No. 32.
Mr. Kasson
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
Vienna, January 17, 1880.
(Received February 2.)
No. 282.]
Sir: In continuation of the subject of my No. 269,
I have now to advise the receipt, from the foreign office at Vienna, of
final replies to the interrogatories which I addressed to it in furtherance
of the wishes of the Mississippi River Commission, as represented by Captain
Eads upon the occasion of his recent tour of investigation in Eastern
Europe.
Herewith are full copies of the correspondence. I send that of the
Austro-Hungarian Government only in the translations which were made in this
legation. As the originals do not relate to any question between the two
governments, it does not appear necessary, or even useful, to transmit for
the commission copies of the German text.
From these replies to my request for information, it appears that this
government began the systematic improvement of the Austrian Danube—377⅓
kilometers in length—in the year 1850.
The plan was to cut off the lateral arms of the river and confine the stream
within embankments, giving to the river “an equal normal breadth, according
to its nature.” It will require many years yet to complete the work
proposed.
Upon the Austrian Danube have been already expended 45,350,000 florins. But
of this sum, 30,600,000 florins have been devoted to the Vienna stretch of
the river, of which sum only one-third is furnished by the general
government; one-third by the provincial and one-third by the city
governments, as having a more special interest in the local improvements. It
is estimated that at least 15,000,000 more will be required in the
prosecution of the work along the Danube.
Upon the affluents of the Austrian Danube, in the same period, have been
expended 4,370,000 florins.
The work of systematic improvement of the Hungarian Danube was commenced in
the year 1871, upon the stretch of river at Bud a Pesth. Here and elsewhere
have already been expended 13,300,000 florins by the Hungarian Government;
and the expenditures are to be continued on the plan already adopted—of
closing lateral channels and the erection of embankments—for which
44,000,000 florins additional are estimated.
Upon the Hungarian affluents of the Danube have been expended already over
9,930,000 florins, chiefly to prevent inundations. The effect of these
expenditures towards the reduction of rates of transportation in both parts
of the empire appears as yet to be conjectural. While they have given
increased facilities to commerce, it would seem that wherever rates have
been lowered it is rather attributable to railroad competition than to the
improvements of river navigation. In connection with this subject is also to
be considered the fact that a wealthy chartered corporation almost
exclusively controls the navigation of the Danube.
Begging that the Department will cause the commission, through Captain Eads,
to be advised of the reception of these papers—
I have, &c.,
[Page 45]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 282.]
Mr. Kasson to the
Vienna Foreign Office.
Dear Baron Callice: Referring to our
conversation on Monday, and your courteous offer to obtain for the use
of a commission of the American Government, engaged in examining special
questions of river improvement, certain information desired respecting
like works in Austria, I submit to your kind mediation the following
questions:
How many years have the Austrian and Hungarian Governments been engaged
in systematic and permanent improvements of the Danube River to
facilitate navigation?
What amount of money has been expended by the two governments for these
permanent improvements?
What affluents of the Danube have been in like manner improved?
Has it resulted from these improvements that the expense of
transportation of merchandise by the river has been perceptibly
diminished? If so, what is the estimated percentage of such diminution
of the charges as compared with charges previously made?
If the projected system of improvements of the Danube is incomplete, what
further amount of money is it expected will be required for their
completion?
If this information can be obtained in time to be communicated in
December, it will especially meet the exigencies of the government
commission.
I render in advance the acknowledgments due for your excellency’s kind
intervention, and pray you to accept the assurances of the high
consideration with which I remain, always—
Your excellency’s most obedient servant,
JOHN A. KASSON.
United States
Legation,
Vienna, November 25,
1879.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
282.—Translation.]
The Vienna Foreign Office
to Mr. Kasson.
In response to the esteemed note of the 25th of last month, the imperial
and royal ministry of foreign affairs has the honor to communicate to
the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United
States of America, Mr. John A. Kasson, the following preliminary
information, obtained from the imperial and royal ministry of the
interior, about the river regulations and other works which are designed
to improve the navigation of the Danube and its tributaries in the
Austrian part of the empire.
I. The systematic and permanent works for regulation of the river Danube
between the Bavarian and the Hungarian frontier, a course of 377.335
kilometers in length, have only been commenced in 1850, and have,
therefore, up to the end of 1879, continued for fully thirty years.
These, aiming at closing the existing old lateral arms of the Danube,
and at giving to the river an equal normal breadth, according to its
nature, by concentrating the stream through means of embankments
(erected along the side of the river), have not yet been completed, and
will have to be continued for many years to come.
II. These expenses, exclusively defrayed by the State, including those
for the regulation of the Danube Canal, amount to 14,750,000 florins in
the stated period of thirty years.
For the improvement of the Danube near Vienna, a special undertaking of
concurring interests, an amount of 30,600,000 florins has been granted,
of which each of the three jurisdictions, state, province, and the
municipality of Vienna, has undertaken to defray one-third. Including
this last sum, the works for the regulation of the Danube would amount
to a total of 45,350,000 florins.
