The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-06-12

question, the following statement,
prepared by the Bureau OF Statistics,
will be found of interest. 1t shows
the commerce. cost and dimensions of
the great canals of the world, espsc-
tally those connecting great bodies
of water and which may be properly
termed ship canals.
Ship canals connecting great bod
les of water and of sufficient dimen-
sions to accommodate the great mod
ern vessels plying upon such waters
are of comparatively recent produc-
tion and few in number. The one
great example OF works of this char
acter which has been sufficient
length of time in existence and oper-
alton TO supply satisfactory data As
to cost of maintenance ard operation
and practical value to commerce of
the world is the Suez canal, and for
this the available statistics begin
with the year 1870, while it's new and
enlarged dimensions only date from
the year 1896. For the Sault Ste.
Marie canal, connecting Lake Superb
or and Lake Huron. statistics date
from 1885, though for the canal in its
present form thoy cover but about
four years. Statistics of the Welland
canal date from 1867, but for the
canal in its present enlarged form
cover only two years of operation.
The other great ship canals of the
world are of much more recent con
struction and data regarding their OPP
GRAFTON therefore cover a comparative
ly brief term, and in some cases are
scarcely at present available in de-
tail.
The artificial waterways which may
properly be termed ships canals, are
nine in number, viz:
/. The Suez canal, begun in 1859
and completed in 1869.
,. The Constradt and St. Peters
burg canal, begun in 1877 and com
pleted in 1890
3. The Corinth canal, begun in
1884 and completed in 1898.
A. The Manchester ship canal,
completed in 1894.
5. The Kaiser Wilhelm canal,
connecting the Baltic and North
Seas, completed in 1895.
6. The Elbe and Trave canal, con
Meeting the North Sea and Baltic,
opened in 1900.
8. The Welland canal, connecting
Erie with Lake Ontario.
and 9. The two canals, United
States and Canadian, respectively,
connecting Lake Superior with Lake
Huron.
The description which is given OF
each of these great waterways shows
that the length OF the Suez canal i.
about 80 miles, the cost 800, 900, 900,
the present depth 81 feet, width al
bottom 1O8 feet and at the surface
420 feet, and that the number Of YES
sells passing through it has grown
| from 1856 in 1870 to 1,494 in 1873
2,1O26 in 1880, 1889 in 1890, and
3,441 in 1900. The tolls charged are
about 81 per net registered ton.
The Constradt and St. Petersburg
canal. which gives a passageway fol
great vessels to St. Petersburg, is II
miles long, including the deepening
Of the bay channel, 20A feet in depth
and the total cost estimated at 80,
! 900. 900
The Corinth canal, which connect:
the Gulf Of Corinth with the Gulf 0
Aegina, is four miles in length. 26h
feet in depth, y feet wide at the bot
tom, cost about Sj,OO0,0O0, and re
duces the sailing distance about IA.
miles. The average tolls charged ar
lSc. per ton and 20c. per passenger
The Manchester ship canal, which
connects Manchester, England. will
the Mersey river and Liverpool. wa
opened in 1894. It's length is 37l
miles. depth 26 feet, width at bottom
l2U feet and at the surface 10 feet
and cost SO, 900, 600. The commerc
s79, ,2Oi ton. in 1903 TO 1872 1920 ton
in 1890.
The Kaiser Wilhelm canal whic
connects the Baltic and North Sc
through Germany, is 81 miles i
length, 29. feet in depth, Y feet wild
at the bottom. 1870 feet wide at tb
surface. and cost about 80, 900, ,OO1
] i
through it has increased from 1896
in 1897 to 20, ,09j in 1900, Of whic
number 1916 were sailing vessels
, The tonnage in 1897 was l,sis, ij'
and in 1900, 32s2 .09i tons. An a.
ditional canal connecting the sam
r bodie. of water by way OF the Hi
; and Tr2ve rivers was opened in 800
It's length is II miles, depth abou
I 10 feet. with - feet, and cost 81, 900
1 600.
The great North Holland cana
I which connects Amsterdam with II
\ sea. cut in 1875 but dsepened at
1 later date. has now depth Of - fe
e and a width OF l25 feet at the surfac
+. The CaledOnian canal. which col
e meets the Atlantic and North -
: through the North Of Scotland, is
feet in depth, 30 feet in width at ii
q bottom, 2j0 miles long, cost g. 7.00-
e 900 and is at its highest poin. 81 fe
+ above sea level. The canal du Mid
: cut through France from Toulouse {
, the Garoune to Cetts on The Medits
e ranean, distance Of 100 miles,
d 81 feet deep, 60 feet wide, and 6
,e feet above sea level al its highe
r point, and has ia locks: total CO
.r $3, 800, 900.
A. In America the canals c0nnectil
4 the Great Lakes are the princiE
= ship canals and are three in numb,
,e the Welland canal, originally CO
n structed in 1888 and enlarged in Is
Of aud 1900; the Sault Ste. Marie. or
a Mary's river canal, opened in Is