INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR 1876. ccxxv 



eight or nine miles long will suffice to accomplish the great opera- 

 tion of which he is the earnest advocate, and bring the mysterious 

 negro metropolis within six or seven days' sail of the Thames. Thus 

 far, however, no results appear to have flowed from the enterprise 

 the published reports all pointing to the fact that the expedition 

 was an unsuccessful one. The question of the feasibility of the un- 

 dertaking, however, does not appear to have been decided. At a 

 recent reunion of the French Academy, however, M. de Lesseps con- 

 cluded a summary of the report of Captain Roudaire upon this 

 scheme in the following words : " We have reason to be satisfied 

 with the results obtained by our compatriot savant ; he is sure that 

 there can be established a sea of from 25 to 40 meters in depth, and 

 which shall cover an area of 16,000 kilometers (6200 square miles), 

 with a length of 400 kilometers (250 miles) from east to west." Cap- 

 tain Roudaire estimates the cost of the work at 40,000,000 francs. 

 Not a single oasis would be destroyed, and he claims that the reve- 

 nue to be derived from the fisheries alone would pay a handsome 

 interest on the invested capital. 



From Iron we glean the following points concerning some ex- 

 tensive navigation improvements proj)osed for Manchester, England. 

 The proposition in question involves the construction of a ship-ca- 

 nal from that city to the sea an old project, but in a new and more 

 practical form. Manchester is at present for customs jDurposes a 

 port, but the canals connecting it with the sea tia the Mersey are 

 navigable only by barges. Mr. Hamilton Fulton, the originator of 

 the present scheme, proposes to create a direct outlet for large ves- 

 sels by utilizing the channel of the Irwell. This river flows through 

 tlie heart of Manchester to a junction with the Merse}*. The propo- 

 sition is to widen the channel from Manchester to WaiTington, and 

 to excavate it to sufficient depth for vessels of 4000 tons burden. 

 The course of the river is veiy sinuous, and by making straight cuts 

 where the bends occur some nine miles in distance will be saved. 

 From Manchester to Warrington, then, it is proposed to make use of 

 existing waterways, widening, deepening, and straightening them, 

 and dispensing altogether with locks. From Warrington, which is 

 on the upper tidal portion of the Mersey, to the roadstead at Liver- 

 pool it is proposed to make a direct low-water channel, by Mdiich the 

 ebb and flow of the tide would be kept to one course. This channel 

 would be formed by constructing, in suitably selected positions, jet- 

 ties parallel to its proposed course, so as to guide the current about 

 the i^eriod of low tide in the desired direction. When completed, 

 the channel would be buoyed and lighted, so that ships might pass, 

 if necessary, at night. The scheme furthermore includes provisions 

 for ample wharves and warehouse accommodation at Manchester 

 and Warrington, The minimum depth of the canal at high-water 

 neap tides is estimated at 24 feet, and the width between the quay 



10* 



