INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR 1874. cxcv 



Abroad, the interest of the engineering world is centred 

 upon a number of important projects ; the most interesting 

 of which perhaps is the Channel Tunnel, to connect England 

 and France. During the past year this stupendous under- 

 taking: was the theme of extended discussions before the 

 several engineering societies, and the preliminary steps to- 

 Avard its execution are being steadily advanced. The geo- 

 logical and mechanical questions appear to have been an- 

 swered favorably to the undertaking, but it is questionable 

 whether the enormous expense which it involves will not 

 prove an insurmountable obstacle in the way of its execu- 

 tion. A new tunnel under the Thames, to facilitate commu- 

 nication between certain quarters of the English metropolis, 

 is projected, and likewise a scheme for tunneling the Mersey 

 (an old project revived), so as to connect all the docks, rail- 

 ways, and canals on both sides of the river. The so-called 

 Severn Tunnel project, an undertaking which is to connect 

 South Wales with the West of England by a continuous line 

 of railway, assumed a somewhat practical form during the 

 past year. The directors of the Great Western Railroad, 

 having satisfied themselves of the practicability of the work 

 by preliminary borings, have advertised for tenders for the 

 completion of the first seven hundred and fifty yards. 



Upon the St. Gothard Tunnel, which is to be the German 

 rival of the Mont Cenis, work has been vigorously prosecut- 

 ed during the past year. At the close of the year about 

 2500 meters (or somewhat over 2700 yards) had been com- 

 pleted. Another important project advanced during the 

 year contemplates the passage of Mont St. Bernard. A se- 

 ries of seven tunnels is proposed, the longest of which is to 

 be 5800 meters in length. A proposition made to the French 

 Assembly to effect a loan of forty-eight millions of francs for 

 the construction of a tunnel under the Simplon Pass was by 

 it referred to a commission of engineers, which, upon full 

 consideration of the scheme, reported adversely. The pro- 

 posed route would possess important advantages in shorten- 

 ing the distance between Paris and Plaisance (Italy), and also 

 with respect to altitude, but involves the necessity of trav- 

 ersing the Jura Mountains, where heavy grades would bo 

 necessary ; while, in addition, it was believed that the pro- 

 posed line could not compete favorably in the important mat- 



