THE CHANNEL TUNNEL.

Evening Star, Issue 3774, 30 March 1875, Page 3

THE CHANNEL TUNNEL.

The depth of water in the Straits of Dover at high tide nowhere exceeds 180 f t; and as mm chalk on either side has been ascertained by borings to be upwards cf 500 ft deep, there are good grounds for concluding that this stratum is continuous from shore to shore, without break or flaw. It is estimated that a small bore or driftway, about eight or nine feet in diameter, can be cut through the chalk from coast to coast in about two years ; and that four more will be consumed in enlarging this sufficiently to admit of a double line of rails being laid down. The preliminary bore will be effected at the rate of a yard an hour by an engine invented by Mr Dickenson orunton, which is said to cut through the comparatively soft chalk like a carpenter’s auger. Between the bed of the sea and the crown of the arch, there will be, it is hoped, a solid bed of chalk, about 150fb. thick ; and the only serious difficulty which is likely to arise is that which results from the discovery of a “fault” in the stratification. The tunnel will start from a point near the South horelaud lights, and will reach the French coast about three miles to the westward of Calais, effecting a junction with tbe Boulogne railway three miles and a half south-east of Sangatte. The gradient on each side will be lin 80, Looking at the magnitude of the project, and at the result it promises to accomplish, it cannot be denied that the ‘ Daily is right in characterising it as “ the crowning enterprise of an age of vast engineering works.”