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'Scientific Intelligence, $c. 
IX.— Scientific Intelligence, Miscellaneous Notices, &c. 
1 . The New Canal. 
A canal of large dimensions is now in rapid progress, promising great and imme- 
diate advantage “to tlie inland navigation of the Delta, and its connection with the 
capital,— a branch in which there appears to be great room for improvement, notwith- 
standing the great natural advantages of which the locality of Calcutta has to boast. 
The wort has been some time under contemplation, but commenced only in Febru- 
ary last. The line we understand commences from tlie Hooglily river, into which it 
will open with tide-gates, immediately north of tlie Chitpore bridge, over the Marhatta 
ditch. After crossing the Barrackpore and Hum Dum roads, it pursues a course 
parallel lo the Circular road, at tlie average distance of something less than half a 
mile to the eastward of that road, until it intersects the Balvaghat road, when, after a 
slight curvature to the South Fast, it falls into the existing canal known b_v the 
name of the Eastward or Lake Canal, the route by which a considerable proportion 
of the craft navigating the Soondurhuns approaches Calcutta. The scheme of the 
canal allows a constant breadth of water exceeding 80 feet, and a depth of water 
never less than ti feet. The part between the tide-gates near the mouth and the 
first bridge across the Barrackpore road is to be excavated to an additional breadth, 
in order to serve the purpose of aliarbonr for craft, that otherwise lie exposed before 
the different ghats of the town. 
The work is at present entitled the Circular canal, and is connected with a series 
of works which have been in progress for some time, for the improvement of wh#t 
is called tlie Upper Soondurbun passage, in which there exist many inconveniences 
and delays, if not real perils. Indeed, we understand, that the idea of this Circular 
canal, as one of communication witii the river, originated entirely during certain 
discussions before a special committee of officers appointed by Government to consi- 
der the feasibility and advantages of a scheme for improving and shortening tint 
route, at a time when much attention was directed to the possibility, by the failing 
of the Jellingee and Bluigirattee, of this circuitous route remaining the only practi- 
cable approach to Calcutta for the trade of theGangetic provinces.’ 
It is, I suppose, known to most of our eastern readers, that the lower Pelta, called 
the Soondurhuns, is so intersected in its surface as to form a perfect net-work of 
tide-creeks, most of which are navigable for boats of considerable burden, and bare 
been so used from time immemorial by the natives of the country. Before the year 
1775, tlie only available communication between these creeks anil the river Hooghly 
emerged into Channel creek, while the rest of the trade, then insignificant, which 
did not require to pass into the Hoogldy, landed at lialyaghat, situated two miles 
cast of Calcutta, on the margin of the great salt water lake or marsh. Tlie passage 
excavated by Major Tolley, now bearing his name, at first a private adventure under 
a grant tor so many years, arid excavated with very insignificant dimensions, soon 
became both a much frequented passage and source of considerable revenue. The 
dimensions have been increased at several successive periods, with the increase of 
its importance, to their present standard. Tile depth and other local circumstances 
are still much against this canal being, in its present constitution, rendered a perfect 
navigable communication, or in any way sufficient for the magnitude of the trade 
which enters it. The bed is not sufficiently low to prevent a great portion being 
left dry during the ebb tides of November to May ; and the whole canal is besides 
left exposed to the great variations of surface daily* and yearlyf which take placed 
the Hooghly river. 
The creeks of the Soondurhuns are subject to hut little periodical influence, while 
the surface of the Hooghly is raised considerably' by tlie influx of the fresh water. 
The daily rise and fall of tide in tlie creeks which approach Calcutta bv the lake, 
partly from tlie great length of course in a straitened channel by which tlie tide bus 
to travel, and partly froip the influence of a vast marsh at the termination of ih 
course in dissipating the force of tlie tide, is also very small, when compared with 
the daily variation 111 tlie Hooghly. The application of some kind of tide-gate at 
the junction of waters which areso widely different in their phenomena appears tpbe 
the most economical and judicious plan that could have been devised. The camd 
will be kept by its ebb-gates from falling to the great depression of the river in tin’ 
» 7 to 15 feet, daily, tide.- t 20 J feet, extreme variation. 
