The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-26

courses, just as it would be anywhere. i
It seems odd to take the edge off
Swedish theory is that the smlorgasbord
gives you an Appetite! Whatever may
be the truth Of the matter, the custom
is very attractive and there is no diff I
fculty about the appetite anyway on
such trip and in such bracing at
mosphere.
Every Man His Own Bookkeeper.
. Another odd custom, characteristical-
" Swedish, hobs up in the dining sa-
each passenger keep his own account
and settle it at the end Of the Journey
at his own figures. After every meal
the account book is passed around and
each one sets down therein any Eek
tras = in the way Of potables that he
may have had, as well as the fact that
he has had the e meal: The honesty Of
Petty larceny is almost am unknown
crime here, and this quaint plan Of max
ing every man his own bookkeeper is
evidence that the Swedes, besides being
| honest, believe everyone else honest.
The dining saloon is located on the up
per deck so that nothing fine in the way
Of scenery is missed at mealtime.
Canalization Began Long Ago.
Sweden is SO dotted with lakes and
rivers that the thoughts of her people
early turned to canalization. AS early
as the middle of the fifteenth century,
the great Swedish patriot, Engelbrekt,
commenced canal to connect Lake
Maelaren with the Baltic at Soeder-
Gustavus @Vasa, founder of Royal
Swedish line, planned nearly everv one
of the canals which were built In later
years. The first one Of these finished
was that between Lakes MaeIaren and
Hjelmaren, and it had many times to be
| rebuilt, owing to Jack of knowledge
about canal construction. Not until
1929 was this pioneer canal put into
permanent shape with stonework thru
| out. z.
Here at Trollhaettan,. Polhem began
| in. 1718 the execution Of an ingenious
plan for canal around the falls, and
the work was carried on at intervals
until l748, but was never completed as
originally planned. One of Polhem s
uncompleted locks is still to be seen
near the falls. d The first practicable
was begun in 1895 and finished in five
years, while the present permanent
works were built in 1884.
| Se~AAe"4s
The Goeta canal, which was the first
permanent and successful canal built in
Sweden, is monument to the genius
and perseverance Of that great engineer
of the day, Baron Baltzar Won Platen.
So confident was the baron that his
fame would never die, that he ordered
no other words to be put on his stone
monument, which still stands near Mo-
tala on tie canal, than 'FHere Lies
n Dl,L- ILL
longer epitaphi was used. Tt is remark
able that the baron and his son were
able to complete his wonderful work
wonderful for. that day, at least-at a
cost of 15,600,000 kronor ($4, 180, 800).
The work lasted from 1910 to 1882
and was carried on uLder, most discour-
aging conditions. NJ Of course. the cost
was greatly reduced by the fact that
| the soldiers were used in the work, and
yet when one ndEes the solid stone con-
struction and the extent of the excava-
tions, sometimes out Of the solid rock.
it seems small price to pay for canal
that is 121 miles, long with fifty three
miles of artificial work. ~
+ Ship Canals Projected.
| Soon after the system of canals, as
at present arranged, was completed,
there came radical change in ships
ping, owing to the adoption of steam
as motive power and the building of
/ iron ships. Previously most Of the
| Swedish merchant marine could pass
thru the canals, but this now became
impossible except for boats especially
built for that purpose. This fact has
prevented the canal system from facil-
| itating foreign navigation, and it is
used entirely for internal exchange
and for such tourist travel as I have
described in this letter. The heavier
classes of freight are largely carried
on the canals, leaving the lighter and
perishable kinds for the railroads.
Projects Of late years have been I'M
der consideration in Sweden looking to
the buildingFof modern ship canals, one
especially favored being a connection
between Lake Vennern and Kattegat
(North sea) for ships of 5000 tons,
drawing twenty feet. For this canal
six locks are proposed, and it is fig
ured that a good-sized boat could go
thru in an hour IS time, as against three
hours on the present Trollhaette canal.
The Falls Of Trol1haettan.
| r will not weary Won with anv at.