Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1873-11-21
A STUPENDOUS PROJECT.
Tao Railroad Tunnel Between
France and England.

The projected railroad tunnel he
tween France and England, which
attracted so much interest few years
ago, but which has lately been lost
sight OF by the public, has been
revived. under favorable auspices
In 1867 plan was put forward by
English and French engineers for
the construction of tunnel 81, 400
metres long, connected with the net
work of railroads on either side OF
the Channel by underground gal
leries about 10000 metres long.
Formal application was made to the
English and French Governments
for financial aid to construct subma-
rine sections on either side as an ex-
pertinent. The demand was not
favorably received by the French au-
thorities, but no formal action was
taken in reference to it until the
time of the war between France and
Germany, which of course, arrested
all further action for the time being.
Since then the project has assumed
another and more hopeful phase. \
company of French and English CAPT
talists has been formed. and the plan
of seeking subsidies has been aband-
oned, the company relying on its re-
sources for the completion of the
work. But the company demand, in
lieu of the subvention or guarantee
of interest, various concessions, the
most important of which is a per-
petual guarantee from all compet::-
ton. No other parties are ever 10
receive the privilege Of constructing
a raiload tunnel between France and
England.
To this demand for a permanent
monopoly the English Government
gives 4 positive refusal. 1t IS favor
able to the scheme. but it cannot
divest itself of all sovereignty over
the territory to i private corporation.
The French Government is inclined
to take the same ground; but before
it adopts any policy the project must
first be submitted TO the same investiga-
tons usual for all public works In
structions have in consequence been adj
dressed to the project OF Pas-de-Calais.
into which department the works would
extend to open this inquiry. Moreover,
as the project concerns great work of
international communication, the Min
lister has decided on not restricting the
inquiry to the chambers OF commerce in
the departments, as required by the reg
ulations, but on consulting those in all
the large towns throughout the country.
For that purpose circular has been
md til 20 ha
with all the documents bearing on the
subject.
The tunnel scheme will 10 doubt
stand the rigid scientific inquiry that
will be instituted in Calais, as it has re-
ceived the sanction Of the most eminent
civil engineers in all countries. The
rest is of comparatively little account.
The perpetual monopoly asked by the
Tunnel Railroad Company is net likely
to interfere with its progress, if other |
details work favorably. The company
really appears to have q sufficient guar
antee against competition in the encr-
nous outlay necessarily involved in a
work of this kind. 1t would probably
be several generations before business
increases sufficiently to warrant capital
lists in making investments in a new
tunnel. OF course similar enterprises
could be operated more favcrably, as fu-
ture companies would enjoy the expert
,nce Of the present company. But all
he advantages likely to accrue from the
unnel will probably he realized by the
irst company, and with anything like
prudent business management and
economy, it can SO far reduce tine chan
.es Of competition as to render the