Discussion on the Proposed Channel Tunnel. 45 



The Chairman said : — We are all aware that this question of 

 a tunnel between Ireland and Scotland has received a consider- 

 able amount of attention of late. As Mr. Barton said, there 

 was a public meeting held, under the presidency of the Mayor, 

 to discuss the matter, and a committee was formed. I do not 

 know whether that committee has done anything or not, but I 

 do not agree with Mr. Barton that a public discussion of the 

 matter, especial^ in a society such as this, is undesirable. I 

 think it is most important that the various schemes should be 

 discussed before a society which is not interested in any of them 

 in particular. And whether the proposed tunnel is practicable, 

 or, if practicable, whether it is desirable, is, I think, a question 

 which comes within the province of this Society to discuss ; and 

 I believe the views of the various speakers will this evening be 

 listened to with interest. With regard to the causeway, I have 

 no doubt that, if practicable, it would be far more popular than 

 any other scheme. There are of course enormous difficulties in 

 connection with it, but I hope there are some present who 

 will take the matter up and discuss it from the causeway point 

 of view. 



Mr. Macassey said : — It almost goes without saying, that if 

 we had a tunnel completed between Belfast and Scotland it 

 would be an immense advantage not only to us but to the rest 

 of Ireland. It would be a wonderful thing if we could make 

 the tunnel. It would exceed in importance the Forth Bridge. 

 In fact, it would show that the engineers were wonderful men, 

 and possessed, as a Russian gentleman had said, miraculous 

 powers. I am not here, however, as an engineer to advocate any 

 particular scheme. I am not here, like my friend Mr. Barton, 

 or my friend Mr. M'CuUough, with any scheme of my own to 

 put before the public, and which I wish them to take up, and 

 engage me as engineer to carry out. I am here in connection 

 with a subject to which I have given some attention, but which 

 I do not advocate as a competing engineer. Now, the subject 

 which we have met this evening to discuss has been before the 

 public for a good many years in a general sort of a way. When 



