The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-10-17


France. Away hack in 1902 the idea
started before Napoleon's career was finished at
fhe battle Of Waterloo. And now more than 100
wears later. the plans being gone for the
1't'eth time, perhaps. and all indications point to
Il speedy beginning of actual work.
Costing only S1OO,0OOOCO. and being at most a
seven years job, the whole task is being APP
preached with Il confidence that is typicay Brit
fsii. Compared to war expenses, the $1OOOtW,OOO
Is tr'ting The French favor the plan
Napoleon himself first officially suggested the
Dian Of connecting continental Europe with the
fss1tisi isles by means of Il tunnel. According to
the story still going the rounds in Europe Nh
Ht"e"h inspiration came from an engineer Of the
name OF Matthew in the early days of the last cen.
sHry during the peace of Amiens.
Now members of the British cabinet and parlia.
''lent are trying to get operations started ut once
ASA for some weeks interclnnges nf views have
fakf'' place between the various interested ele-
snents in England and with officials of the French
government without any official cold water having
'"s>n thrown in sufficient quantity to dampen the
asF''r ct the several promoters
pnrng the II tunnel under the straits Of
t"ser---the site approved by all promoters of the
sh;hi--Wonid have been embarrassing to the Eng.
sish. Z" say the least. military critics state Twice
ali least before the Germans were finally defeated
Wis. whole progress of the war would have been
s'f!scted. to the disadvantage of the allies had
VIC English field marshal been compelled To try to
ps"ecf the French entrance to II tunnel
a'uS'h. the retreat from Mons to the AIarne in
ASIA tunnel entrance the French side would
hit" placed the English general in the dilemma Of
s.ifs,er retrcating toward the tunnel To saye il or
Keeping in touch with the French in the general re-
treat AMI thereby preserving some kind If a con-
s4n'"s front against the Germans. by breakin.
FROM the French and falling back on the tunnel
ttr British force would have been sure unle,l and
probably forced to surrender. il is figured out by
prominent army in England
Before the there was considerable army .n,l
NAVY objection in England the tunnel project
And when the war came it was found that nos
session of tunnel in the first stages Of the war
would have been liability rather than M asset
Now, however. with the advancement of en-.
cheering knowledge old difficulties are removed
1t is planned to install in the tunnel an arrange
ncnt whereby one mile Of the tubes can be Hooded
without actually destroying the whole structure
thereby preventing the possibility of invasion of Il
sst.sshr army.
Actual steps have been taken to sound official
r'ssininn in France. EOnar Law of Great Britain
has communicated will, Prime Minister Iloy,
s:enrge in Paris. asking him to apprtmch tl,e
lNrs'nss government for its view on the subject
1t is iselieve'l by official circles in London that
fhe whole proposition is one for the French and
asrssfsi governments t" settle. and not a subject
For discussion at the peace conference.
An Old Proposition.
Many years ago the first tunnel was started FROM
the English side beneath the straits of Dover Ar
the present time the old tubes still extend oNw
yards toward the French coast. The newer MANS
however. will require two tubes, running side by
~kte, :sN feet beneath the surface Of the sea- One
suhe would he used for Frencbound traffic entirely
and the other tube would be used for English
b,nnd trains.
Investigation has shown that the wafer in the
straits Of Dover is from 1GO 1870 feet deem at the
Inost. The bottom Of the sea il a kind Of chalk
formation that has been rendered watertight by
the infuation Of clay sediment. This chalk bed
h about 100 feet thick SO that n tunnel 200 feet
beneath the surface of the sea- following the chalk
strata. would probably be safe enough the en-
xineers believe
At fairly close intervals the two tubes would he
connected with oblique cross tunnels. which will
assist In ventiating the long tubes BY using cleo
tric trains the great objection OF smoke from the
sisuai cOalburning Oilburning locomotives IN re-
showed.
On account Of the formation of the chalk bed.
Sir Francis Fox believes the two tubes should be
curved enough to keep both lines well within the
aluaits Of the chalk formation.
london viii be connected by rail with all the