The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-02-14

PARIS, Feb. IA financial syndi-
cate. composed of FIVE of the chief
Paris banks and Awo big firms of con-
tractors, has now been formed for the
purpose of canalizing the Seine be-
tween Paris and Rouen. and thus max
ing Paris one OF the greatest seaports
in Europe Indeed, the promoters OF
the scheme which has been in abey-
ance for two centuries. contend that
Paris Port-de-Mer will challenge the
commercial importance OF London and
greatly reduce tn prosperity of Ant
werp The total cost OF construction
is fixed by the promoters, on a con-
sentative estimate. at s50,s00,000 and
it is said that the whole of this sum
has now been underwritten.
In fact. all that remains to be done
for this. gigantic enterprise to be COM
menced is to obtain the consent OF the
French parliament. Politics move slow
~ in France when works of public
utility are concerned, all side Issues
and inter-dependent interests being
made the subject of the most exhaus-
tive inquiry and debate. A good deal
OF opposition to the scheme is forth
coming from Rouen, which has hither-
to had the practical monopoly of the
river traffic between the sea and cen
trai France. The Rouens have gone
to the length of threatening that they
will not suffer their famous Peter
bridge to be opened and to allow big
ships tc pass up the proposed canal,
and it looks almost as If something OF
the ancient hostility between the Nor
mans and the Parisians. which caused
50 much bloodshed in the middle
ages, might break out again, though
in a less savage form. The jealousy
of Havre has also been aroused But
the defenders OF Paris Port-de- Mer
contend that Havre, already seriously
harmed by the comparatively recent
rivalry of Antwerp, viii enter upon a
new era of prosperity when the traffic
in French commodities. instead OF be
ing diverted via Antwerp and Ham
burg in order to reach London BY
crossing the channel. will pass direct
" between Havre and Paris.
The increased activity of Havre can
not fail to have favorable repercus
sion upon the commercial prospects Of
Rouen. Already 225 deputies have
signed the bill which has beep intro
duced in the chamber by II. Leboncq
one of the arts deputies, to make
Paris a seaport but nothing has dom
more to convince the general public
OF the vital Importance of the schem'
than last years floods. On one poin
everybody is agreed namely, that thu
canalization of the Seine is the .onll
effective method for preventing a re
curTence of the disaster.
The late NJ Bouquet de la Guye''
plans are those which have the bes
chance OF being adopted They pro
vide for a deeper channe
from its present average OF abou
three metres, throughout the entir'
length of its course between Paris ant
Rouen. except 1t the two points wher'
the Seine makes loop which woul'
be cut BIZ two special canals One o
these is to be at Oissel, near Rouen
and the other at Sartronyille, just out
side of Paris. The existing locks oil
the Seine would be reduced to four
thus establishing our reaches of 50
81, IT and % kilometesr in length
respectively The terminal point o
the canal would be at Clitchy, tn
northern suburb of Paris, where vas
port would be constructed with
depth of ten kilometres, and with tel
kilometres of quays. This would b
the port of Pals, for the canal woul
not actually extend to within the fort
fed boundries of the city. Secondar
ports would be created at Argenteui
Poissy, Nantes, Vernon and Les Ar
delys.
On the assumption that the cana
dues would amount to approximate
] franc so confines ton OF me-char
disc, it is calculated that within tw
years of the port being opened tn
minimum profit would be more tina
23,o0o,000, or more than si.600,000 re-
presenting more than per cent of tn
subscribed capital.
The argument most frequently urge