44 



(ith January, 1891. 



J. H. Greenhill, Esq., Mus. Bac, in the Chair. 



DISCUSSION ON THE PROPOSED CHANNEL 

 TUNNEL. 



The Honorary Secretary (Mr. Robert M. Young, B. A., C.E.) 

 read the following letter of apology from Messrs. Barton : — 

 "Engineers' Office, Caledon, December i6th, 1890. Irish 

 Channel Tunnel. R. M. Young, Esq., Honorary Secretary 

 Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society, Belfast. 

 Dear Sir, — Yours of 8th inst. The investigations necessary to 

 determine whether or not a Channel Tunnel between Scotland 

 and Ireland may be safely undertaken, what it would cost, how 

 far it would prove financially successful, and which would be 

 the most desirable route to select, are as yet only in their initial 

 stages. We think, therefore, it would not be advantageous to 

 discuss the subject publicly until these investigations are further 

 advanced, and until we are in a position to state the facts upon 

 which a sound opinion may be based. At the public meeting 

 in Belfast a very influential committee was appointed to in- 

 vestigate the whole question, and take the necessary steps to 

 forward the project. We think that the discussion you propose 

 would lead to a prejudgment of the case on insufficient data. 

 We must, therefore, while thanking you for your offer, decline 

 taking part in it. — Yours truly, John G. Barton (for Mr. 

 James Barton and self)." 



Letters of apology were also received from Messrs. J. H. 

 Brett, C.E., County Surveyor of Antrim ; P. C. Cowan, C.E., 

 County Surveyor of Down ; John Macllwaine, M.I.M.E. ; A. 

 B. Wilson, and others. 



