Saint-Quentin Canal

==History==

==History==

The canal was built in two phases, the second much longer than the first. [[Louis XIV of France|King Louis XIV]]'s ministers [[Jean-Baptiste Colbert|Colbert]] and Mazarin had both proposed linking the rivers [[Oise (river)|Oise]] and [[Somme (river)|Somme]] in the 17th century and this resulted in the [[Canal Crozat]], or [[Canal de Picardie]], between [[Chauny]] and [[Saint-Simon, Aisne|Saint-Simon]] in 1738. The remainder, connecting the Seine Basin with the [[Scheldt|Escaut]] was a lengthy process. The original designer, Devicq in 1727, died in 1742. Little was accomplished until [[Napoleon]] demanded that work begin again in 1801. He officiated at the opening in April 1810.{{cite book | last = McKnight | first = Hugh | title = Cruising French Waterways, 4th Edition | publisher = Sheridan House | year = 2005 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/cruisingfrenchwa00mckn/page/16 16, 37–42] | isbn = 978-1-57409-087-1 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/cruisingfrenchwa00mckn/page/16 }}

The canal was built in two phases, the second much longer than the first. King [[Louis XIV]]'s ministers [[Jean-Baptiste Colbert|Colbert]] and Mazarin had both proposed linking the rivers [[Oise (river)|Oise]] and [[Somme (river)|Somme]] in the 17th century and this resulted in the [[Canal Crozat]], or [[Canal de Picardie]], between [[Chauny]] and [[Saint-Simon, Aisne|Saint-Simon]] in 1738. The remainder, connecting the Seine Basin with the [[Scheldt|Escaut]] was a lengthy process. The original designer, Devicq in 1727, died in 1742. Little was accomplished until [[Napoleon]] demanded that work begin again in 1801. He officiated at the opening in April 1810.{{cite book | last = McKnight | first = Hugh | title = Cruising French Waterways, 4th Edition | publisher = Sheridan House | year = 2005 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/cruisingfrenchwa00mckn/page/16 16, 37–42] | isbn = 978-1-57409-087-1 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/cruisingfrenchwa00mckn/page/16 }}

The canal was such a success that the locks had to be duplicated throughout in the early 20th century, at the same time deepening the channel, enlarging the tunnels, and increasing water supplies. Later improvements included electric barge traction on rails, installed during [[World War I]], mechanising locks, and providing public lighting on the busiest sections. Later, the locks were equipped for automatic operation, using remote sensors, and more recently, using handheld remote control. By 1878, up to 110 barges were crossing the summit level daily. The [[Canal du Nord]] was built as a duplicate route and completed in 1965. The canal carried more freight than any other man-made waterway in France in 1964.

The canal was such a success that the locks had to be duplicated throughout in the early 20th century, at the same time deepening the channel, enlarging the tunnels, and increasing water supplies. Later improvements included electric barge traction on rails, installed during [[World War I]], mechanising locks, and providing public lighting on the busiest sections. Later, the locks were equipped for automatic operation, using remote sensors, and more recently, using handheld remote control. By 1878, up to 110 barges were crossing the summit level daily. The [[Canal du Nord]] was built as a duplicate route and completed in 1965. The canal carried more freight than any other man-made waterway in France in 1964.