. 81 miles, one and three
quarter times that Of the Manchester
snip Canal. Starting on tle west at
Brunsbuettel, II reaches the Eibe marshes
at a distance Of about twelve and one
| hall miles, which at many places are be-
low the leyel OF the proposed canal. Than
it runs through the lOWlands OF the Burg
kuden Lake to the hight OF land at
Gruenenthal, between the Eibe and the
Elder, whore the elevation is apDroxi-
mateIy soVenty-elgnt feet above the
mean sea level. From this point 1t de-
scends the Valley of the Gleseau to the
lowlands OF the Elder. Along the Glese-
Ian Valley the route traveraes long
stretches of land subject to iuundatiOn,
crosses a lake, ana at one place ap-
proaches the Elder 50 closely that big
dlkes have been built to keep the waters
OF the two from iningling. Al " ester
roeuteld the Elder Is again LEFT, and the
canal runs to hendsDurg, thence to Up
per Elder Lake, ana thence to the old
Elder Canal, built in lI777-S4, which has
been Strengthened SO as 10 complete the
route to Holtenau, in the harbor of Nie.
SiXty-Jhree per cent. Oh the total length
is straight
There are locks at each end in order to
cut it OF from the variable water level
due to tides, and Tor Lwo-thirds of the
length the bed is perfectly level. The
lowest depth of water is twenty and one
quarter feet, about six feet less than on
the Manchester Ship Canal. The bottom
Is seventy-tWo feet wide on the straight
portions and curves OF long radius
which is nearly nfty feet less than tho
width OF the Manchester Canal section
But as the North Baltic Canal is built in
many places with very sloping sides, on
| account OF the bad character OF the soil,
| the width at the water level is generally
| about lis feet and offers q passage TO ali
! but few OF the largest steamers in the
! traffic which would naturally pass
| through it. AS the canal is primarily
| g military undertaking, and as war Yes-
! sells are expected 10 mako good time
| when engaged III serious business, there
! are ! number OF sidlngs along the route,
/ III which ships may be tiad up 10 give
/ free passage through the canal to vessels
| ou important missions, and aU one point
there IS ample room Tor turning snip
! about.
The locks at each end are double, one
/ for outgoing and one for ingoing vessels
| Zach opening has "a clear width oil eighty
! two feet, and each lock chamber Is 4y2
! feet long. -Four railway bridges cross the
! line, one having span af 5l3 feet This
| Is one OF the most beautiful metal bridge
! ever bullt. 1t IL 4 single arch OF unusual
| form, and has much OF the light appear
ance OF d suspension structure, owing to
| the fact that the track which il carries is
| SGS ihii-Ndg DbLWben LD9 DaSe
| and crown OF the arch. Highway traffic
! is handled by one drawbridge aud four
/ teen ferries. The difficulties il construc-
tion were largely caused by the unstable
nature Of the soil over which the route
lay for many miles. On top was foot or
50 OF turf, underlaid by moss peat, sedge
| peat and Shiny marsh clay. Whenever
earth was heaped on top OF this soil it
! gradually sunk into it, as objects sink into
! qulcksand, and great quantities OF earth
| were piled up before stable masses could
be cecured in which or between which
the canal could be excavated. Ii is
doubtful If as extensive work OF such
/ difficulty was ever undertaken before,
aud its successful completion is an en-
/ ginesring feat of which The German GOV
! ernment may well be proud.
sanlsbpry's Flyers.
! Monroe Salisbury has abandoned all