People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1895 — ALL READY AT KIEL. [ARTICLE]

ALL READY AT KIEL.

BIG CANAL PREPARED FOR THE PASSAGE OF SHIPS. The Big Fetes Which Are to Celebrate the Event Begin Formally Yesterday —Entire City Decorated—Emperor Leaves Berlin for the Scene. Kiel, June 19.—After the labors of eight years and an expenditure of about 156,000,000 marks ($38,500,000) the great canal which joins the Baltic Sea to the German ocean is ready for use. It intersects the peninsula of Schleswig-Hol-stein from Brunsbuttel. near the mouth of the Elbe river, to Holtenau, on the Kiel bay and opposite that city, a distance of about fifty-nine miles. The whole canal is lighted by electricity, said to be the longest distance in the world illuminated continuously that way. The light furnished is powerful enough to enable navigators to plainly discern the route by night. The time required for the passage of the whole canal, including delay at the two locks, will average thirteen hours. Provision is made for vessels to get out of the way of large ships of war which may be passing through the canal. The piers of the two permanent bridges which cross the canal have casemated buttresses attached, each capable of holding 400 soldiers, and portholes for guns wrought into the masonry in times of war would be used to prevent the enemy’s passage. There was a heavy downfall of rain this morning and for a time it seemed to jeopardize the success of the fetes. Happily the clouds cleared away and brilliant sunshine, accompanied by a pleasant breeze, followed. The whole city presents a strikingly effective appearance. The flags of all nations were hoisted along theAlster at noon and th® sentries at the door of the principal hotels denoted the presence there of the Imperial guests. Naturally the chief center of attraction was the seaport, where the display of warships attracted many thousands of spectators. Those of the United States, Great Britain, Italy and Austria were especially admired. At 8 o’clock the war vessels of the fourteen nations represented here hoisted their flags to the strains of the anthems of their respective countries. The Mars hoisted the flag of Admiral Knoor and the latter subsequently, accompanied by the commanders of the foreign squadrons and many officers of various nations, started for Hamburg to meet the emperor. Berlin, June 19. —Emperor William, accompanied by four of his sons, started for Hamburg at 11 o'clock this morning. Potsdam, June 19;—The empress has started for Kiel.