Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1893 — The World’s Most Useful River. [ARTICLE]

The World’s Most Useful River.

The Nile, probably, is the most wonderful river iu the world. It has made Egypt possible by turning an arid wilderness into the richest land iD the world. It has provided at the same time an admirable commercial highway, and made easy the transportation of building materials. The ancient Egyptians were thus enabled to utilize the granite of Assuan for the splendid structures of hundredgated Thebes and of Memphis, and even for those of Tanis, on the Mediterranean coast. At a time when the people of the British Isles were clad in the skins of wild beasts, and offered human sacrifices upon the stoue altars of the Druids, Egypt was thecentreof a rich and refined civilization. Most of this development of Egypt was due to the Nile, which not only watered and fertilized the soil annually, but was and is one of the greatest and best natural highways in the world. From the beginning of winter to the end of spring—that is, while the Nile is navigable—the north wind blows steadily up stream with sufficient force to drive sailing boats against the current at a fair pace; while, on the other hand, the current is strong cuough to carry a boat without sails down against the wind, except when it blows a gale. That is why ancient Egypt did not need steampower nor electric motors for the immense'commerce that covered the Nile, nor for the barges carrying building material for hundreds of miles. —[Harper’s Young People.