13 



Maxton had ingeniously surmounted a great many of the 

 difficulties in the way of constructing such a tunnel or floating 

 bridge as he proposed. He believed if ever any tunnel were 

 made under the North Channel, it would have to be something 

 like this " floating " plan. He did not believe in the possibility 

 of boring a tunnel under the North Channel, as the conditions 

 as to the character of the rock strata, depth, etc., were totally 

 different from those of the English Channel. 



After some observations from Messrs. Robert Young and 

 William Armstrong, 



Mr. J. Brown wished to know how Mr. Maxton would 

 prevent galvanic corrosion, as salt water was particularly de- 

 structive to iron. Referring to the ventilation of the tunnel by 

 the trains themselves, he thought this would not clear the 

 tunnel completely, as trains passing alternately in opposite 

 directions might leave a portion of the foul air in the centre 

 that would not be expelled. 



Mr. John Workman made some suggestions as to having 

 the " staying anchors " fastened to the bridge by rings. With 

 regard to the ventilation, he knew that the ventilation in the 

 Mont Cenis and Mont St. Gothard tunnels was especially good, 

 so much so that they could leave the windows of the carriages 

 open. He supposed there was some arrangement by which the 

 air was brought into the centre. 



The President thought that in view of the remote contingency 

 of the tunnel being pierced, some arrangements should be made 

 which would prevent the water smashing the carriages by 

 floating them so as to strike the roof. There might be a special 

 construction of carriages, and a guide rail on the top to prevent 

 such a contingency as he had mentioned. 



Mr. Maxton, in replying, said he thought on the whole the 

 criticism had been rather favourable to his scheme than other- 

 wise. Professor Fitzgerald had pointed out some difficulties, 

 and, better still, had pointed out the remedies. The points 

 raised as to the rolling and vibration of the bridge could be 

 quite easily met, and also as to the ventilation ; the latter 



