The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-10-13

PROPOSED TUNNEL BETWEEN ENGLAND AND
FRANCE
from the New York Times I


[From the New York Times.l
That the tunnel between Calais and Dover,
about which so much has been said, win
eventually be built, we have little doubt. If
the new lndo-European railway, the plan for
which we lately described, is constructed, an
other strong incentive will exist Tor the build
ing Of the tunnel. OF course, the exigencles
OF trade are constantly making such conven-
fence more desirable, and It's successful exam
Pile would doubtless lead to the construction
of similar works in other places. When once
a passenger can make the trip from London to
Paris without leaving his railway carriage, we
shall soon hear of other like undertakings.
Perhaps, in the fullness of time, even Beh-
rings Straits may be tunneled, and thus not
only st. Petersburg and New York be connect
ed by unbroken iron bands, but New York and
London may be also SO united, and people en-
abled to pass between Europe and America
without lncurrlng either the sickness of the
sea or its more serious dangers.
The pracucabllity of the tunnel under the
English Cnaanel is now generally admitted,
In 1867, it will be remembered at the sueges.
ton of the French Emperor, an International
Committee was formed to organize plans for "A
tunnel between the two countries, In June
1865 this committee, with the engineers had
the matter to the Commissioner of Pu0Iic
Works. The latter appointed a special COM
mission to inquire into the subject, no made
report in March, 1869. After these prelimiba-
ry Investigations and reports, the French gov
eminent made formal application 60 thai of
England to interest itself conformity in tbs
matter, and asking il there were any reason
why concession should not be granted for
carrying out the works. An International
Committee was formed, who subsequently
made q report signed by John HawksbaW.
james Bruness, William Low, PauIin Tala'
bot, Michel Chevsller, and 1home de Gamopd.
The gist OF this report consisted first in the
declaration that there is reasonable prospect
that the tunnel eau be built, but that there
would be a certain amount OF risk attending .
it; second, that the risk would be limited 10
the single contingency of sea water finding its
way by some unforeseen fssure into the work.
iDgs in quantity too great TO be overcome
third, that there Is no r. aSon To suppose the
work would cost over $4,000 900, or that it
could not be completed WITHIN ten years. The
plan OF operations recommended was that the
expense should be divided between The Fieuch
and English governments, and that land
shafts should be sunk simultaneously on both
coasts, and eonverging diiltways begun there
from.
During the Franco German war little or
nothing seems to have been done about the
tunnel; but we learn that within a short time
the French and English authorities have again
entered into correspondence on the subject
Is to be prosecuted by private enterprise; since
a formal concession is talked OF with exclusive
rights and privileges TO those who construc. it,
The length or the structure has been thought
an insuperable obstacle TO success. But there
ace galleries work, d Tor mining purposes un-
der the st near Whitehaven ana Northum.
berland which are declared TO be many times
the distance between England and France"
As regards ventilation the unlocked for tree
dom from trouble in the Mont Ceuis Tuhnel is
reassuring; aud it is SAID that the diff-renc, in
the temperature between he two ends of the
proposed Channel Tunnel is the best security
tor the free circulation OF air in il. The ply
sical fhcultes OF piercing through the chalk
are pronounced comparatively slight In fact
there exists at this moment a tunneliug-ma.
chine, which was exhibited last year before
the British Association, and which can and
does make hole seven feet in diameter and
eighteen yards forward in the chalk strata
every twenty tour hours" Should.the tunnel
be built, as there now is little ground to doubt
and the one we propose, connecting the Amer
lean and Asiatic Continents, follow as a lesiti-
mate successor, the curious power will be at
forded OF travelling over the whole world, (bar-
ring Australia and the various islaudsj, by
| dry and-a power which may apparently oue
| day have grave effects upon the marine ca rry-
| ing-trade, and the fortunes of those who go
down to the sea in ships"