It does not appear that Gustavus I. took any decided measures respecting a navigation across the kingdom, although it was mentioned by him at the diet on the 28th July, 1526: but his scheme was to join the lakes Maelar, Hie!mar, Sbager, and Wenern; and some as cribe to him the commencement of the Arboga canal. An order of his exists, dated 1546, for deepening the ports of Tonkoping and Wadstena, both on the great lake Wettern. In 1561, he cleared out the navigation from Upsala to the Baltic, at Bishop Tuna.
Eric XIV. had the navigation through Sweden in view, in order to avoid the vexations of the Danes and the mo nopoly. of the Hanseatic towns, but he adopted nu prac tical measures.
His brother John III. in 1581, issued letters for the c.onstruction of canals near Troelhatta ; and in 1585, for cleating away the woods between the lakes Boren and Asplangen, order to effect the canal between the lake Wettern and Soderkoping, then a great trading town.
The able and enlightened son of Gustavus I. founded the towns of Carlstad and AIariestad upon the Wenern, and, at the commencement of the river Gotha, which forms the outlet from that great lake, he caused a canal to be constructed which bears his name. About this time lived Duke John of Ostrogothia, who, having tra velled in foreign countries, formed the project for joining the \Veneta) with the Baltic; for which purpose Ile em ployed a Dutch engineer. He died in 1618.
In the year 1631, Gustavus Adolphus, amidst his German conquests, issued an order to construct an arti licial canal between the lakes Maelar and Hielmar; and the following extract, from an authentic document, proves his anxiety and zeal for its execution. It is entitled, " An extract of the declaration of King Gus tavus Adolphus, on the questions put by Count Palatin, .Tohn Cassimir, and Council of the Chambers, dated the Vield Camp at Passewitz, near Wittenberg, 31st Au gust, 16'31 :"—" Though his Ddajesty distinctly per ceives that the parishes in Nerica, which are allotted to dig the Hielmar canal, only endeavour to gain time and ulterior exemption from conscriptions, and are not working in earnest, and is thereby tempted not to grant them further exemption, yet his Majesty will make a Irial of their diligence for another year,and grants them the same exception for that time. His princely Grace Count Palatin may therefore please, with the Council of Chamber, to see that the peasants work with applica tion, and that Charles Bond looks at it as due. For the
rest, as lock building demands stability, so that it may last not only for the present tirne but for posterity, his Majesty desires that his princely Highness Count Palatin and Council of Chamber will have it construct ed of stone, and not of timber, though it should cost a thousand dollars, or somewhat more. For the rest, if the lock builder, now there, has not such knowledge thereof as he ought, it seems better to his Alajesty to write for one or two from Holland to look at it, whom his AIajesty ANill rather pay their travelling. expenses, and something for their trouble, so that the work may become lasting, and posterity. reap the benefit and use of it ; and in the ground where the locks are to be constructed, are rock and stone, his Majesty thinks it unnecessary to make the bottom of planks, but endeavour to make it from the very foundation all along, so that it may be more lasting and firm, and unnecessary expense avoided." In 1632, the Arboga canal between the Machu. and Ifielmar was constructed (during the minority of Queen Christina) with 12 locks.
In the year 1635, orders were given to a Swedish en gineer, of the name of 'Fraesk, to examine the summit of the country, which has lately been adopted for the Gotha canal ; and, in 1640, a Dutch ambassador pointed out its impot tance, and at this time the cut and lock at Edit, upon the river Goma, were ntade. Thele were also various sul veys made to avoid the Trolhatta Falls ; and during the reign of Charles X. the town of Gothen burgh and its excellent harbour, and the mouth of the great liver Gotha, were rendered more secure.
Charles XI. In 1691, began to reconstruct the Arboga canal in a mole substantial manner. The chief engi neer was a Dutchman, who unfortunately still continued to employ the river channel, aithough the adjacent ground is particularly favourable for an artifi,-ial canal. Tile navigation is, from this circumstance, subject to flood waters and sediments. The king emp;oyed the soldiers, and having encamped on the adjacent ground, he himself inspected and directed the pr ctical opera tions. It was completed by his son in 1701. The dis tance between the Maelar and Hielmar lakes is eight miles, and the fall 794 feet. The number of locks is now eight.