The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-04
FROM AMERICA TO EUROPE.

One of the most stupendous and im- portant projects ever suggested is that of continuous railway from America to Europe. We have frequently seen the matter discussed during the past quarter of a century, or perhaps long, CT. but nothing has come of it so far except discussion. The plan here- toEore talked of was to build rail- way up to Behring's Straits, then bridge that narrow arm of the sea and on the other side connect with a rail- road by way of Siberia and other por- tions of the Russian Empire and so on to connect with the principal cities of Europe.
 From the extreme Western boundary of Alaska to the extreme Eastern boundary of Russia at the narrowest part of the Straits is less than forty miles in a direct line. It would not he an impossible engineering feat to bridge the Straits, taking advantage of any islands that may lie in the way, If there are any, were 1t not for the extreme cold of that region. The cold and the ice accumulations might seri- ously retard the work, and might also prove a serious obstacle to successful train service during the winter sea- son.
 The latest plan--or perhaps we might better say, the revival of a plan that has before been discussed, Is that of tunnelling under the Straits instead of bridging it. It is sated that point can be selected where the distance is but thirty-six miles, and it is claimed that such a tunnel would obviate the ice obstacles that would make bridg- ing the space such a difficult work.
 As is we'll known there is nothing modern in the idea of tunnelling. The ancients as well as the moderns have used the plan of going under instead of over or around obstacles, and now | in all portions of the civilized world there are tunnels and subways under streams and cities, and through noun tains, and their construction is not considered a very difficult undertak- ing, but passing beneath such a large body of water has not yet been at tempted. Eighty years ago when Brunei conceived and discussed the project of a tunnel under the Thames River. at London. the idea was hooted at and looked on as an impossibility Brunei, however. was thoroughly con vineed of its practicability and dogged- ly stuck to it. Though he was about twenty years at 1t he succeeded, and the underwater route has been in use for sixty years Ss more.
 The Thames tunnel, it is true, is but some twelve hundred feet in length, but it was considered great under taking at the time. It is known. too. that for years there has been much talk of connecting England and France by tunnel from Dover to Calais. un- der the Straits of Dover, but there has always been some obstacle in the way, not as to the possibility of tho work. for that is admitted. but national jeal- ousies have prevented ii, so far.
 A tunnel under Berings Strait would | be a greater undertaking than any thing that has yet been accomplished. | and il may be that if the job is begun | there will be found insurmountable ob- staeles. but ene-'~oers do not appre- bend anything so very serious that 1t cannot be overcome, The worst dif- faculties will doubtless be on either side. Alaska itself is not a very fav. orable region for winter railroading, and the other side is probably worse. whether a road is built from East Cape across Siberia and down through Rus sia, or whether it shall follow the coast line a~ connect at vladivostok