THE TUNNELLING OF THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 919, 27 January 1872, Page 3

THE TUNNELLING OF THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.

The successful cutting of the Suez Canal, and the equally successful tunnii ing of fcbia Alps, have again brought the question of an improved communication between this country and France prominently before the minds of the public. Many projects have been advanced for accomplishing this. Some have proposed a gigantic bridge between Dover and Calais, others the laying down of an immense tube on the bed of the channel; others, again, propose .to tunnel the Channel. The latter seems at present to find most favour in the eyes of practical engineers. The two other plans either present so many difficulties in the way of their accomplishment, or would be so expensive, that they have been laid aside by all but their originators. But for the late Continental war, there is no doubt that ere this the works for the tunnelling of the Channel would have heen in operation; the war is now Over, let us hope not to break out again, and there seems no reason why the project should not be set about at once, especially after the recent exhibitions of French and Italian engineering. All that is being waited for is a concession from the French Government. This concession would have been granted before by the ex-Emperor, hut the idea of making war upon Prussia so turned all heads in France as well as his own, that the concession was delayed for a more convenient season. That season has come, now, and it is more than likely that the French grant of a concession will be Imade within the next month. The 'only risk in tunnelling the Channel is ithat the sea water will find its way [into the tunnel, and so spoil all; but this is an unlikely contingency. There |are 800 feet deep of chalk under the J Straits of Dover, and if the tunnel is jonly made deep enough, there will bo |no danger from the sea. Chalk being |*o easy to excavate, it is thought, with like, aid of the best machinery a little; |over one year will suffice to tunnel |the drift way' of the proposed tunnel, • which then would not take ■over two or three more years to enlarge and complete. The idea of having a double tunnel, one for going and the other for coming, is jfinding support. It is argued that : the difference in the size of the tunnel would amply compensate for the pdouble tunnel. Now, us to the cost f*f the enterprise. • Some of the original projects were to cost from 60 up to 80 millions. This was, of course, ridiculous. The plan of laying down ;an immense tube, which found great j favor with the late Lord Palmerston and many eminent engineers on both [aides of the channel, and was the in- ; tention of a very clever civil engineer •: Homed Chalmers, was to cost, I think, ;12 millions. .This sum, though small l in comparison to some of the estimates, »was still far tod excessive. Before I the success of the Mont Cenis Tunnel, ilO millions was spoken of as the j amount required for the plan of tun- \ celling, but since then that sum has | been very considerably reduced. The \ tunnelling of the Mont Cenis cost | £250,000 a mile, but then the excayaf ting and blasting of the hard rock | that was met with.cannot be compared [with the. comparatively slight labor I that will be experienced in cutting the I cheese-like substance under the Chan- | nel ; this difference in the labor ought, I of course, to greatly reduce the price. llt was at first contemplated to erect I air funnels in mid Channel, but the I experience gained by the Mont Cenis I Tunnel has here again proved invaluI able, as it shows that such air funnels I would rather retard than improve the l ventilation of the tunnel. Mr HawkI«aw is the principal English engineer Kpose name is associated with the enI terprise. It is greatly owing to his L indomitable energy that the scheme fEU} been brought to its present length. I let us hope, and the wish does not gem at all impracticable, that before I years pass by, passengers be- \ ™fn this and Paris may travel to I and fro without leaving their railway Bpnages. All who have ever exHpnenced the horrors of crossing the ■Pannel must say it is a consummation fWVQutly to be wished.