Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1893 — A Great Canal. [ARTICLE]

A Great Canal.

Just why it is that large canal projects always cost more than the greatest preliminary estimates is difficult to explain. The Panama projet was recognized by the best engineers to be extremely visionary from the first, but the Manchester, (England,) ship canal, a work which will undoubtedly be carried through, is requiring vast sums far exceeding the original estimates. About $7,500,000 is needed to open the canal for traffic to Manchester on the assumption that the work can be completed by the end of this year, and certain deferred work may increase this sum by $1,525,000. Four Parliamentary bills are being promoted, one to authorize the canal company to borrow $10,000,000, a second to allow the corporation of Manchester to add $10,000,000 to the $15,000,000 it has already loaned to the canal company; a third to empower the town of Saiford |o loan $5,000,000, and a fourth to empower Oldham to advance $2,500,000. With all three of the cities most interested in the canal willing to make the necessary advances, it would be an easy matter to complete the ~crk were it not for the fact that there is a string tied to these offers of aid, which would be strong enough to transfer the control of the enterprise from the stockholders to the corporation of Manchester in case they were accepted in their present form. The portion of the canal already opened has thus far been able to take in receipts more than covering the working expanses, although toll was charged on but a small portion of the tonnage.—[New York News.