Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - XX. Economic Progress During the Bernadotte Period - F. Trade and Transportation
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Era of Progress Trade and Transportation 341
Before this one might find even up to 900 horses for
carrying shipments from the boats above the series of
falls to the boats at the
foot of the last fall. The
locks at these falls were
a triumph of engineer-
ing skill. At the Riks-
dag in 1809 it was de-
cided to continue the
work of uniting the
Baltic with the sea on
the western side of the
country. As is usual
when great enterprises
are undertaken, the cost
of this construction far
exceeded the original
estimate. Riksdag after
Riksdag had to make
additional appropriations for this construction. On ac-
count of many discouragements the work on "Sweden’s
blue band" was at times about to be discontinued. The
opponents of the undertaking spoke sneeringly of the
"Government ditch in which nothing would float, but
the tears of the investors." But nothing affected the
bold "Sea Bear" who led the great enterprise. With
iron will Baltsar von Platen pushed forward the work,
ably supported by the Councilor of Commerce Santes-
son, who devoted the whole of his large fortune to this
enterprise. After twenty years of labor the canal was
opened to traffic in 1829, but Von Platen did not live to
Baltsar von Platen.
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