One hundred years ago
Sir Andrew Clarke's opinions always command a certain respect, but his defence of the Channel Tunnel will not, we fear, convince many of its op- ponents. He misses the strong points of the argument, and sets himself to prove, what nobody ever doubted, that the Tunnel would be commercially advan- tageous; and that, in the event of a war with France, the means for its destruc- tion would be in readiness. Nobody questions the commercial use of the Tunnel. It would not accelerate traffic, for the trains could not move through it faster than they do through the tunnel under the St. Gothard, and the transit would stil take ninety minutes; but the journey would be completed without 'breaking bulk', and that diminishes ex- pense. Moreover, in the event of a war with America, during which `Alabamas' appeared in the Channel, we should, as Sir Andrew says, have an alternative route to the Continent, which would prove of the greatest commercial value.
Spectator, 18 February 1882
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