Discussion on the Proposed Channel Tunnel. 49 



this lining here we shall more readily secure the success of this 

 project as an engineering scheme, and at the same time keep 

 the estimate within reasonable limits. Putting the whole 

 matter very shortly, however, I do not think that any tunnel 

 between Scotland and Ireland would be a financial success. In 

 fact, I do not know where we could get any body of sensible 

 men to put their money into such a project, or where we could 

 get any men outside a lunatic asylum to invest in it. The 

 question is whether the Government in such a case would be a 

 little grandmotherly — somewhat after the same manner as they 

 are now constructing light railways in various parts of Ireland. 

 This is a very important matter. I can conceive of circum- 

 stances which would render it desirable that such a thing should 

 be done. To earn a dividend of 6 per cent, would require about 

 ;2r2oo or ;^3oo per mile per week of trafific. The Lancashire 

 and Yorkshire Railway earns altogether ^160 per mile per 

 week, and to assume that we should have a traffic for this line 

 double that of the Lancashire and Yorkshire is an assumption 

 that I cannot venture to make. This may give a rough idea 

 as to the improbability of the scheme ever being a feasible one. 

 If the Government could see their way to undertake the scheme, 

 however, I believe it would prove a benefit, though it would 

 not pay a dividend. It would, I believe, make the relations 

 between England, Ireland, and Scotland more thorough and 

 cordial than at present, and for that reason I am sure all present 

 will join with me in hoping it may come to pass. 



Mr. F. W. M'CuLLOUGH, A.M.LC.E., F.S.L., gave a brief 

 description of all the tunnel schemes which had been put for- 

 ward, viz : — 



Scheme No. i. From Donaghadee to Portpatrick. 



„ No. 2. „ Cushendun to Cantyre. 



„ No. 3. „ Wh tehead to Portpatrick. 



„ No. 4. „ Islandmagee to Weirston. 

 The No. 3 scheme (from Whitehead to Portpatrick) was his 

 (Mr. M'Cullough's) scheme, and was the third tunnel scheme 

 for crossing the Irish Channel, and the first one introduced 



