CHINA’S GRAND CANAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15743, 7 February 1922, Page 9

CHINA’S GRAND CANAL.

It is interesting to know that Chun's Grand Canal, at one time one of the world’s great engineering wonders, is to be put in order and used again as a trade route between the north and south, says the Scientific -American. ’1 he parts now blocked with mud are to,he excavated and a million and n-quartcr pounds are to be spent immediately. The work will be carried out * under the direction of American engineers, and it is hoped that in a comparatively short period a section of 100 miles will be ( made ready for navigation. This canal, the'most famous in tlu* world, was completed in 1350, and took SCO years v to construct. It utilises stretches of various rivers on its route, and including these, is over 2000 miles long. The canal proper, however, |is only about 800 miles in length, but as in old English writer has said, “In noint of magnitude our most extensive inland navigation in England can no more be compared to the grand trunk lint intersects Chinn, than a park or garden fishpond to the great Lake of Windermere.” In the days of its glory the canal'lmd l, wide and deep channel, and formed a ;reat river, on which large vessels could >ly. The water was maintained [by neans of sluices and ships were raised ind lowei'ed bv mechanical devices. Apart from navigation the Grand Canal ins always done a great and valuble vork by draining an enormous stretch of ivvampy territory.