The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-05-11

landscape, but have been
rendered practically obso-
iete in a commercial sense by the
building Of railways. He sees barges
upon them, to be sure, and in winter
he is delighted by the sight of the
people of Holland skating along the
frozen water courses. But he would
be astonished if he knew the import
ant part the canals and canalized
rivers, play in the economic life of
European nations.
Canals, as they we're originally con-
structed, cannot compete with rail-
roads, but as the latter have spread
over the land, the waterways have
been altered to meet the new condi-
tions. Their chief mission In these
days is to connect the centers of pop
ulation and industry with the coasts
TO make them seaports-and this has
been accomplished TO an extent that is
surprising to the uniformed.
The pressure of international COM
petition is mainly responsible for the
extensive improvement of waterways
dn the continental European countries
that have the highest degree of indus
trial development Every manufac-
turing country, district or city, If it is
to prosper, must be able to meet this
competition and to assemble materials
as cheaply as possible from all parts
of the world, and be provided with
facilities for placing its goods cheaply
and readily upon the chief domestic
and foreign markets. The countries of
the continent, recognizing this, have
adopted the policy Of providing with
equal care for the development of both
railroads and waterways. In Great
Britain, on the contrary, with the ex-
ception of two canals in Scotland. the
inland waterways, both rivers and
canals, have been improved and are
operated by corporations. The Brit
fsh government is considering the ad-
visibility Of changing its policy toward
waterways.
OF all the continental countries.
France has spent the most on canal
navigation. Her extensive plans for
waterway development, adopted In
1879, provided for system by which
the waterways should be all connect
ed with each other, and with the chief
centers Of population and industry.
They are mainly owned or controlled
by the state, but when in 1903 a law
was passed providing for the construc-
ton of new waterways, it stipulated
that the beneficiary parties or locali-
ties must advance at least half Of the
total cost The interests making this
contribution are permitted to recoup
themselves from tolls or dues, and
from monopoly Of providing towage
or traction. Three canals, one from
Cette to the Rhone, one from Mar
settles to the Rhone, and one from
the coal fields to the Disc river-the
Canal du Nord-are now being con-
structed under these conditions.
The most important of the CONNER
cial waterways of France Is the Seine
river, and there is an immense traffic
upon it between Havre and Rouen and
Paris. At large expense 1t has been
canalized and provided with locks and
meet the river through its tributaries
with the Loire, the Rhone, the Rhine,
the Meuse and the Scheldt. Another
elaborate system of main and later
al canals that carries a vast tonnage
to Paris connects the capital with
IDunkirk and Gravelines. and between
Paris and the Belgian and German
fr0ntiers there is perfect network
of waterways. The western ard south
ern parts of the country are nearly as
well provided with canals. The Canal
du Midi, which, running from Bor-
deaux to Cette, connects the Bay Of
Biscay with the Mediterranean. en-
rables the former city to supply the
whole of southern France with the
products of foreign lands, and of the
French colonies which it imports.
In connection with this Canal du
Midi, the French government has long
under consideration a most interesting
and important project-nothing less
than to convert the waterway into a
ship canal by which sea-gcing vessels
and the warships of France could
pass from the Atlantic to the Medi-
terranean without being exposed to
the violent storms of the peninsular
coast and without passing through the
Straits of Gibraltar The people of
France never lose sight of the posi-
bility of war with Great Britain. and
this ship canal plan appeals to them
especially because 1t would relieve
their navy from the necessity Of