A Big Submarine Tunnel Scheme.

Evening Star, Issue 7406, 29 December 1887, Page 2

A Big Submarine Tunnel Scheme.

A big submarine tunnel scheme is at present under the consideration of the Dominion Government, the, promoters being an English syndicate. The proposal is to connect Prince Edward Island with the mainland by means of a tunnel, the advantages of which would be enormous, as for several months navigation is closed by the ice. By the terms under which the Island entered the Confederation in 1873 the Dominion of Canada undertook to ; maintain communication between the island and the mainland all the year round, and this has to be done, by means of ice-boats at a heavy expense. In the winter mails and- passengers are carried across the Strait by these boats from Cape Traverse in Prince Edward Island to Cape Formenton in New Brunswick. "Tworalternative-plans have been drawn by Mr Greathead, C.E., of ! Westminster, oh the principle on which he designed the underground tramway which is being built from the city to the Elephant and Castle. The length by one plan would be about five miles, and by the other about nine. It is estimated that the cost to the Dominion of the existing service is about L 40,000 per annum, and the syndicate offer to construct the tunnel for an annual subsidy equal to that amount for fifty yjears, to that the annual payment would not be greater, and it would cease at the* end of. half a century. A counter scherie by a Yankee syndicate is also spoken of. s > Prince Edward Island is nearly 150 miles long by thirty-four miles broad, and has a population of over 100,000. ■ : i