CANAL DEVELOPMENT IN FRANCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11892, 29 December 1916, Page 7

CANAL DEVELOPMENT IN FRANCE.

Marseilles, now known to so many New Zealanders as tho most important port in France, is soon to be linked by a great canal and funnel with the River Rhone and the vast system of inland waterways of which it is a part. Canals have long connected the Rhone vi+h the waters of the Loire, Seine, Yonno and Rhine. In order tb reach Marseilles, however, tho great traffic of these waterways must traverse the Mediterranean for some distance, which entails considerable extra expense and some danger for small craft. It is this situation which has led to the construction of the Marseilles-Rhone Canal. Throughout its entire length, 61 miles, the Marseilles-Rhone Oanal is at sea level, except where it joins the Rhone. The width of the canal Is nearly 74ft>, and its depth nearly 10ft. Tho cost is estimated at £4,000,000. Tlie chief feature of the canal is the Rove tunnel, which is remarkable for its span, or diameter, 72ft 2in. In this respect the Rovo funnel surpasses everything else in the world. The height from the bottom of the canal to the ceiling of the tunnel is a little more than 47ft, which gives a section of nearly 3230 square feet. This is equal to six times that of an ordinary doublo-track railway tunnel. Tho excavation amounts to 2,677,000 cubic yard's, or twice as much as was required for the construction of the two parallel. tunnels of the Simplon Railway, which hitherto has held the world's record in that respect. The 72ft. span of the tunnel gives room for two side paths, each nearly 7ft wide, allowing for a continuous passage each way of two sea lighters with a carrying capacity of about 900 metric tons each. The lighters actually in use on the Rhone are only about 600 tons deadweight, and will pass easily in double line. The canal and the navigable part of the Rhone and Saone will combine to give a continuous waterway of 337 miles for lighters of 600 tons deadweight without breaking bulk. Through the Burgundy Canal and those of the Seine region, barges can reach tho north of France and even tho English Channel.