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

principal cities of the continent, once the tunnel
is completed. And the traveller will be able, If sug-
geSted plunS are carried out, to leave London ut
regular intervals on through trains for the far
East, the neur East, as well as Petrogrnd, Rome,
Vienna, and the Balkans.
When the first channel tunnel was discussed IN
formally by Napoleon with the British Hmbassa-
dor to France during the peace of Amiens, In
1902, the matter was talked over in II spirit of
friendly cooperation. In those days n carriage
way was proposed. Two years later, In 1904, when
a different spirit prevailed between France and
England, the British champion of the tunnel idea
had visions of French soldiery marching to the in
vasion of their little island through II submarine
passagew6y.
Th0me de Ganlond. n generation later, revived
the proposal. He was II specialist In cross-chan-
mel traffic ideas, and also had a scheme for con
structing n stone and iron bridge across the straits
of Dover. He also drew up plans for n stonc-built
lsthmus across the channel, with openings through
which navigation might pass. He also suggested
the building of n gigantic pontoon bridge. These
numerous schemes and their possible notifications
were discussed in England and France for years..
BY 1874 il commenced to look as If something
would indeed be done to realize the dream of Ma
poleon and Gamonde, In than year II company was
formed in France which obtained a concession to
start work. One year later, In 1873, another com
pany was formed In England, known us the Chan
mel Tunnel, Limited" which obtained permission
of the British parliament to begin work.
The French company. which was called the
French Submarine railway, took many samples of
the silt from the channel bottom made more than
1000 sOundings sank II shaft, and actually started
n tunnel at Sangatte, driving it IA mile and n half
beneath the sea. according to present-day accounts
of the operation.
Experimental work was carried on by the Eng
fish company for n year or so. And then IFS
charter expired in 1880.
BY 1888 there were two English concerns trying
- .f-i.. t., a.. TIM, - a tplA
The second concern went by the name of the
Submarine Continental railway, In which Sir Ed
ward Watkin and the southeastern railway of Eng
land were Interested. When Sir Edwards company
tried to begin work beneath one of the cliffs of
Dover opposition was started by the Channel Tun-
mel, Limited, group.
Stopped by Parliament.
That same year saw a decision in the British
Parliament which dashed the hopes Of both com
panics. II was decided by n joint select committed
of the lords and commons that 1T was lneXpedleni
fiat parliamentary sanction be given to a subma
rine communication between England and France
So IN, 2~,2OOyard long tunnel that been completed
after q reconciliation Of the two companies inter
psted was closed by government order, and the tive
rival companies, combined as the Channel Tunnel
Limited. determined to keep the idea alive for
cvermore, even II they were permitted to do moth
ing else.
Today the French and English engineers do no
known definitely that a continuous stratum Of firm
chalk exists beneath the entire channel from TIA
English TO the French side.
They do know. however. that 10 all appearance
the stratum is continuous. because drill holes ha-
shown that the formation Of the French side
very much as on the English side. The chalk elm
1T Cap Grisnes, In France, are Of the identict
geological formation as the cliffs Of Dover In En-
land. and rest. as do the English cliffs, on IA sui
stratum OF gray chalk POO feet In thickness.
II is assumed the same gray chalk is to b
found in n solid, water-ressting layer for the 2
miles that separate the two countries.
The Southeastern railway Of England II now II
terested in starting the tunnel at once. An oiici
Of the railway has stated:
"f the British and French governments give Il
word the channel tunnel can be started tomorrow
All the pians are ready, aud have been since 1907
When this new agitation Of the tunnel idea star
ed i'm England a short time ago n was AT first n
sumcd that thousands Of demnbllized sOldie
could find jobs with the enterprise. But 1t WI
almost Immediately officially stated that a cor
paratively small number Of men would be needed
several hundred at the most.
, In the meantime the reaction IT, France 70 n
MAN was favorable. The Paris newspapers 7
called that suggestion came originally from Fran
p In 1902 that realization Of the plan would bril-
= immense benefit 10 humanity generally, and thi
ms the Echo de Paris stated Il, "HencefOrth Gre
Britain will be quicker TO realize her Europe
Q mission, and her days Of splendid isolation "
be gone forever"
With trains running at five and ten minute
o ter~yalz-which Is the frequency Sir Francis FL