Worcester daily spy., 1872-01-08
An Ocean Ferry.


The straits OF Dover are not yet bridged or
fuuueed. although almost every year of the last
fifty bas produced some new scheme, which lis
projectors felt sare was to solve the problem of
safe speedy and comfortable communication
with the continent Among them were tunnels
in every variety Of position aud place that in
gcnuity can suggest. Some were TO be eXcavat.
ed beneath the sea bottom; some OF iron laid on
ff&. natural bottom, another of the same ma
teriai " 9ed artfcally leyeled and prepared
for It; aaother to be suspended in the water, so
far below the surfaco as 10 be out Of the way of
ships, and stayed by piers, chains and anchor
are. In bridges there was less chance for va
riety Of location, but both high and low have
been suggested, so that vessels might either
pass beneath them freely, or have a way open
ed for them through a draw. One daring pro-
iector, some time ago, announced his ability to
build suspension bridge of the necessary
twenty miles in length, with not more than
four or FIVE spans, or even only one. The tun-
mel plan has found the most fayQy 81 late, and
lis fecsis..isss seemed 10 be made more pre- bable
0y the Invention and practical testing of ma
chine, which cuts completed tunnel throu.h h
the chalk, OF which the bed Of the channel is
composed, at the rate Of several rods day.
These various projects have been the subject
of much talk, considerable writing, some diplo-
macy and little preliminary engineering work.
But nobody as yet has ventured seriously to I'M
dertake the task Of constructing either of them :;
although some OF the most famous engineers
have pronounced them perfectly practicable and
their cost not disproportionate to their benefits
10 travel and commerce, and the probable in
come to be derived from their use. The esti-
mated cost Of the several plans varied between
twenty and eighty millions of dollars. While
all these magnificent plans have been conniyed
and agitat2d for the benefit Of future travellers,
actual tourists were compelled to cross the chan
mel in the smallest, dirtest, wtttest, most nm
comfortable and undignfod steamers in the
world. The excuse TOR these is the eshalow water
on she French coast There is now in contem-
plation a scheme, less magnificent than a
bridge or tunnel, but a great improve
ment on the present facilities. 1t is a
steam ferry on a great scale. The boats
are TO run from Dover TO a new harbor to be
made at Calais; they are to be large enough to
take whole train of cars at each trip. Ac-
cofding 10 the plans now favored, their length
will be 4j0 feet, with 50 feet beam and 50 feet
diameter Of paddles. Their displacement will
be 1000 tons, and their engines win have 1000
hose power. They are expected to make
eighteen knots an hour, and TO cross the channel
in seventy minutes in fair weather and an boar
and haif in a storm. Three of these vessels,
80 that one may BE- always held in reserve Tor
en- rgpncics are estimated 10 cost two million
dollars, aud the harbor to be made for them on
the French side will cost great deal more.
Tie governments Of 9th countries concerned
are sid to favor this project, and it will prob
ably be realized sooner or later