The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-19
THE CHANNEL TUNNEL.

THE PROPOSED SUBMARINE HIGHWAY BETWEEN
ENGLAND AND FRANcE--HIsToRy OF THE
HUGE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. cALcUIA-
TIoNs-wHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
LONDON, June Q, 1876
The present age of great scientific rather
than commercial activity. The success which has at
tended the Suez Canal and the revival OF attention
communication in Europe has been signazed by
the proposition the Caspian with the Black
and the Mediterranean with the English Channel
Whatever has given rise to all these prof.
they have become absorbing topics OF newspaper
comment and scientific discussion. 1t would appear
that capitalists, longer able TO avail themselves or
Spanish Turk sh bonds DESTROYS OF investing in
securities just doubtful. The inland African Sea
scheme and the Nicaragua Canal project belong tho
same guild, aud should all be considered In lump us
showing the restless spirit OF tho sgc.
THE CHANNEL TUNNEL.
Another scheme, no less daring, but Of more
record, found in the proposed tunnel under the
straits Of Dover, to England with the main
land. In these days everything is possible. There
seems to be good for believing that this
project tho road to realization The expert
mental borings at Sangatte Calais have reached
depth OF more than twcntyone feet sxty-one
metres As a consequence the newspapers Of France
and England greatly exercised over tho continued
success OF tho experiments
HISTORY TIE PROJECT.
1t will BIO interesting to take retrospective glance
at tho undertaking from its inception. The following
account is IRON English journal:-
Three years ago association OF capitalists and SCI
entinc men formed to carry into effect projects
which had been brought before public In a mere
less plausible different per0 during tho
past 100 years but II is only since the introduction Of
railways that public attention has seriously drawn
to the subject though II was discussed by
Napoleon when First onsul and Charles James Fox
at their interviews after the peace OF Amicns
at ono OF which Napoleon who was great adm,rcr Of
Fox said:.OhI ce wne des orordes cIos,s o nous w.
pourrons fdire ensemble y Tho master mind OF that
day took creator delight conquerIng nations than
Nature, and work which, II out will probably
exist when the wars OF the early part oil this century
forgotten, has remained to be undertaken ls76in
stead OF lsO2. The Channel tunnel scheme renamed
dormant until N. Thome dc Gamond revived the qucs
ton in denitive shape between the years 1884 and
1866, when money was not so plentiful railway compn
MES had Their systems to complete and the tunneling
OF Mont Cents had not given sufficient impetus pub
lie opinion. Thome de- Gamond, like Napoleon and
Charles James Fox, ahead OF his period. Many
plans for crossing under, and through the
OF Dover have appeared OF late years, bu, Thomc do
Gamond's plans form the groundwork OF the majority
The penetration OF the Alps, the harbors
both sides OF tho Channel accessible large stean-
ers at all states OF the tide and the daily increasing
traffic between England and the Continent call for
more rapid means OF communication. Sir John Hawk
shaw with star of English engineers. and NJ A. Ia
valley, seconded by several French engineers having
taken the matter ousy in hand projef ioi .as
passed by the French National Assembly on The ID az
August last year. and signed by the President or tho
Republic on the 5lh oil the same month, granting con-
cession and full powers for establishing submarine
tunnel between England and France.
The promoters of the company France aware that
no opposition would be made 10 the bill in the AS
sambiy and not to lose what remained or the summer
| OF 1876 had made their preparations TO commence
soundings had already been the 2sth OF July
The company had previously appointed geological
committee, presided over by N A. iavallcy, an
gneer well known in connection with the construction
\ Of the Suez Canal, the other members being NJ
Decsse chief engineer Of mines and author several
geological works; NJ PORTER, engineer OF mines, who
had made geological map Of the Pas deCalas for the
theological Map OF France; NJ de Lapparcnt, en-
gnecr oil Mines formerly member of the Com
mission appointed 1869 to report upon Sir John
Hawkshaws plan. and N. Larousse. photographic engi-
| nccr to the French Ministry Marine and leading
/ coadjutor of NJ. dc Icsscps. THIS Commission was
already well acquainted with everything that had hh-
erto been DONE and, instead OF going over the old
ground again. decided 10 supplement results already
attained by Sir John Hawkshaw and the researches of
biologists. The Commission determined that their first
operation should be TO definitely ascertain by sound
ings the OF the southern boundary line Of The
chalk stratum which was known to from one shore
to the other THIS stratum forms the northern bound
AIRY OF the Bias Bouonnais disappears under the sea
at wissant, and reappears with only slight deviation
to the north OF Fokestonc IL IS in line drawn par
alle to one running from w,ssant to Fokestono
and few miles further east that the tunnel win be
pierced
TRACING rnE CHALK STRATUM
Biologists in general have said that any flaws exist
In the different strata the surface edges viii show an
irregular boundary line; H. on the contrary the boun-
dairy line regular the strata will be likewise and
the tunnel may be made without meeting with any i'm
pedmcnL Here lay the first diihcn,y. Soundings on
marine charts taken the quality of tho
anchorage; deep sea soundngs partake more OF the
nature OF dredging to ascertain the DESCRIPTION M
lower life at great depths. SIR John Hawkshaw was
the first who succeeded in bringing up specimens cut
from the real bottom the STRAITS which are usually
covered with layer OF gravel. sand, mud or stones
one OF the instruments used by SIR John Harksnaw
sent a model from which others were
made; they consist OF steel tube, the lower end hav-
lug sharp edge and the upper portion perforated with
holes to allow water and oozc 10 escape. one OF these
tubes which are made Of different diamctcrs, from
0ols metres to 1850 metres and different Lengths
from % metres. fitted into the collar Of Inc
sounding lead, weighing 81 pounds. This weight being
found insufficient TO penetrate through thicker and
harder layers was ultimately increased by NJ aval.cy
TO IL pounds The sounding line made the best
hemp cable laid with circumference Of o 0is metres
divided into metres, was wcttcd, stretched and
measured nj the commencement and ending oil each
days operations
BscxSrxe IN EARNEST
ON the 18th OF July MN. Lavacy Fcrnaud Duval,
Iaroussc, Potter and dc Lapparcnt left Bouiognc Har-
Dor board the steantug Pearl for trial trip Tho
nrst day the lead times and though ONLY
few specimens Of tho bottom were obtained vet the
apparatus found 10 work VOL An OF success
appeared the first day There j point on the
ogsts. OF Wissant ~ bank marked charts les
Qaenoes uncovered at low water, which had been
ton instead OF following direct The question
for solutioa whether this deviation caused by
a fault or only a bend in the stratum The FIRST
days souhcings evinccd that ~ bend
only. and subsequent operations have definitely
settled the question that flaw exists on lbe
French side or Straits As soon as the
voted operations commenced in earnest, tho in
tcrva having been occupied completing details.
From the second week IN August 10 the end OF Sep
TENDER the Pearl, with her sian OF engineers. out
when the weather permitted VI. Iarousse the
photographer, used to take the station
Tor commencing standings, and asccriaincd her posi-
ton by bearings; this beng done, McSsrs
Potter and dc LapparenL Jointly sngy, took
act regis Of the depth and time OF each sounding
and examined each specimen brought from The bottom,
a a