THE CHANNEL TUNNEL.

Thames Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 10191, 14 January 1907, Page 1

THE CHANNEL TUNNEL.

There- has been a great Revival of interest hi the Channel tunnel scheme of late, mainly because authority for its conisfcructtdon is being .sought from the Imperial Parliament- It is stated thlaiti arrangements have been made for the full subscription of the necessary capital as soon as the sleheine _is sanctioned," and if the ParliaMentary oihjeotioiiis can 'be overcome, ■Work will be sitiarted within two' years. From an erigliaieierinlgl point of view tihle undertaking is held to be entirely feasible lamdi on the Frencib side the prbjeofc 'has been taken up vritbi enthwiaism. Tihie ohdaf oibjecitioiL mntioipatied from 'Gifeat Biritain, .aei iai oalblo mtessage indicates, are of a military naturtei. The pr&uio'tieirs, hiawever, assert thsiit they will-ibe mVo to £<ive the War Officte satisfactory «.•*>•'irance fhat the buninel will nevea" be> madte- available for warlike excursi i'-i. Digeste of tile Bill to be suibmit'-i 1 to> Parliar j iwent next siession have ii'jnndy been ■ ciin-luated. Ptowei" is aou^h.t to ex- ' tend thie cxi.sting shlafts aiiid 'borin^Sj and tol afford protection tol the UmuaW Tlie prtmioters 1 contemplate tlie creaition: of ai new company, in which; Bpitishl railway oomtpaniesi may take ahhrtes (Pirtovisioii v also' made ft>r . the due olbservainae of all oonventions, agreeimeints, ot aiiTafagememts <xmclndL ed 'bdtweeii. lEs Majestiv's Government andl the lGiovei'*n.mieint of Francier The plans are not only of tihle gireatlest im? portance tto Doiver 1, but tihfey embrace alslo ■sevei'al new feiatures, whirihi, the promartleiPsi antioipaibe, will make agrteflit difference in thepublici atttitude towiard thle sohlemiei. Tme Bill contains pi'eoaiutionaiTy-stipulations, so as, to einsiure either thie complete block- j ing on destructioni of tihle <tlunnel at ih& will of thJe military authorities a,t j D'oiver 1. TBie new company ia to raise sufficient capital to ciaiiry out thie Bi-i----tishi half of the tunnel, the otliier half being! left entirely to French ' enbef- i prise, sio that the. cost, of tlife tunnel will 'be equally divided between French) and" British, investors:, an arr'ang'emlenlb whicihl is reg'afd'ed aa thle besti meams otf maidng ijhl© tunnel neutral groundl, 'and of ensuring equal international interests in the great undertaiking 1. '?Eh'e Fa*eniohi," says 1 tJi.e officdjal statlemenifa, "aisik for noithing _ 'beyjomd o^dlinlary pradanitions. Thley i simply propose'to make the besti ap-' proachi possible to the) tunnel on their j sideiiof .tßsa'.<3h^flinel, and are ready to do •any^ihg'iu thieir power to' rem.o'Ve • th&fe&rt. ■wihirihl to> some extent, tstill eotiut on."tips side of the dhlapnel."