New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-08
BRIDGING THE ENGLISH CHiNNEL
Project FOR RUNNING TRAINS on SUB
MEIGED TKESTIE.
Paris letter TO The London Standard

Paris letter 10 The London Standard
The annual meeting Of the already rather old
Channel Bridge Company recently took place in
Paris. under the presidency of Cnmte de- Chau-
dordy. The scheme which is now in favor with
MS rather unfortunate company il incont"stahy
original The minutes or the recent meeting
contain the following explanations: M. The
Nenet IL Eoul, chief engineer Of the Points ct
ChauSS"es. mcInbe- OF the Technical Committee
( the company. explained that the new method
proposed for crossinc the Channel consists in
rolling on a bridge. submerged Ia the depth Of
fifteen metres below low-watcr mark inn
wcnse platform "m,r cing above the wafer II IS
to b" propelled by electricity. and carahle of
Carrying four railway trains. The rails IN tn"
platform join the rails IN land at the departure
and arrival. 80 that the trains VIII simply steam
IN II tEr platform. and steam off it when the
platform reaches the opposite coast II Is the
amplihcation on a vast scar. Of the littlr plat
form which is used to convey foot passengers
between st Malo ami st. S"rvan.
The Now project has just formed the subject
u careful study 10y the CompaEni" i" FN"s-
Lille. whose high reputation is a guarantee for
success That study has shown the practicable
ity. the facility ~ execution and the rclaiiy"
economy - that method of transit by rail h"-
tween France and England This sch"m" has
tn" advantage over is predecessors u being very
simple. and u possessing absolute safety both
during IFS execution and in It's working That
solution has also tn advantac" - escaping p"
principal international objections raised against
the project - the bridge above tn water ~
obstacle to navigation would b." created hy it,
ana the iIsulir situation Z England would fr-
main intact.
This new work could br completed In IFS.
years Tn total c'si would not eN'r"i .'ioVr
90 francs. or thr"" times less than thr brids
above the water. Thr"c rolling Platforms. work
ing simultaneously and only during ;hc day
would suffice fOr train. 4 hr.c million tons ~
merchandise AMI two million passengers. whirn
would produce nrual income 4 oyer
TpbEisp francs. or u net income 81 .,pVDr''
francs. Considering ~" facility u hrIllantlt
Illuminating til" platforms Win electricity. tn
could als" travel A. night Tn" great Eng i~h
company. the Thames Lon Works ani ship
building Company I.imit~'h. is N accord N.'h
tn" French 'ompagnir !" Fiyes-l.ill. f,r the
grouping round this project u the principal
iron working Arms aai companies ~ IA. IS
countries into vast international cpnsoriigu.
which with the present Chinn'l Hrllg" Com
pany VIII dc and IN" concession and s"cur" Tho
execution ~ TN" work"
VI Thrvcnct L. itpuTs communication VAS ap-
! laudrd unan mously ~ the rnr. ting Tn" piaf-
form which IL - proposed that m" trains
should stand while being conveyed across m"
Channel would be In metres long and about l.
metres broad. II would b" supported by Ave non
pillars IN each sid. Thrs" pillars. brac"i to-
g"th'r IN pairs by iron gigirrs. ana supported hy
iron stays. would rest Du "A submerged platform
provided with wheels rolling on rails fixed n the
bridge. This sulfn' rrcd platform would h"
thirty metres Md" 80 that N pillars supporting
tn" platform above tho water would incline IN
ward. sinc" that upper platform would b" only
about nft,"n metres sid" Tn" motive power.
which il is pr posed should b. electricity. would
%" generated hy steam engines ana IynIm's in
stalled On he upper platform. and transmitted
directly ard separately 20 each Of ~" fifteen
pairs ~ Nh 81. with y nj IA the submerged plat
form Is To- be- provided