The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-14
ANOTHER THAMES TUNNEL.
VIII Be FOOtway from Greenwich
to the Isle of Dogs.
New York commercial Advertiser.

One of the marked directions in which
modern progress in engineering has bene-
fitted the people of London is in the cOnStruc-
ton of several tunnels under the Thames
The Blackwell tunnel which was opened
by the Prince of Wales last month, is but
one of half a dozen that will soon give
communication between opposite sides of
old Father Thames. The echoes of the
cheers which greeted the remarks of the
heir apparent as he pronounced the Black
We'll tunnel open forever had hardly died
away when the London County Council
gave consideration to another river subway
The matter has been referred to a select
committee of the House OF Commons, and
there is every reason to suppose that work
will soon begin on the new enterprise.
The subway will run from Greenwich
near the Ship Hotel to the Isle of Dogs,
and will resemble that which existed for a
will cost about $350000, including lands and
property. This seems 81 small sum for such
a work but, of course, the subway Will not
be anything like as elaborate as the Black
wall tunnel. The plans show roadway
eight feet wide and nine feet four inches
high, to be used exclusively by foot pas
sengers. At either end will be a circular
shaft for reaching the tunnel One shaft
will be forty feet deep and the other fifty
feet.
AS every one knows, Greenwich is one of
the most beautiful spots in the vicinity or
London. There is Greenwich Park. with its
observatory, Seamans Hospital and other
of Blackheath stretch for miles beyond. A
great deal of open space that can be ut1-
at present, and the artisans who are en-
ployed on the Isle of Dogs would like to
live in Greenwich if they could afford 1t.
1t is in the interest of these people that the
submarine footway is to be built. The sub
ject of better homes for Londons laborlng
population interests the municipal govern
ment perpetually-mainly because 1T is a
problem that insists on making itself I'M
pleasantly obtrusive-and there are many
philanthropic people who are always ready
TO assist the officials in enterprises that
promise brighter lives for the Industrious
DOOR
OF course there is opposition to the enter
prise. Few propositions are made for the
advantage of a large class without their
intrenching on the profits or some 1ndlXld-
ual or corporation. SO in TINS case. Inc
Great Eastern and Blackwell Railway Com
panies have a ferry at Greenwich, and ev-
ery one who desires to cross the Thames
at that point must use the ferry, unless ne
happens to have boat of his own. 1t does
not appear that the railway companies Will
be so great that ,nere is general satsub-
way. for it is shown that the benefit they
would enjoy from the construction or the
tunnel would exceed the damage to their
ferry business.
The benefit to the health of the working
neople who have been compelled to live on
the fOggv Soggy Isle of Dogs, because they
could not afford to reach the nealthful air
and picturesque surroundings or GreenWlch
will be- great that there is general sat
isfaction over the fact of the railway COM
nanies having been convinced that their
Imposition is illogical and short-sighted,
without regarding it in its humane aspect
at all 1t is not so much OF a JOB TO pulld
such a tunnel as this contemplated, and the
residents of the Isle of Dogs are already IN
authorization gamboling on the green SWard
of Greenwich Park, and running joyously
down Observatory hill, as AIRY and
'Arriet have been in the haplt OF d2lng on
bank holidays and Whit Mondays for gen
ara tiOnG