In the 14,750,000 florins borne by the state alone are also included
those sums expended in 1854 and 1855 for the improvement of the Danube
at the so-called “Whirlpool” and “Eddy” (Strudel and Wirbel) by blasting
rocks which impeded both ship and raft navigation, the same amounting to
396,000 florins.
III. Excepting the river Danube, the only works executed by the State for
improving the rivers of Upper Austria are those for facilitating
navigation on the Inn, the Salzach, and the Traun, whilst it expends
smaller sums for improving raft navigation on the inferior streams Enns,
Agger, and Vokla.
IV. Upon these rivers, during the above-mentioned period of thirty years,
the sum of 960,000 florins was expended on the Inn from the mouth of the
Salzach to the Austro-Bavarian
[Page 46]
frontier, a distance of 70.170 kilometers; 610,000 florins for the
Salzach, a distance of 36.412 kilometers; and 1,800,000 florins for the
Trannfrom Gmunden to the Danube, a distance of 73.963 kilometers, whilst
210,000 florins were spent in improving the Enns, 790,000 florins in
regulating the Agger and the Vökla. As to the works for regulation of
the Inn, which river represents the frontier between Austria and
Bavaria, they have, according to convention, been executed in common
with the Royal Bavarian Government, so that the improvements on the
right bank have been defrayed by Austria, those on the left bank by
Bavaria.
V. According to the observations made during the period since the
completion of the river regulation works, especially of those on the
Danube, it may be regarded as certain that the improvement of the river
has occasioned an essential amelioration of the character of the stream,
and very essential increase of facility in river traffic has been
produced, so that towing navigation could be introduced without delay,
and has been successfully carried on between Vienna and the Hungarian
frontier at Theben. These improved conditions of navigation must,
doubtless, have occasioned a diminution in the cost of the
transportation of goods by water. We will later be enabled to
communicate this in statistical form.
VI. As mentioned above, the Danube regulation works in Upper and Lower
Austria, down to the Hungarian frontier at Theben, have not been ended.
The completion of the improvements yet necessary for the furtherance of
the navigation depends on the yearly appropriation. How large a sum will
be required can, of course, not be stated at present with any degree of
accuracy. Still, from the experience hitherto gained at the works for
the regulation of the Danube, the conclusion has been drawn that to
complete the Danube regulation works in Lower and Upper Austria
according to the system now in use—that is, the prosecution of the works
in the not yet regulated parts of the river and the completion of the
works not yet finished—a further sum may be required, which may
considerably exceed the amount of about 15,000,000 florins expended
during the last thirty years.
The not yet received exposé of the Hungarian
Government, as well as statistics concerning the reduction of rates of
transportation occasioned by improving the river, for which the ministry
of foreign affairs has applied to the Danube Steamship Navigation
Company, will, as soon as obtained, be communicated without delay.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew to the minister
the assurance of his distinguished consideration.
Vienna, December 23,
1879.
For the minister of foreign
affairs,
SCHWEGEL
.
To the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United
States of America,
Mr. John A.
Kasson.
[Inclosure 3 in No.
282.—Translation.]
The Vienna Foreign Office
to Mr. Kasson.
In pursuance of the very respectful note of December 23, the imperial and
royal ministry of foreign affairs has the honor to place at the
disposition of the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of
the United States of America, Mr. John A. Kasson, the following
information relative to river improvements in Hungary, which has been
communicated by the royal Hungarian ministry of public works and
communications.
A systematic regulation of the river-bed of the Danube has only been
undertaken near Bada-Pesth, from Newpesth to Promontor, a distance of 20
kilometers. The cost of this regulation amounts at present to 8,700,000
florins. The work was commenced in 1871, and still continues. At other
parts of the Danube the only works done are those for riparian
protection to hinder the enlargement of the river-bed and thus to
promote navigation. These works stretch along a distance of 60
kilometers, and cost about 4,400,000 florins.
During the year 1879 six lateral arms of the Danube have been closed
between Dévény and Gönyö. These closures, costing about 100,000 florins,
form part of a projected systematic regulation of that part of the
river, which will in time be completed. On the Lower Danube, from Ordas
to Tajsz, the systematic regulation has also been begun and 100,000
florins expended on it. As regards the regulation of the tributaries of
the Danube—
- 1.
- One hundred and twenty-two channels were cut in the Theiss and
the river Bodro, which have till now occasioned an outlay of
8,700,000 florins, the Theiss alone requiring 111 cuttings in a
distance of 133 kilometers, at a cost of 8,300,000
florins.
- 2.
- Twenty-nine cuttings in a distance of 37 kilometers have been
made on the river Maros. These works were executed by the
authorities with the aid of that working force which the
inhabitants have to furnish in kind, according to a fixed
reckoning, for the building and repairing of roads. The cost
can, therefore, not be accurately ascertained. The other works
undertaken for the riparian protection of the Maros cost 80,000
florins during the last ten years.
- 3.
- The river Körös, formed by the unites White, Black, and Golden
Körös, shows 49 cuttings from Békés downwards, a distance of 43
kilometers, the cost of which amounts, to 500,000
florins.
- 4.
