The past and future politics of a canal

An attempted essay. (still being edited).

There are two very distinct time periods for canals in France. From the beginnings of industry and the need to transport in the 1750's up tothe 1960's where the French government decided to finance the train system and the truck driving industry.

This was the total decline of the barge transporting industry,from 300,000 barges in 1965 to a mere 5,000 barges today. However, the canals have caught a second breath of air with the development of the tourism industry (mainly due to the efforts of British expats). Apart from two north/south canals a,d the large rivers such as the Seine, Rhone and Rhine there is only tourism on the canals. The paradox being that it took more than 200 years to build more than 35,000 km of inland navigable waterways, but only 30 years to let them fall into a poor state.

However, with environmental interest and a new regard upon water reserves, the government is funding and a basic upkeep is coming back. Previously, the canal was a great source of income to villages and towns which aligned the canal bank. The lucky places that found themselves beside a canal saw the arrival for the first time of hundreds of tonnes of merchandise in a single delivery. Can you imagine the complete change in life style: before the canal everything that arrived in a village came by horse and cart (just a few tonnes), with the arrival of the barge by the canal it was possible to haul 200 tonnes in one go... with one horse, one boat and two men. The economy of the villages along the canal began to thrive, there was a need for certain working skills, from carpenters to rope makers, blacksmiths to accountants, taverns to hotels, lock keepers and deck hands.

The construction of the canals (Burgundy) has also affected the countryside and urbanism. Check the pages on the website regarding the reservoirs. Villages were often split into two halves, therefore bridges where necessary, one side of the village was always favoured as being closer to the highway etc... Farmers had their fields divided, quarries where made to provide the stones for lock building.

As toady's canals are under the influence of the tourist trade there is a new vision of the canal, as it should represent calm waters and green fields, small villages and traditional architecture. All maintenance and construction work is made with the considerations of the visual impact, historical interest and cost of previous negligence. The lock houses, which were once mini farms providing supplies to bargees, who cruised every day of the year, are now flowered, trim and proper.

Today's lock keeper spends his time mowing the lawn and keeping the eye out for the occasional small craft. (Cynical but true). Some of the lock houses have disappeared, the locks made automatic or operated by "mobile" lock keepers.

Recent political decisions and funding could make one think that there is a new idea about canal transport, or maybe the political leaders are just playing safe. Imagine one barge with 250 tonnes with one man and one motor (200 horsepower) can transport the equivalent of 10 trucks with 10 engines (200 horsepower) and only 20 tonnes each. Even worse, the one bargee can live aboard with his family,(no land tax), the barge built of steel will last for a hundred years, the engine will turn for 20-30 years. A truck last 2-3 years, compare the petrol used by 10 trucks... Imagine if Ford truck company sold one truck every 50 years to a truck driver...

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