The Indianapolis journal., 1885-12-07

The Great Work Completed-Its Scope and
Importance.

The Great Work Completed-Its Scope and
Importance.
Liverpool Letter.
This great work is now completed, and as soon
as the approaches are finished will be formally
opened TO Americans some explanation is nee
essary to proper understanding of an event
the Importance of which is commensurate with
the enterprise it is designed to celebrate, and
which is destined to add much to the business
convenience of the greatest seaport in the East
ern hemisphere, if not in the world The
Mersey, tidal river, forms the western bounda-
ry of Liverpool, and separates that city from
hlrkenhead, place Of about 100, 900 population.
Hitherto many of the business men of Liverpool
VINO 1--we in the latter city, have depended en-
tirely upon the ferries running from landing to
landing across the Mersey, and during the
carry winter and spring months the heavy fogs
which prevail throughout this section, and
especially in the Mersey basin, render this mode
OF transfer at times even perilous; collisions are
OF frequent occurrence upon the river, and, as
the very largest trans oceanic steamships come
opposite the same landings as those used for
ferrylng these are apt to be fatal There will
be frequent trains through the tunnel carrying
passengers to Birkenhead from the center of
Liverpool In five or six minutes. These trains
VIII be we'll lighted and ventilated, and it is esti
mated that if one-half the number who cross by
the ferries avail themselves of the railway
handsome dividend will be earned
for the shareholders. The chief i'm
portance, however, of the tunnel, will be
OF q national character, as the connecting
link between the network of railways of the
north of England and Scotland and the south of
England together with every part of Wales On
the Liverpool side of the river are the London
81 Northwestern, the Great Northern, the
Midland, the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincoln
shire, and the Lancashire railways, while ON
the Birkenhead or western side are the Great
Britain q London and Northwestern railways.
1t would seem probable from the above that the
immense traffic awaiting the opening of the tun-
mel will only be limited by the carrying capac-
ity of the line. This subterraneous passage,
1000 yards In length, has been principally made
or rather bored by Colonel Beamonts boring
machine" The principle underlying the
construction of this machine avoids the ,lse cf
explosives and has in this enterprise completely
demonstrated its perfect fitness for all tunnel
ing operations. The tunnel, like all enterprises
of Importance not without enemies Many
declared the idea to be impractcable, and some
went SO far as to doubt the possibility of its
. struction. Now, however that it is finished, it
has the usual fortune of success. and it's former
slanderers are its warmest friends Thus is
success the criterion of merit" and an exceed
ing y just and proper estimate it is, in enter
prises of this character, whatever be the harm
of applying it to life That the British people
lack the energy and push so characteristic of
Americans there can be doubt but that they
are non progressive to the extent charged
against them is ridiculous, in the face of the
Mersey tunnel, the Manchester ship-canal, and
various other schemes so recently begun and
completed.