The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-07-26
The Channel Tunnel.

The Channel Tunnel.
A tall shaft, steam engine, an air
locomotive and a couple of wooden
shanties mark the spot destined, it may
be, to abut upon the English mouth of
bhe Channel tunnel-or rather of q
tChannel tunnel-for there are other
schemes afoot to join London and the
EXTREMIST point of the continent OF
Europe in continuous railway journey
aud without change of carriage. Sir
Edward Wa.kin airily calculates that the
cost of the enterprise in which he is in
terested would amount to 5000, 900
sterling, and that the tunnel would al
low the passage of $50 trains each way
every day, at an average speed of forty
five miles an hour. So that the tunnel
of twenty-five miles in length might be
travelled in half an hour-a speed, be it
said, very much higher than that kept
up in the longest tunnels of the St.
Gothard between Switzerland aud Italy.
At the bottom of the shaft. ct the mouth
of the boring, no more than seven feet
| in diameter from end to end-excepting
here and there somewhat wider square
opening, technically called Q turnout"
we IOuuu y COuPAO VI sAOAAASCS Aseos
with seats on either side, after the mar
ner of the tram cars OF the military train
familiar to habitues of Wimblendon
Camp. Running along the sides of the
trolly, close to the ground, was foot.
board like that attached to railway car
riage, and above the seat was q semi-cir-
cular hood, lined with red baize, sufi.
cient to protect the head and shoulders
from dropping wet or particles of falling
debris, but not wide enough to save the
legs ahd fact. By reason of the space
taken up in the lower arc of the circle,
so as to make level floor, along which
the rails were laid, it was necessary that
we should sit with knees drawn up and
heads bent during the whole time &C.
cupied in iourneying to the face of the
tunnel and back again.
| A Rembrandt or Salvador Rosa might
have done pictorial justice to such a
scene. Under foot for great portion of
the way the ground is almost ankle
deep in slush, and the stalwsrt fellows
who drag and push the trollies -trudg-
| ing maufully along have enough to do
to keep their foothold. The travellers.
for the greater length of time moving
through o dim twilight, cannot we'll
make out the features even of those who
sit beside them. Now and then the little
electric lamps, set in rude Diches of the
naked gray chalk, cast brilliant but
fugitive light on the passing train.
Then, for awhile, all is again but dark.
ness visible. There are shadows above
and beneath aud all around. Looking
backward or forward through the deep
ening gloom the traveller sees an ever
receding, seemingly endlesS tunnel
shaped perspective, lit at long intervals
as with fiery eyes. Onward, and yet on.
ward-to no sound SAFE the splashinR
made by the tall workmen tramping
through mud, and the drip. drip af the
water upon the hood above our heads
we are dragged and pushed beneath the
single and the sand of the shore for .
time level with the beach, and then
down, quarter of mile deep, past low
water mark, under the bed of the tunnel.
The bore has cut clean through the
gray chalk in circle as round and true
as the inside of q wedding ring. So
adapted to the work and to the material
that in dry places it is possible to see
the chisel marks made Q couple of years
1 bkO. nj lutefvalo hiOuk Tue IOuVo, WockU
it is feared the water might come
through, the sides and roof have been
paced with lead and clay and held up
with solid iron bands. apparently about
eighteen inches wide. Sometimes, in the
fitful flashes Of light. the eye rests upon
falling red rivulets, like streams of
blood, pouring down the damp walls.
Ever and anon there are faults" in the
clayey chalk not yet remsdied. So We
go on and en-. moments seeming - min
utes, until the electric lamps cease alto
gether and the long. awful cave il envsl-
oped in darkness that would be impen.
etrable bat for the glimmar OF few tai
low candles stuck into the bare wall Of
the cutting. Even mile and more from
the mouth OF the shaft it 10 not difficult
to breathe, for the Same machine which
works the bore pumps drives . oontinu-
Gus supply Of fresh air into the seven
foot pipe, which Il present forms NO
more than the nucleus Of . tunnel. At .
distance Of 200 yards from the pit mouth
We como upon tie simple and wonderful
piece Of machinery which can pisros
through the bed Of 'ths - with sxtsaor-
/ binary eslssity and 1t . cot ehsaper
J than 10 rsqsiEsd for he making a n or