American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-06-06

- France. Away back in 1902 the idea
started, before Nupoleon's career was finished at
the battle of Waterloo. And now, more than loO
years later, the plans are being gone over for the
flftieth time. perhaps, and all indications point TO
Il speedy beginning of actual work.
Costing only 500, 100000, and being at most a
seven years job. the whole task is being mp
preached with a confidence that is typically Brit
ish. Compared to war expenses, the $1OOOOOJWD
Is trifing. The French favor the plaj
Napoleon himself first officially Suggested the
plan of connecting continental Europe with the
British isles by means of II tunnel According to
the story still going the rounds in Europe, Ma
poleon's inspiration came from an engineer of the
name of Matthew in the early days of the last cen
fury during the peace of Amiens.
Now members of The British cabinet and parlia-
ment are trying to get operations started at once
and for some weeks interchanges of views have
taken place between the various interested ele-
ments in England and with officials of the French
government without any official cold water having
been thrown in sufficient quantity to dampen the
ardor of the several promoters.
During the war a tunnel under the straits Of
Dover-the site approved by all promoter of the
plnn-would have been embarrassing to the Eng
fish, 10 say the least, military critics state. Twice,
at least, before the Germans were finally defeated,
the whole progress of the war would have been
affected, to the disadvantage of the allies, had
the English field marshal been compelled to try to
protect the French entrance to a tunnel.
During the retreat from Mons to the Marine, In
1914, a tunnel entrance on the French side would
have placed the English general in the dilemma Of
either retrcating toward the tunnel TO save IL or
keeping in touch with the French in the general re-
treat and thereby preserving some kind of a con.
tinuous front against the Germans. BY breaking
from the French and falling back on the tunnel,
the British force would have been surrounded and
probably forced to surrender, it is figured out by
prominent army men In England.
Before the war there was considerable army and
navy objection in England TO the tunnel project.
And when the war came II was found that pos.
session of a tunnel In the first stages Of the war
would have been ii liability rather than an asset
Now, however, with the Advancement of en-
cheering knowledge old difficulties are removed
1t is planned to install in the tunnel an arrange
ment whereby one mile of The tubes can he flooded
without actually destroying the whole structure
thereby preventing the possibility Of invasion OF
hostile army.
Actual steps have been taken to sound onicia
opinion in France. BOnar Law Of Great Britain
has communicated with Prime Minister LIoy'
George in Paris, asking him to approach TN
French government for its view on the subject.
1t is believed by official circles in London tina
the whole proposition Is one for the, French mn
British governments TO settle, and not a subjec
for discussion at the peace conference.
= An Old Proposition.
Many years ago the first tunnel was started fror
tnP EnEllSn Slue DcnPuln lle SlTdllS OF ItoNeT. n
the present time the old tubes still extend 200
, yards toward the French coast. The newer PLAN
I however. will require two tubes, running side b
side, 300 feet beneath the surface Of the sea. On
e tube would be used for French-bound traffic entlrel
D and the other tube would he used for Englisl
| bound trains.
; Investigation has shown that the water in III
Z straits of Dover is from 100 to $50 feet deep at III
most. The bottom Of the sea is a kind Of cha
formation that has been rendered watertight i
. the infltration Of clay sediment. This chalk bt
. is about 100 feet thick, so that a tunnel 300 fe
beneath the surface Of the sea, following the cha
strata, would probably be safe enough, the q
gineers believe.
At fairly close intervals the two tubes would
connected with oblique cross tunnels, which vi
n assist In ventilating the long tubes. By using ele
trio trains the great objection Of smoke from Il
N usual coal-burning or Oil-burning locomotives Is
moved.
IN On account Of the formation Of the chalk be
~ Sir Francis Fox believes the two tubes should
7e curved enough to keep both lines well within t
CO limits Of the chalk formation.
>I.andon wHl be connected BY rail 9th oil {