Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1887 — Canals in India. [ARTICLE]

Canals in India.

The India canals are - distinctive feature of the country. They are splendidly built, being intended principally for irrigationj although having locks," so as to make’navigation possible. The largest, and most important one is the Ganges Canal, which cost the Government £2,1)00,000. It is about 300 miles long, runs out of the Ganges and proceeds into the Ganges again. When the subject of building it was agitated, the interesting natives vowed they would never for an instant tolerate it, tapping as it did the sacred river of the Hindoos. Then when the work was actually liegun they changed their tactics and gravely djeclared that water would not remain in or now through the canal. When the fallacy of this position was shown, they receded from it and contented themselves with solemnly asserting that no native would ever avail himself of the improvement. It is now in full opera--1 tion, however. _