Wichita eagle., 1888-04-14
BRIDGING THE CHANNEL.
CHAT WITH A FRENCH Ex-MlNlS-
TER OF MARINE.

What Admiral CLIQUE Says Concerning the
Scheme for Building Bridge Across
the British ChanneI-Some of the OBJ
jections that are Urged.
The ''missing link Of railway commuRi-
cation between France and England-pro-
vided always that England is willing seems
to be on the eve of realization, not by means
Of the channel, as most people suppose. but
by means of a viaduct, TO which Vice-Admiral
CLIQUE, formerly French minister of marine
and member Of the bureau of longitudes,
lends the authority OF his name.
what kind of a bridge we propose tc
builds" said the admiral. ''Well, not a sus-
pension bridge, as some bright genius sug-
gested. The first nor'wester would blow il
clear away from its moorings. No. But
solid viaduct, built up on stout piers from
the bed of the sea, with a massive super
structure.
''The starting point would be Ambleteuse,
which has the advantage Of a small road
stead on the French coast. The bridge is tc
form one continuous way, and to extend in
northerly direction as far as Folkestone It's
length! Thirty-fve kilometers A slight
bend will occur at two points, where reefs
afford splendid opportunities for abutnents
and cantilevers. These reefs are in mid
channel, and indicated on our naval maps as
the rocks of Colbart and Varne.
''As you see, we do not take the shortest,
but the best and the shallowest route. The
sea depths vary between fifty and twelve
meters, the deepest water being on the French
side of the channel. The piers are to be built
of hard concrete and masonry, and to meas
ure each about fifty meters long by thirty
meters wide. They are 30 rise ten meters
above the waves, and to support lofty pier
towers, on whose iron framework the SUPER
structure will rest. The interval between
two piers will be from 500 to GOO meters, an
enormous span, since the superintendent
weight of the ironwork would amount at
least to $1,000 tons. I don't know added
the gallant admiral, with SMILE whether
you quite realize what such mass of iron
may mean. At any rate, you may remain
convinced that all the four winds of heaven
combined may blow upon it in vain.
NEW FEATURE
''Iniure the piers, did you say? Oh, dear
no. In this connection | may instance a new
feature il the construction, which l have
worked out myself. Instead of having re-
course to the usual system Of projecting or
underhanging girders, and instead OF grad
ually constructing from the pier outward
half of the span until it meets the other
half midway, where both halves are con-
joined get a whole span Of ironwork manu-
featured on shore This section Of the SUPER
structure will then be transported in fair
weather on four elevated, air-tight pontoon
cases, each Of which is able to support
weight of 10000 tens, and when brought
into position, that is, when placed on
parallel line with tho stone piers (whereon
some kind of elastic body has been placed to
deaden the shock and prevent injury to the
masonry, water is allowed To flow into the
pontoon cases, which, on slowly sinking,
bring the superstructure at both extremitieS
on q line level with the fiat surface of the
piers. The whole mass is then gradually
raised as the iron pier towers are built up
under it.
''The bridge, them will be thirty meters
wide, and have four railway lines, beside
road for foot passengers. vehicles and in
spectors. Boxes for guards and shuntinG.
lines viii be established at stated distances.
Each pier will be provided with a powerful
electric light, beside sirens and alarm bells
for foggy weather.
The superstructure on the pier towers
will, of course, rise to height sufficient to
allow the tallest ships to ride under it at ease
say between fifty and sixty meters Buoys
like those used in the Suez canal will be
placed at regular points TO show the way at
night to approaching ships, so that these may
sail through the broad arches without danger
of colliding with the piers.