The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-11-24
Big Undertakings.

Nothing seems too big for the present
age, for we are continually being start
led with something new and something
immense, which has either been
just completed, or is about TO be
carried out, at any rate, is projected
or proposed. Within the last few
weeks three new schemes have
been either commenced or suggested
in Switzerland, Greece and Canada.
The first-named scheme in Switzerland
is proposed by an Italian engineer
named Agudio of Milan for making a
way through the Simplon, which he de-
clares he can do by tunnel of only
6,050 metres, the traction and haulage
being done by hydraulic power. He
says that by this means from 5000 to
1000 tons of goods could be safely
transported without any breaking up
or transhipment Of trains, while the
cost of the whole proceeding would be
only 2S,000,000 francs. Number two
project consists of the bold but prac-
ticable scheme of draining the Lake of
Copais, near Thebes in Bpotia, by
which an area of hundred square
miles will be added to the territory of
Greece. The acquiring of so very large
a piece of land, which may be put to
useful purposes, though undoubtedly
one of vast importance, is not the only
object intended to be effected bv the
proposal-the other being the destruc-
ton of one of the greatest fever
producing places in the country by rea-
son of the pestilential malaria always
arising from the waters of this lake.
This alone would be an unspeakabe
blessing to the country round, and
money should be readily forthcoming
for the carrying out of so beneficial an
undertaking, The rivers now flowing
into the lake would be employed for
irrigation, and other purposes of prac-
teal utility. Number three project
proposes to connect Prince Edward
Island with the Canadian mainland by
means of a submarine railway tunnel,
by which all communication can be
kept open with the inhabitants of the
island during the winter, a circumstance
at present almost impossible, from the
terribly rigorous nature of the winter
climate of Canada; but Canada is bound
legally TO do everything that is possible
to keep open a communication with
ulllS lSldllQ az All lllilCo anu ny an
means, for the accommodation and as
sistance of the $4,000 persons who
constitute the present population. The
distance of the island is only six miles
and half, and the bed of the North
cumberland Straits, under which the
railway will be carried, presents no
very apparent difficulties. The depth
Of water is, on the island side, thirty-siX
feet, and ten feet six inches on the
New Brunswick side, and about eighty
feet in the middle. The tunnel will be
eighteen feet in diameter, and will be
made of "chilled white cast-iron,' in
sections, these latter being bolted to-
gether with inside tianges, exactly in
the same way in which the little tunnel
for foot passengers under the Thames,
and known as the . Tower Subway"
was constructed some years ago. The
cost of this undertaking is estimated at
about one million sterling. 1t has been
well considered and highly commended,
and will be brought before the Cana
dian parliament very speedily, when
the scheme will no doubt be fully sane
toned, as it has many warm support
ers in the legislative assembly. Canada
will, therefore, have her submarine
railway" long before her illustrous
. mother" on this side the Atlantic
Chambers Journal.