THE NEW THAMES TUNNEL.

The opening of the Blaokwall Thames Tunnel in London by the Prince of Wales completes a great work long in the doing. As far back as 1882, Amongst the plans before the Metropolitan Board of Works towards- a settlement of the vexed question of providing communication across the Thames below London Bridge, was a tunnel between Blackwall and the vicinity ot Greenwich and Woolwich. The bill for thd tunnel scheme was read a third time in the House of Lords, and passed on June 21st, and received the iwyal Assent on June 28, 1888. I'he contract lor k the construction of the tunnel was let by the London County Council to Messrs Pearson and Son for .£871,000. The " Engineer "of March 18, 18&i, published an illustrated description of the scheme, from the plans of Mr A. R, Binnie, M. lnst., C.iil., the Council's engineer. The total length, including open approaches, is WOO leet, of which 44(j0 feet is actual tunnel, 12UU teet being under the river, it is intended as a carriage and footway, the entrance for the former being 2u50 feet, from the river edge on the north and 2450 feet on the soutii. Passengers can also enter by three or four vertical shatts. The operation of uoring was earned on by means of a shield and compressed air, but cut and over were adopted by the sides. Operations were commenced in March louii, and continuous employment was iounu for UUO or 700 men. It is stated that this is the lirst large subaqueous tunnel ever carried out on the basis of a fixed contract. On March 6, lSitO, Mr a. K Brume lectured on the subject ot the tunnel beiore the Koyal Institution. In his annual address, on July 21, 1890, Sir Artnur Arnold, Chairman ot the County Council, congratulated all concerneu upon the successful completion ot the subaqueous portion of tae work, without death or disaster. ' He expressed the opinion that the cost would not exceed ;ne original estimate of .£87 1,000, ana the nope that next spring_the tunnel would be formally opened, by the yueen. On September 30 the cut-ana-cover portion ot the work had been reached on the Middlesex shore, the whole of the tunnelling troin the south side being therefote practically complete.