NEW THAMES TUNNEL.
OPENED BY THE PRINCE. Tho Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Princess, on Juno 12 declared open tho now Rothorhithe Tunnel, which is tho largest tubo boring of its kind in tho world. Its total length is 2294 yards j it contains a .roadway for vehicles 16ft. wide, and for tho use of pedestrians, thero aro two footpaths, cach over 4ft. wide. Dipping down upon tho south side of tho river at Lower Road, Rotherhithe, the tunnel cuts through tho river bed 80ft. below the water level, and emorges again in Commercial Road, Stepney. Eight hundred men have laboured for throe and a half years in the boring of this great tube, which has, in actual constructional work and in tho acquiring of land for its approaches, cost a sum of nearly £2j000,000. Tho contractor's tender amounted to £1,055,484. As a link between North and South London, it is calculated that tho tunnel will bonefit at least 1,500,000 people a year. The Rothorhithe Tunnel is tho thirteenth boring under tho Thames. Tho ' twelve others are:— Blackwall Tunnel, 1488 yards long, 24ft. 3in. in diameter. Greenwich Foot Tunnel, which cost somo £126,000 to construct. Thames Tunnel, 400 yards long. Towpr Subway—a small iron tubo—now used as a conduit for water and gas pipes. . Twin tubes, of tho Waterloo and City Railway. Four tubes of tho City and South London Railway,.two of which aro now disused. Twin tubes of tho Bakor Street and Waterloo Railway. An idea of the inagnitudo of the ontorpriso just completed may be _ found in tho quantities of tho chief materials employed. Tho figures aro:— Glazed tiles in tunnel lining 1,300,000 Cast iron in tunnel (tons ) .. 25,000 White glazed bricks in shafts and parapets 500,000 Bricks in tunnel approaches 4,000,000 Stool in shnfts and domes (tons)... 3,500 Asphalt laid down (square yards) 24,000 Cement used (tons) 20,000
After performing tho opening ceremony tho Prince and Princess drovo through tho tunnel, which is illuminated by thrco rows of powerful electric lamps. '
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Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 265, 1 August 1908, Page 10
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335NEW THAMES TUNNEL. Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 265, 1 August 1908, Page 10
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