p. 4 (100) | RUSSIA'S GREAT CANAL

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 17, 1898

RUSSIA'S GREAT CANAL.

HAVING projected and carried almost to completion her great trans-Siberian railroad, says the Christian Advocate, Russia has now decided to begin what will prove an equally stupendous work, and one of remarkable strategic and commercial value to the government as well. This project is the construction of a canal to connect the Baltic Sea with the Black Sea, that will be capable of accommodating battle-ships of the heaviest tonnage, sailing at the rate of six knots an hour. The strategic value of such a canal is seen immediately in the fact that it will enable Russia to mobilize a great fleet in the Baltic or the Black Sea in at least one hundred and sixty-seven hours. Then, supposing the interests of Russia demanded the speedy presence of a large addition to her Chinese squadron, and also the presence of great bodies of military re-enforcements, the fleets could be sent through the canal, the Bosporus, the Marmora, the Dardanelles, across the Mediterranean, through the Suez, and across the Indian Ocean to the seat of the difficulty, while the troops would go to the front by way of the trans-Siberian railroad.

The projected canal will connect the city of Riga, on the Baltic, with Cherson, on the Black Sea. Riga being situated at the mouth of the Dwina River, that stream will be utilized, as will the Dneiper, at whose mouth Cherson lies. It will be necessary to make one hundred and twenty-five miles of excavations to connect the two rivers, and the canal, which will be 1,000 miles long, and have an average depth of 28.4 feet, will cost about ninety-seven million dollars, and will be ready for business in 1902. Sixteen cities are situated along the route of the canal, and they will receive much commercial benefit from it, as will the country generally, since it will be easier and cheaper for the products of the country to reach their natural markets.