- For the maintenance of the navigability of the Béga Canal half
a million of florins have been expended during the last ten
years.
- 5.
- From Botos downwards 28 cuttings have been made in the river
Temes, the works along a river line of 16 kilometers in length
costing, up to the present time, 150,000 florins.
As general systematic river-regulation works for improving navigation
have not yet been commenced in the countries of the Hungarian crown, and
the improvements undertaken, although they are included in the project
of general regulation, yet are only designed for riparian protection or
to prevent the river-bed from becoming wholly wild, they have had only,
so far, an influence upon traffic that they have facilitated it in a
slight measure, without, however, exercising an influence in diminishing
the rates of transportation.
The Theiss is the only river in Hungary that has been subjected to a
systematic regulation in its entire length. This was mainly done for
averting the danger of inundations, and was of very little advantage for
navigation, as the regular traffic on the Upper and Middle Theiss is so
small in consequence of the railway not existing there that it scarcely
deserves being taken into consideration. On the Lower Theiss, where the
traffic is indeed much more animated, the regulation works could not
duly assist navigation, because the cuttings can mostly only be used by
vessels during high-water, so that here, also, a diminution in the rates
of transportation could not be realized.
If the present tariff of transportation by water is much lower than it
was fifteen or twenty years ago, this progress is not to be attributed
to the river regulations, but to the lively competition maintained by
the railways completed since that date, with the transportation by
water.
The regulation of the Danube at Buda-Pesth has not yet been completed. As
the works to be accomplished are just now the subject of deliberation,
the necessary cost cannot be stated.
The projects for regulating the course between Dévény and Gönyö on the
Upper Danube, a distance of 100 kilometers, are now ready, 30,000,000
florins being proposed for the improvement of the river-bed, and
6,000,000 for the erection of the necessary embankments. The works which
have been begun between Ordas and Tajsz (32 kilometers) will require
about 2,000,000 florins.
Besides, there is a project for the regulation of the Lower Danube from
Old Moldava up to the Iron Gate; the distance is 106 kilometers; the
expenses estimated at 6,000,000 florins.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew to the envoy the
expression of his high consideration.
Vienna, December 27,
1879.
For the minister of foreign
affairs,
SCHWEGEL.
To the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United
States of America,
Mr. John A.
Kasson.
[Inclosure 4 in No.
282.—Translation.]
The Vienna Foreign Office
to Mr. Kasson.
In supplement to the very respectful notes of the 23d and 27th of last
month, concerning the river regulations in our empire, the ministry of
foreign affairs has the honor to transmit to the envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, Mr. John A.
Kasson, the explanation of the Danube Steamship Navigation Company as to
the influence of the existing regulations on the rates of
transportation. The really regulated part of the Danube from Passau to
Krems could make little use of the advantages which a regulated river
affords to navigation and commerce on account of the railways which have
in the mean time been built and run in a parallel line along the
Danube.
[Page 48]
The later regulation of the stream, begun after 1860 between Nussdorf and
Fisoha-mend, is in its extent much too insignificant to have any
influence on the rates of transportation. The advantages which the
regulation of the Danube in the immediate vicinity of Vienna have
afforded to the commerce of the metropolis are not the result of the
facilitation and cheapening of transportation through this regulation,
but rather of the fact that more favorable landing places and quays in
the vicinity of the city enabled the building of works which were the
preliminary condition in assuring to the port of Vienna a position due
to its rank. These works, especially the landing places and grain
warehouses of the Imperial and Royal Danube Steamship Navigation
Company, as well as the storehouses of the city of Vienna, have
enlivened the traffic on the Danube near Vienna in an extraordinary
degree and have mainly occasioned the increase in the Vienna grain
traffic.
The regulation of the Danube near Vienna, being for a short distance (3½
German miles), could have no influence on the cost of transportation. On
the other hand, it is beyond question that the regulation of the Danube
for the distance between Pressburg and Gönyö, a distance of 11½ German
miles, where in the fall the numberless shallows have very often
entirely interrupted the navigation, must exercise a direct important
influence on the cost of transport, provided the regulation shall
entirely remove all the obstacles which now hinder navigation over this
stretch of river.
The shallows in the stretch Pressburg-Gönyö compel the navigation
companies in the season of unfavorable condition of the water, annually
recurring, to expensive unloading of all the freight-boats, and to the
frequent requirement of three times as much cargo-room and three times
as much power as are adequate in a normal condition of the water. In
like manner, if not more prejudicial, is the effect on the navigation of
the stretch of rapids, unregulated, between Moldava and Turn-Severin, 15
German miles. The Imperial and Royal Danube Steamship Navigation
Company, which principally, not to say exclusively, traverses this
stretch with its steamers, is compelled to keep in readiness a large
number of light-draught steamers and lighters in order to maintain the
regular movement of navigation, so that at the time of low-water in
midsummer they can keep up the navigation at all.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew to the envoy the
assurance of his high consideration.
Vienna, January 8,
1880.
For the minister for foreign
affairs,
SCHWEGEL
.
To the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United
States of America,
Mr. John A.
Kasson.
