The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1906-06-02

/ The cycles of the history Of the
world have been labeled by the his
torian, with the name Of the main ac-
complishment, in the advancement
and progress and the cultivation of
each cycle. The age OF electricity is
to be followed by the age of canals
This is to be the age of canals. The
! duty OF canalizing this country is one
devolvlng on us, and let no one under
estimate the tremnedous scope of this
duty, or the benefit to accrue from
that duty Well performed. It's import
ance to the welfare of our people
to their economic and industrial ad-
vancement, and the c1vilizing effect
upon them is one beyond the con-
ception ofthis generation Canal con
struction is but IN: its infancy, it is
too early to predict its ultimate ac
omplishments; of one fact we are
sure, the whole tendency of canalizing
this country is in the direction of de-
velopement of advancement. Of i'm
provement. Any one doubling this
has but to study the effect of the cut
ting of the Suez canal upon the trade
OF the Orient as well as upon all of
Europe. He has but to speculate on
the resulting effects of the opening of
the Panama canal. on the fortunes.
the economic, the industrial develop
ment of the people of the world.
said canal construction is but in
its infancy. Almost all of the canals
of the world have been cut within the
last fifty years. The nine main ship
canals of the world were cut in the
order following:
The Suez Canal, ninety miles in
Seas, was commenced IN 1859 and
completed in 1869.
The Cronstadt and St. Petersburg
Canal. running from St. Petersburg
to Bay Cronstadt, distance of six
teen miles. was commence in 1877,
and opened to navigation in 1890.
The Corinth Canal, tour miles long,
connecting the Gulf of Corinth with
the Gulf of Agina, commenced in
1884, was completed in 1893.
The Manchester Canal, thirty-ive
and half miles long, and running
from Manchester to the Mersey River,
was opened to navigation in 1894.
The Kaiser Wilhelm, sixty-one miles
in length, and connecting the Baltic
and North Seas, was commenced in
1887 and concluded in 1895.
The Elbe and Trave Canal, also con-
Meeting the North and Baltic Seas,
but shorter than the Kaiser Wilhelm
by twenty miles, commenced the year
the latter was opened to navigation.
was concluded in 1900.
The Welland Canal, connecting
Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Saulte
Ste. Marie and Canadian Canal, con-
Meeting Lakes Superior and Huron
Saulte Ste. Marie, is an American and
the last Canadian canal, as its name
implies. These are the nine principal
ship canals of the world. The last
three canals. give together with their
connecting lakes and rivers, continu-
Gus passage from the head of Lake
Superior to Lake Ontario and the st.
Lawrence River. The Welland true
was cut in 1888, but it was insign16
cant. and until it was enlarged in
1871 and again n 1900. So also the
Sau1te St. Marie was first cut in 1855,
and enlarged in 1881 and 1896 by our
government.
The Canadian canal at St Mary's
river was opened in 1898. OF these
l shall have occasion to refer to again
later on. Thus it is noticed of what
recent origin has been the opening OF
the important canals of the world.
shall not here enumerate the num-
herless smaller or less important ca
nails that have been cut in every part
Of the globe-all of recent origin. as
that would serve no useful purpose at
this time. Suffice it to say that France
has 3, O2l miles of canals; Holland q
224; Germany l,5ll; Belgium ,229;
United Kingdom 3,097; the United
States has thirty seven navigation ca
nails with a mileage OF 2. 443 miles.
cannot leave this phase of the sub
ject, however, without making refer
ence to the Imperial or Grand Canal
of China, four thousand miles in
lenght and connecting Hangchau and
! Pekin. There are two peculiar rea-
sons for many special mention of this
canal. One is its antiquity, it being
said to have existed. in its present
state, at the time Columbus discovered
America. The other is the varied uses
to which these ancient people make
of it. Saws United States Consul al
Hangchau. Mr.. Anderson: Leading
from the Grand Canal in each direc'
tion are smaller canals, and from
these lead still smaller canals. until