The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-13

termining whether the lower strata OF the
chalk through which the tunnel s 70 be
excavated might not offer some untoward
dislocatious. II appears that, with the ex-
ceptlon OF an unimportant bend near the
French coast, the disposition OF the geo
logical layers Is regular and offers llttle
probability of assure. Its probable, there
fore, If not certain, that the construction
OF tho vaulted roadway will be unat-
tended with any serious accident. The tx
ample, moreover, of numerous galleries,
which in tho working Of English mines
have been pushed beneath the bed Of the
sea, demonstrates that q submarine tunnel
need not offer conditions essentially differ
ont from those enoouui cred III piercing "A
mountain. As for the mechanical means
of execution, the application of perforat-
ing machines, and contrivances for venu-
lation, these are questions already solved
In the course OF analogous operations.
There is, however, an economical, as
well rs technical, standpoint from which
the scheme may be examined. How largo
an outlay will be oxacted by this enter
prise, and what are the proportions OF tho
traflc upon which 1t may reasonably CAL
culate7 Messrs. HAwKsHAw and LAvAII.Ey
have not yet submitted estimates on this
point, but NJ. THoME DE GAMoND, In an
elaborate memoir on the subject. COM
puted the cost ut fifty millions of dollars,
which would represent an aT'rage expen-
diture of rather more than IA mlllion and
half per milo. These n lures have been
attained by several tunnels already exc
cutcd, and 1t IL believed by many compe-
tent engineers that they should b. doubled
in view of the unknown factors presented
by THE problem. and OF the special difficult
ties attaching TO submarine excavation.
II their opinion is well grounded the rev.
enuc OF the projected road ought to yield
five millions Of dollars in order TO make
the Investment fairly remunerative.
II Is ut least doubtful whether the re-
ceipts from traffic could be made TO realize
such o sum. For the year 1878 the Channel
trade of BnGland, including the lines to
Ostend as well as to French ports, showed
o total OF less than half a million of pas
senEers, and rather more than two millions
of tons In merchandise, excluding coal
which under all circumstances would be
shipped In lighters from Cardiff, Newcastle,
and other convenient ports. There is no
doubt that the movement OF freight lie
steadily expanding, and IL Is claimed that
the amount of travel would be vastly aug
mented II the delays and annoyances Of
maritime transit could be avoided. Grant
ing however that the tunnel would from
the start command a million of passengers,
and that the merchandise trafhc at the
date of its completion VIII aggregate three
million tons, 1t would he requisite 10 charge
u toll of two dollars head aud one dollar
per ton IN order TO pay Ave per cent. on the
capital invested. We must likewise sup
pose that all the Channel freight would
take the submarine road; but II is obvious
that this would not DO the case, and that
the competition OF navigation would not
permit the maintenance OF tariff high
enough to render the all-rail transport OF
goods lucrative.
1t Is by no means certain that the tun-
mel route would offer irresistible attrac-
tons TO the traveller. The subterranean
journey would exact at least an hour by
reason OF the pronounced grades which
must be traversed. aud to some persons so
long sojourn IN darkness, coupled with
the apprehension of n possible accident, n
collision, or fracture in the masonry.
would outweigh the dread OF sea-siokness
and the discomforts of a Channel steamer.
As regards CELEBRITY, the trip from London
TO Paris would stlll demand seven hours
and half, while IT Is unquestIonable that
with q superior class of packets the jour
ney by way OF Dieppe and Newhaven
might be performed in the same time.
These are some Of the objections TO the
submarine road, regarded ~ an indepen-
dent Investment. There is no doubt, how
ever, that two great corporations, the Lon
don, Dover and Chatham Railway and the
Chemiu de fer du Nord, will find their nc
count Ia the new enterprise, ana 1t is
mainly TO their exertions that an interna-
tional tunnel between the French and
English coasts Is In the way of probable
execution. Whatever, indeed. may be the
commercial promise, or the ultimate
financial results, none will dispute the
grandeur OF an undertaking which aims to
reverse the decree of nature, and TO link
the shores of the inviolate island with
those of her hereditary foe.
r.