Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-02-21
A SUBMERGED RAILWAY ACROSS
THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.


1t may surprise our readers to know
that there are two projects in existence
at the present moment for a submerged
railway across the English Channel.
On December II, 1884 there was regis
tered a Channel Bridge and Railway
company" its offices are at No, SO, Rue
de la Victoria, Paris.
1t was formed TO acquire the business
Of the international Railway company,
du Detroit de Ia Manche. Limited, and
ITO make further Investigations, etc,
with view TO the construction Of a
bridge or viaduct across the English
Channel las n means Of communication
between England and France)"
II was decided TO construct sub
merged bridge 80 feet below the lowest
tide, and TO run thereon an electric
car capable OF transporting four rail-
way trains, which would be secured
very much In the same way as the
trains are fastened to the ferry boats
between New York and New Jersey
The directors report, recently sub
mitted. stated that the work could be
completed in five years at cost OF not
exceeding $70OO00Oo
The train platform was to be 800 feet
long and so feet wide. and was to be
carried on FIVE steel columns on each
side, these being braced to and resting
upon a submerged platform mounted on
wheels running on rails 100 feet apart.
Steam engines and dynamos on the
train platform would provide the power
for rotating the rail wheels on the lower
platform.
The other submarine railroad scheme
has been evolved by an enthusiastic
Frenchman, NJ. A. Mottier by name,
and 1t differs In some details from the
one just mentioned.
The permanent way 0et us hope II
would be permanently Is to be 10 feet
In width and some 30 feet above the
bottom Of the channel.
This would not interfere with navlga-
ton and would afford secure bed for
the rails being built Of solid masonry
and anchored TO Withstand the cur
rents.
The elevated platform Is TO be 800 feet
long, 1925 feet wide, and 1925 feet above
the rails II will be capable Of taking
several railroad cars at once, to say
nothing OF animals, baggage and
freight.
on II there will be saloons heated and
lighted by electricity, smcking- rooms,
In fact, all the comforts that are to be
found today on the finest ocean grey
hound.
NJ. Mother Is confident that the cross
channel trip can be made in less than
an hour, The passengers will enter the
sleeplng-car at London and will go TO
sleep In the assurance that they viii
not wake until the gay capital Of
France is reached. The trains will be
run straight on TO the platform. and the
huge structure will then start on It's
journey across the channel without the
slumberlng passengers being aware
whether they are on land or on sea.
The sea-going car imagined by NJ,
Mother will be propelled by an engine
located on the platform. and will be
worked either by steam or electricity.
The engine will operate drum, over
which chain will be thus drawn from
one side Of the channel TO the other,
NJ Mottler estimates the total cost OF
this unique undertaking at the small
sum Of s3,750,O00, and calculation for
twenty trips every twenty-four hours
From Gross the Sea by Rail- In the
February Pearson's.