El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-07
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 submerged
railway across the English channel,
says an exchange.
On December II. 1884. there was reg
istered Channel Bridge and Railway
Company; its Offices are at No. &c.
Rue de la Victoria. Paris
1t was formed to acquire the bus
mess of the International railway
company, du Detroit de la Manche.
Limited. and ito make further inves-
tigatiOn, etc, with a view to the con-
struction of a bridge or viaduct across
the English channel las a means of
communication between England and
France)'.
1t was decided to construct a sub
merged bridge fifty feet below the low
est 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 on to the ferry
boats between New York and New Jer-
Sey. The directors report, recently
submitted, stated that the work could
be completed in five years at a cost of
not exceeding $70.000.oO0.
The train platform was to be 500
feet long and fifty feet wide, and was
each side, these being braced to and
mounted on wheels running on rails
100 feet apart. Steam engines and dy-
namos 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. Mother by name,
and it differs in some details from the
one just mentioned.
The permanent way Qet us hope it
would be permanent is to be thir-
teen feet in width and some thirty feet
above the bottom of the channel.
This would not interfere with navi-
cation, and would afford a secure bed
for the rails. being built of solid mas
onry and anchored to withstand the
currents.
The elevated platform is to be 800
feet long. 125 feet wide, and 125 feet
above the rails. 1t will be capable of
taking several railroad cars at once.
to say nothing of animals. baggage and
freight.
On it there will be saloons, heated
and lighted by electricity, smoking
rooms, in fact, all the comforts that
are to be found today on the finest
OSCdh Grey AOuHu
NJ. Mother is confident that the
cross-channel trip can be made in less
than an hour. The passengers will en-
ter the sleeping car at London. and
will go to sleep in the assurance that
they will not wake until the gay CAPT.
tai of France is reached. the trains
will'be run straight on to the platform.
and the huge structure will then start
on its journey across the channel with
out the slumbering passengers Icing
aware whether they are on land or on
sea.
The sea-going car imagined by M.
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 wind. and the car
platform and submerged carriage will
be thus drawn from one side OF the /,
channel to the other.
Nj. Mother estimates the total cost /
Of this unique undertaking at the |
small sum of $3.50. 900, and promises |
4 return of $500 to $4,000 a day. max |
ing calculation for twenty trips every |
hours.