Thomas County cat., 1886-11-18
BIG UNDERTAKINGS.
rhree Gigantic Engineering Projects sue'
ge.ted During Recent Months.


Three Gigantic Engineering Projects suG.
gested During Recent Months
Nothing seems too big for the pres
ent age. for we are continually being
startled with something new and some
thing immense, which has either been
just completed, or is about to be car
ried out, or, at any rate, is projected or
proposed. Within the last few weeks
three new schemes have been either
commenced or suggested in Switzer-
land, Greece and Canada. The first
named scheme in Switzerland is pro-
posed by an Italian engineer named
Agudio, of Milan, for making way
through the Sjmplon. which he declares
he can do by tunnel of only six thou
sand and fifty meters, the traction and
haulage being done by hydraulic power.
He says that by this means from three
to four thousand tons of goods could
be safely transported without any
breaking up or rtrans-shipment of trains,
while the cost of the whole proceeding
would be Oilly twenty-eight millions of
francs.
Number two project consists of the
bold but practical scheme of draining
the Lake of COpais, near Thebcs. in
Beotia. by which an area of hundred
square miles will be added to the ter
ritory of Greece. The acquiring of so
very large piece of land, which may
be put to useful purposes, though un-
doubtedly one of vast importance, is
not the only object intended to be eff
fected by the proposal-the other being
the destruction of one of the greatest
fever-producing places in the country
by reason of the pestilential malaria
always arising from the waters of this
lake. This alone would be an unspeak-
able blessing to the country round,
and money should be readily forthcom-
ing for the carrying out of SO beneficial
an undertaking. The rivers now flow
ing into the lake would be employed
for irrigation and other purposes of
practical utility.
Number three project proposes to
connect Prince Edward Island with
the Canadian mainland by means of u
submarine railway tunnel, by which
all communication can be kept open
with the inhabitants of the island dur
ing the winter, circumstance at
Nvesent almost impossible. from the
terribly rigorous nature of the winter
climate of Canada; but Canada is
bound legally to do every thing that is
possible to keep open communica-
ton with this island at all times and
by all means. for the accommodation
and assistance of the hundred and
twenty-five thousand persons who con-
stitute 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
together with inside fianges, exactly in
the same way in which the little tun-
mel 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 ster-
ling. 1t has been well considered and
highly commended, and will be
brought before the Canadian Parlia-
ment very speedily. when the scheme
will. no doubt, be fully sanctioned, as
it has many warm supporters in the
Legislative Assembly. Canada will,
therefore, have her submarine rail-
way" long before her illustrious
mother" on this side the At
lantic. Chambers Journal.