RESULT OF INQUIRY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 13

RESULT OF INQUIRY

COMMITTEE APPROVES

ONE MEMBER DISSENTS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 21st March. In April, 1929, a committee was appointed "to examine and report on the economic aspects of proposals for the construction of a Channel tunnel or other new form of cross-Channel communication." Their report has now been issued, and four out of the five members of tho committee have expressed"'themselves in favour of the scheme. Their main conclusions are:— 1. None of the new forms of crossChannel communication suggested can bo regarded as a satisfactory alternative to a Channel tunnel. 2. On the available evidence it appears probable that the geological and engineering difficulties likely to be encountered could be successfully overcome. There must remain an element of doubt regarding the practicability of constructing a tunnel until the proposed pilot tunnel, estimated to cost £5,600,000 has 'been, successfully driven right across the Channel. 3. If the pilot tunnel is successfully constructed in the manner proposed, the practicability of subsequently constructing the traffic tunnels may be regarded as established. The cost of the latter tunnols is estimated at about £25,000,000. There would be no difficulty about their operation and upkeep. • ■ ■ 4. If a Channel tunnel is constructed, on economic grounds the work! should be carried out by private enterprise, and should not be accorded any special financial assistanco by Government. 5. A Channel tunnel could be built, maintained, and operated by private enterprise at a cost which would permit of the traffic through it being conveyed at rates not higher than those at present in force on the short crossChannel route. , 6. Tho committee believes that, although some interests would probably bo adversely affected, the construction of a Channel tunnol, by creating new traffic and thus increasing trade, would be of economic advantage to this country. GEOLOGICAL PROBLEMS. It is considered that the only hope of success lies in running the tunnel through the lower chalk' strata, which reaches a depth, below sea level of about 300 feet. . The practicability of the scheme depends upon the continuity under the Channel of this strata. The available evidence suggests that this formation ,does extend without interruption, but there is a risk that fissures or ■unfilled valleys may be encountered. If fissures filled with rough .gravel, and therefore affording fairly free passago for the soa water, were met with, cementation would probably seal them up. If close sand were met with yielding largo quantities of water, the conditions would be more difficult, and the success of the- process doubtful. ■ " With tho development of engineering resources, fissures, unless of exceptional size, "would not present any insuperable difficulty.'' Before any expenditure is incurred on the main borings, it ia considered imperative that a pilot tunnel should be driven through the whole longth' of the-Straits. The consulting engineers recommend that, as tho pilot tunnel proceeds, advance and radial boreholes should be driven from it to explore the ground ahead and all round it in order to obtain the fullest information' regarding the ground through which the main tunnels would subsequently be driven. Summing up their views as to "practicability," the majority Bay: "On the available evidence it appears probable that the lower chalk extends, uninterruptedly across the Straits, and that it would be prossible' to construct a tunnel. There must, however, remain an element of doubt regarding practicability until tho proposed pilot tunnel is completed. If that is successfully, accomplished in the manner 'proposed, thepracticability of subsequently constructing the traffic tunnels may be regarded as established." FINANCE OF THE SCHEME. As regards the finance of the scheme, the company proposes to issue ordinary shares sufficient to' cover the cost of the English section of the pilot tunnel. The actual work of construction would bo carried out simultaneously by two companies, the British company building the British half and the French company the French half. The necessary closest co-ordination between the two companies might be secured by the formation of a single holding company. The Channel tunnel companies would not themselves maintain or operate the tunnel section, but would enter • into agreements for these services to be carried out by tho two railway companies at a much smaller cost. The dissentient was Lord Ebbishani, who declared his opposition to the scheme on economic grounds. He says: "My general conclusion is that even if a tunnel could be built, maintained, and operated by private enterprise, and if it could carry traffic at competitve rates, any resultant advantages are uncertain and, at the best, slight in extent, whilst, on the other hand, evidence submitted has shown that there would be a definite detriment to substantial portions of established industries, such, for instance, as shipping and agriculture." Lord Ebisham maintains that the stimulus to passenger traffic would be slight. Ho believes that the temporary gain in employment would be more than counteracted by the permanent loss of employment which must necessarily follow. "Further," he adds, "there are certain advantages in our quality of insularity. To make this country a mero adjunct to the Continent might well promote a feeling of unrest by adding to our anxieties and responsibilities." FIRST STAGE ONLY. "When Mr. Baldwin appointed tho committee," says the political correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph," "it was understood that tho inquiry would

be preliminary to an examination subsequently of the political and military aspects of tiio project! "Now that the committee has reported it is expected that tho Committee of Imperial Defences will, once again, be charged with the duty of upon the scheme to tho Cabinet. "Ministers will then come to a decision as to whether, viewing the matter from all angles, the scheme should be approved. "It is pointed out in responsible quarters that the publication" of the present report marks, therefore, only the first stage in the proceedings, and that aoino timo must elapse before a final conclusion can be reached. "There is, it is suggested) a tendency to forget that a Channel tunnel must bo a joint Anglo-French affair. It follows, therefore, that tho full consent of the French Government would havo to bo expressed before any practical move could be made." A CONTRACTOR'S SCHEME. Tho Paris correspondent of the 'Telegraph" says that the report has given . great satisfaction to. the Channel Tunnel Committee, which was founded by the late M. Paul Cainbon,, M. Fougerolle, a contractor, has a remarkable scheme for excavating the tunnel. The original idea was to bring water for pulverising the chalk to the coast in pipe lines and to bring back Jhe solution of chalk powder and water by other lines. M. Fougerolle's idea (which is blessed.in the committee's report) is to take the water from tho sea through the ceiling of the tunnel, and by means of revolving cutters to grind the chalk and return it to the sea in the proportion of 30 per cent.v powder and 70 per cent, water. It ; is claimed that by this process of boring the work could be accomplished in three to four years instead of ten years, as had been estimated. "All is ready in France," an official of the French Committee said. "The company has the legislative powers it requires.,- TheTe is in existence a Ministerial order which gives the company authority for making a start with the French part .of the tunnel. The company was founded by M. Michel Chevalier, a great economist and engineer, and the director is M. Javary.