The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-12-04
rur oRayDEsT ENGINEERING SCHEME
op ANCIENT OR MODERN TIMES.

wonderful achievements of engineering skill
and gigantic schemes of public improve
mept. Even this year has recorded the |
completion Of two of the greatest pubic |
enterprises of modern or ancient times, the |
Pacific Railroad aud the Suez Canal But |
it appears these ore to be echpsed and
dwaried into comparative insignihcance by |
the bridging Of the Straits of Dover, and
connecting England with the continent OF
Europe by rail- A proposition to effect SO
great feat of engineering twenty-five
wears ago. would have received no more
consideration than now would be given to
the project of building railroad to the
moon. But there is every reason to believe |
that plans have been so far perfected, that |
within ten years or less the inhabitants of
the British Islands will be able to pass over
70 the continent dry.shod, and without the
aid of wstercraft.
A late number of AppIeton's Journal
contains the details Of this scheme, which
are of much interest and Importance. 1t
sppesrs that though this is an enterprise
that has excited the ambition Of others, it
has remained for a French engineer named |
Boutet to devise plan for its accomplish. |
ment. After years Of study and expert |
ment he has won for his plan the favor OF
the French Emperor, and OF sufficient
number Of engineers and financial men 70
form stock company to commence the
Herculean undertaking. The association
have already completed model Of The pro
posed bridge, one hundred feet in length,
with which they explain their project and
make practical experiments. We extract
from the journal the following interesting
details and particulars:
Boutet has really two projects to pro
nose, the first of which Coutemplates
bridge ,cith a single span. The second has
in view a bridge of ten spans, each OF the
latter nearly two miles IN length. The lat
ter system is the one preferred, chiefly be-
cause it is the more economical OF the two
schemes.
The proposition is to let the bridge rest
upon the Shakes peare Cliff on the English,
and upon Cape Blanc Nez on the French
side. These two promontores, which are OF
solid chalk, offer sufficient resistance to sus
tain the whole weight Of the structure.
Without going into minute descriptions o.
the various parts of the bridge which even
with Illustrative diagrams could only be un.
deruood BY engineers and mechanics, we
will attempt to give such popular expIana
tons as will make the construction iute.Lgi.
bic to the general reader
Each span will consist Of hve vertical
frames or tresses, all five firmly fastened
together so as practically to form but one
presenting the appearance OF net work OF
vs., { ron this tresse work will be place.
the various tracks, road beds, toot.p paths. etc.
the safety Of passengers being secured b.
parapets.
Near the escarpment, the platform 0
trestle of the bridge will be sixty feet II
vertical Dimensions, and suspended hitY
two feet above the surface OF the sea. h
construction will be such that at ever
point lightness and solidity will be com
bined in the most ludicous manner, and IN
weight equally distributed. The strength
the bridge win allow twelve tuA TRAINS l"de
to their utmost capacity, to crog5 the ak
of the spans in safety at the same time, wer
they to meet, and had tracks enough to pas
The breadth of the bridge multiplied by !
weigh gives q resistance thirty Blk TIME
greater than the force Of the strongest ga
beating on such a surface.
SO far an the plan haa been disclosed
the public, the new idea consists in co
structng pillars Of iron and heavy umb
tresswork in dockyards or other suItab
places on shore. 30 that, by the aid OF buO
fastened below them, aud removable VIII
they have been secured at the proper poi
thew can be towed TO their places and tht
lowered to the bed of the sea. These plat
are TO De previously ascertalued and MAJ
ed by floating buoys, all sttrached to {
cable, which is to extend, like q build
line on land, across the Straits
The base of the pillar, which will con-
of open work in order to offer the less
sistance to tide and current, will be eXtrei
ly firm and strong, and at the same Il
have the elasticity of spring from
peculiarly OF its construction. The ?
most exposed TO the beating Of the wa
will be boxed in solidIy, aud protected
an armor Of interwoven galvanized l
work. The upper part, on when the our
of the superstructlon will immediately
will be open in order to oppose the smaI
possible aggregate Of surface to the Wal
and will afford easy access for alteration
repair, aud, at the same time, will
obstruct the view Of mariners, as SOLID
lars would necessarily do.
The towing and sinking Of the pillars
sent the main difficulty, and will have t.
done in the tairest weather. In fact
whole work pertakes greatly OF the de
aud dangers Of hight house building on "a
cial foundations, and will require the ut
patience, care and sliil.
The pillars once set, the remaining v
will be comparatively easy, although b
force will have to be employed on 1t n
and day, and the scsfolding, suspens
and timber work be made TO move, with
utmost CELEBRITY, 50 as 10 escape bad wea
while incomplete The methods OF II
weaving, linking, and bracing form par
the French inventors patent, and are his
pendence for the resisting power aud stab
Of the structure. The pillars will be we
shaped facing tide aud current on the
and west, il the part chiefly exposed TO
surface action.
The distance between Shakespeare
on the English aud Cape Blanc Nez on
French side is a little less than twenty n
Should this great distance be spanuet
such structure as IS above described,
hope OF railway passage between th,s(
try and Europe will at once be born &c
ocean timid heart. The distance bet
Cape Prince Of Wales in North Ameri
Cape East in Asia across Behriug STR
only thirty.six miles, the bridging Of '
1hab ipvolva faue