Note 134 — Chapter XII

Under water between France and England is not going to have it all its own way. In 1864 there was a scheme for very large ferry-boats between Dover and Calais, the boats to come, at each harbour, into a groove or dock specially to be made for them. The plan, however, was abandoned at an early stage, mainly, it is believed, because the French Government declined incurring the very great outlay that would have been unavoidable at Calais. In fact, the plan would have rendered necessary the construction of a new and much enlarged harbour there, involving an expenditure of three or four millions sterling. The present year has brought out several ferry schemes, one of which only we purpose referring to—that of Mr. T. B. Daft, C. E. This gentleman proposes to run his vessels between Dieppe and Newhaven. He has not, however, quite decided whether each ship is to consist of one hull or of two. If the hull be single, his deck is to be 500 feet long and 150 wide. If double, each is to be 50 feet wide, the pair to be placed 30 feet apart, and to be connected together by iron beams covered over by a broad deckway, so that passengers might go from one ship to another at their convenience. But no vessels so united could hold together in a heavy cross sea. The beams would be smashed to atoms by its violent and irregular action, and the difference of elevation of waves only a few feet distant from one another.