48 The Proposed Belfast Central Station and Railways. 



between 30 and 40 feet below quay level. I could not follow 

 the description of the subway along the quays, because high 

 water level being about five feet below the quay level, openings 

 at steamers would let in the tide. In constructing the tunnel 

 under Rosemary Street with the shield, how will it be managed 

 where the structure approaches the surface ? Can it be made 

 without disturbing the surface, and if not, how long will the 

 street be closed for traffic ? In the case of York Street the 

 diagrams shew the railways, and a subway for pipes, but none 

 for drainage. Subways are very good in their way, but it is 

 found that 90 per cent, of the openings in streets are for service 

 pipes and not for mains. There should be a subway on each 

 side of the line. There are other matters on which information 

 might have been given, but I will only mention the estimate. 

 This is most interesting. We have read ^600,000, but I am 

 atraid there is an error here, as authentic records of similar 

 works give the following rates : — Metropolitan Railway (Lon- 

 don), ^630,000 per mile ; District Railway (London), cheapest 

 parts ;^400,ooo per mile ; Severn Tunnel, ^2,000,000 for 4^ 

 miles, 2^ miles being under the river, and taking fourteen years 

 to make ; Mersey Tunnel, ^500,000 per mile. I trust Mr. 

 Lanyon may get his railway made for the price named in the 

 newspapers, but I fear it ; perhaps he will give some informa- 

 tion on this point. We are obliged by his interesting des- 

 cription, and hope he will not take these remarks as made in 

 an unfriendly way. 



Mr. Gray — As to the commercial aspect, I cannot speak, 

 but I think none of us need be at all alarmed about the cost of 

 the project ; I am very sorry myself that I cannot join the 

 syndicate. The general public, of course, will think not so 

 much upon the commercial aspects of the undertaking, or upon 

 the engineering skill displayed in it, as upon their comfort 

 hereafter in travelling by it. Upon this point they may rest 

 assured. When the matter is in the hands of gentlemen like 

 Mr. Lanyon we may feel perfectly safe. As to the question of 

 this unfortunate sleetch, I consider Mr. Lanyon has to a certain 



