The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-11-04

often proved as the lighthouse OF tho martinez
far out In the Pacifc-perennial drought an
Egyptian rainlessness blight and curse -
land. res
Certainly, II would seem, no experlmsas
can be more dangerous or feolhardy It ~
season than that Of producing artificial rain u
fires. It was great mistake ever TO HAYS
propagated the theory, and active measures
should everywhere be taken to frown II doW1
and to prevent Its being tested.
Tho Proposed Tunnel Under the Drls1sn
Channel.
The accomplishments Of science In the
present age will mark praiseworthy epochs n
its history. Mountains have been pierced
continents spanned, and the waters Of difEeread
seas have been mingled together. In the h
terest Of commerce and for the benefit Of man
have these great achievements been brought
to q successful consummati0n. Tho iron
horse has scarcely commenced his travels ~
meath the snow-capped tops Of the Alps ere he
question Of tuunelling that s'silver streak =
sea" which separates England from France 4
again brought into public notice. The fea6B.
bility of this work Is vouched for by the nose
accomplished engineers Of the countries q
either side Of tho channel. The miserable
accommodations of the boats which CROSS Tie
Dover Straits are perplexiug sources Of anaoys
anoe to tho thousands who every year wilt
the Continent from England for either pleasure
or business. This In itself il grievaneo
which, no doubt could be remedied, bat he
manifold advantages to both countries wAisA
would spring from the successful accomplish
ment of the undertaking to which We refer ass
manifest to every thinking person. It wosi1
prove bond Of friendship between England
and France long and lasting.
II Is now many years since the pro9eot
was first preached. Then ~ now it wa1
favorably regarded by scientific men. The
foremost among them believed in It's peas-
ticability and advocated its undertaking.
Since tho subject was first introduced ~
waters of the Red Sea have been let into thd
Mediterranean, Italy and France have besa
brought closer together BY the iron bonds
which lie beneath Mont Gents, and our ov1
Continent has been spanned by chain whi6A
unites in measure the Atlantic to the Paei6o.'
These experiences Of the past viii help largely
to solve tho difficulties Of the future. Ths
present day knows "no such word a. fAiLs
II Il moro than probable that, had not tho lass
war robbed France Of portion Of her great
ness and laid . heavy hand upon her resources
even now the work under the sea wou14,
be In progress. If eight miles of hard aaA
finty rock could not resist the labor Of man
it is scarcely possible that twenty-one miles
Of chalky soil will cause him to fear tho result
Of . no less important undertaking. Louis
Napoleon, in tho days of his power, and Tie
late Lord Palmerston, were strongly In
pressed with the Importance Of the work.
The sentiments Of the people Of both Eng
land and France, even from the little thae
was really understood of the matter, were In
hearty accord with tho views Of the greas
Premier and the no less thoughtful Emperoe.
In June, 1868, an international committee
composed Of eminent English and French
engineers, submitted . most sanguine report
on the proposed undertaking. The COMMITTEES
contained the names Of John Hawkshaw.
william Low, James Brunlees, Michel Chev4-
licr, Paulin Tslabot and Thome do GamoaA.
It was their expressed belief then that with
certain amount Of risk the work could u
accomplished. The risk was limited to ens
contingency possibility Of sea water
finding its way by some unforeseen dssure Int
tho workings in quantity too great to be over
come" The estimated cost Of the work was
ten millions, and the time to be occupied In ~
construction was calculated at ten years. The
great success Of the Mont Gents tunnel, hov.
ever, and Its accomplishment within the Hns
specified, at q cost considerably less than
the estimated price set on its constructions
may have the effect Of causing reduction =
the present estimates on the Straits Of Dcvss
In place of ten years time To
work might be done in half or even less, and The
expense OF tho tunnel might also be largely
reduced. Even placing it at the estimate
given In time and money, there Ia every
reason to expect that the undertaking will b
attempted, and to the many great achieve
ments of the age will be added tunnel
beneath the ''silver streak Of sea" which
separates England from the Continent AZ
Europe.
Low WATER IN THE HUDSOH.