The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-06
CANALS COST MONEY.
But Their Profits Are Very Large When.
ever They Prove Successful.

But Their Profits Are Very Large When.
ever They Prove Successful.
The Manchester Ship Canal, connecting Man
chester and Liverpool. cost $W.OOO,OOO, or
SlJ.0O0O 600 more than the original estimate.
The cost OF the Nicaragua Canal. to connect the
Atlantic and the Pacific through Central
America. and thereby shorten the distance be-
tween New York and San Francisco from 49,
600 to 1900 miles. Is variously estimated at
from 500. 100000 to S2OOOOO. 900. according
to the route adopted The Suez Canal cost
SlOO.OOU.OUO. The North Sea Canal in Ger
many cost S37.5OO, 900. the North Holland and
the Cornth canals Sl5.OOO.OOO each. and the
Panama Canal has coat to date $3.50 100000.
Canals when successful are generously so.
The khedive's shares in the SueZ Canal. pur-
chased by the British Government In 1875 for
S2O. 900 900. are now worth more than $780,
100000. and there are many Indications that
the future value Of the Sucz Canal shares will
be even greater. in view of the fact that this
canal enjoys a peculiar monopoly Of business
which enables it without danger from cumpe-
titon to charge very heavy tolls and to enforce
| their collection without danger of Government
interferrence. the canal being prarticaly, owned
| by the English Government, which is admins
| tering the financial affairs Of II ypt,
Another country in which The canal system
| has nine miles OF canal for every 100 square
mtl"s OF ar:n. proportion not eIualsd else;
WtlerH ana IOnT times as great rs III tnt nlthu
| Kingdom. The Dutch canals have an aggre-
/ gate length OF l.s3o miles and for their main
| tenance the state expends S3.oOoOOQ yearly.
! years later. is so miles long. 12O feet wide
| and 20 doep. allowing two merchantmen to
| pass abreast and navgable for the largest
| vessels. The North Sea Canal. built in 1Sj3-74.
| is $40 feet wide and % deep. and brings AM
| sterdam within fifteen mi les OF the sea length,
| IA miles: cost, SlO.UOO.OOO
| The success OF the kiel Canal. connecting
| the Baltic with the North Sea, has led to in
| creased popularity for canals in Germany. and
| there has been organized In that country a
| company to construct n mid European cana
connecting Germany with European Turkey
| The proposed new route uses he existing con
| systems Of Germany and the Danube in Aus
| tra. There are now nearly 5000 miles Of
| waterways In Germany. of which 81 per cent
| are rivers and 33 per cent. canals: and while
| the proposed extension OF the German cana
| system into Austria would entail large ex-
| pendture. the benefits OF it in commercial
| way would be considerable, Plans have al
| ready been adopted for connecting the Danube
| with the Elbe.
Unlike railroads. the revenues from the op
| Grafton OF which can be estimated In advance
with some approach to accuracy, canals art
| constructed without any assurance Of repay
| canal in the United States tho construction o
which cost about 100000. 900, has paid in TOLL
| collected $l3O.OOO,OOO regardless OF the fac
| that a number OF years ago the canal was mad,
free for all and all toll charges were removed
| In the general opinion the success of the Mica
| rngua Canal will be as great in pecuniarI
| way as that OF the SucZ Canal.