Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-23
SHIP CANAL RIVALS
EGYPT'S PYRAMIDS
Canadian Waterway, rs
Miles Long and Started in
100, TO Open Soon.
special Dispatch to The star.

MREClAi lSpAtCu 10 AnE GbAJs
TORONTO, March 22.-sMud, might
and millions run RIOT in the minds of
onlookeFs, who view the giant metal
locks and imposing cFRslns that stretch
for as miles across Niagara Peninsula
from Lakes Erie to Ontario. Over two
centuries Of time-l100 to i1e39-iS a
long record to establish in canal build
ing BUT such was the amazing time
element, revealed in an interview given
by Alexander J. Grant, when the story
of the new Welland Ship Canal was
told by its engineer lin chief at the.
Leonard Hotel, st. Cathartnes, recently.
Excavation Of enough glacial strata
TO cover the largest Canadian city a
yard deep-a capacity to lift $4,000
ton vessel 325 feet in seven hours, and
to repeat that stupendoas feat 1900
times q year, cost Of slI6, Oo0, 900.
construction of three twin locks reach
ing almost to the height of the Horse
shoe Falls OF Niagara, these are but
few of the marvels disclosed in the
story OF the greatest. structural
achievement Of modeFp ttnTes.
Locks win Open in April.
Late in April, this year." Mr.. Grant
said. locks Nos, /, 2 and 4 OF the new
canal win so into commission" ,
cat this time the first OtiCial ceFe-
monies will be participated IN by the
federal government, the contractors VINO
have labored so faithfully on the great
undertaking, ana all those INTERESTED
or who care to attend.
Early in July locks Nos. 4, 5, 6
and will be filled with water and
chriStened 1t will then be possible for
the largest of Sea-geing ships to pass
from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.
Early in May the older .Wellland
aaueduct will be abandoned and the
whole OF the Erie level Summit eScarp-
ment areal brought in.- Another years
work VIII be required, along the new
canal, such rs trimming UP, and lesser
adjustments, but by December. 1880, no
more excavation or concrete work VIII
be required.
Handle sS,oOO,OOe Tons.
when all complete the new Welland
Canal will have 81 movable bridges, be
capable OF transporting more than S.
900 900 tons Of freight year,. and will
produce Q revenue OF from 81 ,OO0, 600
year up. Its entire length OF. IS miles
win be tFaversed by, a magnificent scenic
acres of beautiful perks and water
preserves All Of which will enhance the
wealth Of Canada, not to speak OF the
incaleulable prestige and international
Importance which the new canals OPP
Grafton will command In. the shipping
of the world and those countless bene
fts which are bound to accrue to
Canadian business initiative. "
'.The first Weliand Canal was pro-
jected and built by private company.
Work was begun In. November, 1874, and
iK the same month just four years later
vessels were passed from Lake Ontario
to Lake Erie by this route. 1t was then
771a miles long and had 30 wooden
locks, ITO fest long, ~ feet wide, with
. feet Of water on the sills
THE locks of the second, or what is
known as the old canal, were built of
cut stone, and enlarged to $50 feet long
2612 feet wide, with a depth OF 8 feet
ct low levels.
"The second, or old canal, suficed for
about IS years, when the requirements
Of navigation called for further en-.
largement. Work was begun about 1875
Welland Canal, with locks 570 feet long.
45 feet wide and IL feet Of water at the
stills. This was opened for trafAe in 1872
and increased In depth to IL feet in
1887 by raising the lock walls and canal
hanks. The ST.. Lawrence canals were
not all completed for s,l4-foot navigation
These canals, locks and river chan
nels were entirely inadequate for the
use of the Great Lakes steamers of to-
day and the Improvement pf the route
to such Dimensions as would carry ships
Of at least rs feet draught became an
absolute necessity.
IS Miles Long.
THE total length of the new Wellsnd
Ship Canal is rs miles, the fan Of 325l5
feet between the lakes Is overcome by
seven locks of 46Iz feet lift each
Their usabie dimensions sre $40 feet
long, 30 feet eide, with 27l feet of
water on the stills.
mo tolls are charged today for the
use of any canal along the connecting
waterways Of the Great Lakes. or along
the entire st. Lawrence River system.
But the canal revenues, without tolls,
now run above $500, 600 per year.
Drive over to Thorold and walk up
through the car yards to the top OF
No. 6. From there you win see some
thing which rival .. the, Pyramids of
Egypt or the Cnlebra Cut of the Pan
ANA Canal In fact. the new Welland
Snip Canal outStripS the great Gatun
lock of the isthmian project
Our Canadian twin flight locks lift
ships 1885, feet as against the Gatun's
IS. From the. coping of lock Mo- 5. to
the bottom OF leck No. 4 is 1908 feet
From the top. one gets q panoramic
view over one of the garden spots of
Canada, Take your camera along,