Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-20

An Original Project for Running
Trains on n Submerged Trestle.

From the London Standard.
The annual meeting of the already rather
cid Channel Bridge Company recently took
place in Paris. under the presidency of
Comic de Chaudordy. The scheme which
is now in favor with his rather unfortu-
nate company is incontestably original.
The minutes of the recent meeting contain
the following explanations: M Thevenet
lie Boul, chief engineer of the Points ct
Chaussees. member of the technical COM
mittec of the company, explained that the
new method proposed for crossing the
channel consists in rolling on a bridge.
submerged to the depth of fifteen meters
below low water mark. an immense plat
form emerging above the water. 1t is to
be propelled by electricity, and capable of
carrying four railway trains. The rails on
the platform join the rails on land at the
departure and arrival. so that the trains
will simply steam TO the platform, and
steam off IL when the platform reaches the
opposite coast. 1t is the amplification on
a vast scale of the little platform which is
used to convey foot passengers between ST.
Malo and St. Servan-
The new project has just formed the
subject of careful study by the Compagnie
de Fives-Liiie, whose high reputation is a
guarantee for success That study has
shown the practicability. the facility of ex-
ecution and the relative economy OF
that method of transit by rail between
France and England. This scheme has
being very simple, and of possessing
absolute safety both during it's exc
cution and in it's working. That solution
has also the advantage of escaping the
principal international objections raised
against the project of the bridge above the
water. No obstacle to navigation would be
created by it. and the insular situation of
England would remain intact.
This work could be completed in
five years. The total cost would not ex-
coed $50. OOO,t zoo francs, or three times less
than the bridge above the water. Three
rolling platforms. working simultaneously,
and only during the day. would suffice Tor
a traffic of 100000 tens of merchandise
and 2,OeO,OOO passengers, which would pro-
duce annual income of over 6O,WU.Uo
francs, or a net income of 50O0O0O0 francs.
Considering the facility of brilliantly IL
Illuminating the platforms with electricity,
they could also travel at night. The great
English company, the Thames Iron WORKS
and Ship Building Company, limited, Is In
accord with the French Compagnie de
FiveS-Lille for the grouping around this
project OF the principal iron working firms
and companies OF the two countries into
vast International consortium, which, with
the present Channel Bridge Company, will
demand the concession and secure the exc
cution of the work
NJ Thevonet 10 BoulS communication
was applauded unanimously by the meet
ing Inc PLATFORM on WHICH IL - pioposcu
that the trains should stand while being
conveyed across the channel would be $50
meters long and about fifteen meters broad.
1T would be supported by five iron pillars
on each side. These pillars braced to-
gether in pairs by iron Orders and sup
ported by iron stays. would rest on sub
merged platform provided with wheels roll
ing on rails fixed on the bridge. This sub
merged platform would be thirty meters
wide so that the pillars supporting the plat
form above the water would incline inward,
Since that upward platform would be only
about fifteen meters wide. The motive
power which it is proposed should be cleo
tricity, would be generated by steam en-
gines and dynGmos installed on the upper
platform and transmitted directly and
separately to each of the fifteen pairs of
wheels with which the submerged platform
IS TO be provided.