The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-03-15
Across Europe by Water.

:. Instinctively one links the Mis-
siSsippi and the Missouri rivers:
years TO come may find us regard
ing the Danube and the Rhine in
the same way" is the comment
OF a National Geographic Society
bulletin upon the reports Of plan
TO cut 4 steamship waterway from
the North Sea TO the Black Sea.
LAS for waterway across Gu~
rope'-such q waterway already eX-
lists, though travellers through a
small section of it might have to
resort to very small craft. lntor-
nation about the condition OF the
canalized portion OF this trans
European water route is not readi-
Is available, since the linking OF
the Rhine and the Danube occurs
in Germany.
New Conceptions Of Europe.
The very fact that we classify the
legend laden Rhine in one mental
pigeonholc, and the romantic, cast
led Danube in another, makes the
announcements of q waterway
across Europe come upon us with
the impact Of q fresh idea. Just as
war brought about political chang
cs in Europe, so peace is bringing
economic changes. Hence, II Ger
many carries out the project she
is considering, We will have to
think of a Europe cut through
with a water route, just as We
have learned to think OF Europe
with Turkey almost gone, Poland
With boundary, and the new
names of CZechoslovakia and juEo-
Siavia conspiciaus upon its map.
"A present water route across
Europe-and others are possible
with very short portages--lies along
the Rhine 20 Mainz, up the Rhine's
tributary, Main, 10 Bambe;g. thence
through the RegnitZ, into the Lud-
wig Canal TO the Altmuhl, which
empties into the Danube Ut Kel-
helm.
Where Two Rivers are Linked
In your minds eye. even with
out a map, Ill can recall two TO-
cal points Of this route, Frankfort.
on The Main. and Ra,isbon Cor Re
gensburg) on the Danube. Vessels
OF more than 1000 tons can so up
the Rhine and Main 10 Frankfort;
and vessels between 400 and 1000
tons can so mp the Danube as far
as Ratsbon. kelhcim, the DAN
ube end OF the small river canal
link with the Rhine. is only -
miles southwest OF Ratisbon- The
Improvement OF the Danube to Kel-
helm would offer no great difficult
ties. Above Frankfort. 70 Wurz-
burg .sesls between 400 and l.
600 tons can traverse the Main.
The trouble with this roate,
even with channels deep enough
70 carry larger steamers from
WurzburS TO Ratisbon. is the ex-
trcmely circuitous course between
the Rhine and the Danube. From
Frankfort the route forms an al
most perfect W. and then trails
like 4 careless flourish through MI
rcmburg to RatiSbon. y projected
shortening of this route contem-
plates passing the confluence Of
the Rhine and the Main contin-
uinS up the Rhine to Mannheim.
thence into the Neckar and into
the proposed canal from that point
10 connect with the Danube near
Oi1ingen.
'Completion Of the project for
this deep waterway across Europe
would make the Rhine Danube
route one Of the most important
commercial highways OF the
world--ranking in economic tm-
nortance with the Panama and SUI
eZ Canals. and in extent with the
Mississippi-A lSSouri channel and
.hc tremendous navigab bic length OF
the Amazon. The Black ci-to-North-
Sea "Trip would be Il journey OF
nearly 300 miles The high WI
ter navigation head of the Missouri.
in Montana, is >. 500 miles from the
Gulf OF MEXICO. while ocean go
ing steamers may ascend the ANA
zon for 100 miles