The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-02-19 00:00:00

THE COMMUNICAIION WITH FRANCE.

Mr John Yowler, the eminent engineer, has sent the fol-
lowing to The Times, for publication
The improvement of the present defective com-
munication between England and France is of such
great public importance that I trust you will allow me
the opportunity of giving some information upon the
subject, and of meeting some objections which have
been raised by your correspondent "W." against the
scheme with which my name is associated. As you
very justly observe, the "middle passage" between
Dover and Calais, or Folkestone and Bonlogne, is
altogether behind the age, and an ordeal from which
not only ladies, children, and invalids, but the strongest
men may and do shrink. The public re quirts an im-
provement which shall be thorough and effectual. No
P mall measure such as the substitution of new vessels
like those which now run between Holyhead and Dub- ,
lin will suffice. There would in that case, no doubt,
be • little more room, a little less tossing, perhaps •
a little greater speed, but there would still be
much sea sickness in all but the smoothest weather.
There would still be the want of room whenever
passengers were numerous. Thi re would still be the
delays and the misery of transfer from the train
to the steamboat at embarking, and from the steam-
boat to the train on landing. We want a scheme
which shall do far more than this, which shall give
the greatest possible immunity from sickness, the
great comfort of continuous carriages for the whole
journey, and a great saving of time between the
English and French capitals. Three plans have been
proposed for effecting this improvement, which may,
perhaps, be described as relying for their accom-
plishment on the three different elements, air,
earth, and water. The scheme in the air is the
bridge which you described as costing a trifle of
thirty millions, and constructed on 100 towers, at a
height of 500 feet above the sea leveL the scheme in
the earth is that of the tunnel, which is designed to
pass, at a cost of very many millions, under the bed of
the sea, and which would require a length of time and
an amount of capital that only rich nations in a very
generous m sod are likely to entertain. The scheme
on the water is that which you have done me the hon-
our to notice, and which aims at supplying, within
two years from the commencement of the works con-
tinuous communication by means of large ferryboat.
of 450 feet in length and proportionate breadth,
drawing about 12 feet of water, and which from their
size and form will be nearly free from all tossing and
rolling in the heaviest Channel seas.
I confess I do not see any parallel between the (Treat
Eastern steamer, which was designed by my late friend
Mr. Brunel, for long voyages to India or Australia,
and the steamers which are designed for a short ferry
service of twenty to thirty miles across the Channel,
and it is scarcely necessary to point out the great dif-
ference between an Atlantic swell and the short
chopping PCB of the English ChanceL It is objected
that the weight of the train would make the boat top-
heavy, but this is a complete mistake. A train of
passenger carriages would only weigh about 120 tons, I
which in the proposed vessel of 7,000 tons would be
practically unfelt. It is a common idea that it is pro-
posed to place the passenger carriages on the deck,
exposed to wino and weather, instead of their being
enclosed, as they will be. in a space between the upper
and the main deck, and completely protected from
exposure. It is also intended to carry the goods
trucks below the main deck, as their weight
will be useful to ballast the vessel and increase
its steadineas. On the main deck, accommodas
dation will he provided for passengers (who will gene.
rally alight from their carriages, as they would at any
railway station where a stoppage is made for refresh-
ment), and they will fiinl well-lighted, well-warmed
saloons, with means of reading, writing, dec., which
will make the sea voyage the most agreeable part of
the journey. Private cabins will ales be provided on
the same deck, and large rooms for the officials of the
Custom-home-a of the two countries, so that all luggage
may be examined and the weary delay from that cause
at the end of the journey entirely avoided. The speed
of these steamers is an important part of their design,
and instead of the journey from Dover to Audresselles
occupying two hours, as stated by your correspondent,
it will be performed in one. The hydraulic apparatus
in the harbours on each side is so arranged that the
transfer of the carriages between the railway and the
boats will be effected within five minutes. .

Such are the main features of the proposed boats.
It now remains to find harbours for their accommoda-
tion. To the harbour which is designed at Dtver no
objection has been taken, except that its estimated
cost may possibly be exceeded. Thill is an objection
to which every new scheme is liable, hut I hope and
believe that it will be obviated in this cage by the care
which has been bestowed upon the estimates. The
French harbour must, it course, depend upon the
French Government, and the question whether they
will choose a new port at Audresselles, or whether
they will prefer either f the old ports of Calais or
Boulogne, remains still for their decision. They
are now engaged in a survey of the coast to ascer-
tain which point is the most favourable for the pm,
pose. With regard to the saving of time which may
be expected, you correctly stated it as amounting to
two hours and a quarter. The calculation la easily
made. The present time from the arrival at the port
on either side to the time of departure of the train
from the opposite side of the Channel is about three
hours, and about half an hour is lost in the examination
of luggage at the terminus. These three hours and a
half will be reduced to one hour and a quarter by the
superior speed of the boats employed, by the saving
of the stoppages at the two ports, and by the Custom-
house examination of baggage being performed on
board the steamer, thus leaving the gain of two hours
and a quarter. •
The gauge of the French railways is exactly similar
to the English. The engines constructed at Creuzot
for the Great Eastern Railway ran along the French
lines to the port of embarkation. It cannot be doubted
that the number of passengers between the two coun-
tries will be largely increased by this improved com-
munication, and that a new goosls traffic will be created.
Every great work is difficult, and can only be accom-
plished by united action. In this case the object is
one of national importance, and will give such an im-
petus to the trade of the two countries that it is, I
hope,unworthy
. nrtihay of your paijontain. dof the appro-
val