A Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah! by Harry Harrison Page B

not the individual who proposes them.
    If you think them bad then I am not the one you want and I will return to my tunnel in En-gland and no more will be said on the subject.”
    “Now that’s what I call plain talk. Let’s hear the boy out.”
    There were cries of agreement at this proposal and Stratton’s rattle of defiance was lost in the general ap-proval. Gus nodded and opened his case and drew out the mass of papers he had so carefully prepared.
    “Gentlemen, my only aim is to save the tunnel and this is the plan that I put before you. This is all I have come to do. If I can help by being a figurehead, then I shall climb up on the bowsprit of the corporate ship and suspend myself from it. I am an engineer. My fondest ambition is to be part of the building of the transatlantic tunnel. The British Board of Directors feels that I can aid most by being in charge of the American end of the tunnel, so that the American public will see that this is an American enterprise as well. I do not wish to replace Mr. Macin-tosh but to aid him, so that we can pull in a double harness. I hope he will remain as my first assistant in all matters of construction and my equal if not my superior in the matter of supplies and logistics for he is an expert in these matters.” A bugle-like sniff announced that this state-ment was not amiss in at least one quarter.
    “In relation to this Board let my position be literally that of a figurehead—though I would suggest this intelligence be kept within this room. I am no financier and my hope is that Sir Winthrop will con-tinue in his original function pro tem until the time arrives when he can fulfill it in the public eye as well. I wish to build this tunnel and build it well, and build it quickly so that a fair profit can be returned on in-vestments. That is my prime func-tion. Secondly, I must publicize this construction in such a manner that investors will flock to our banner and thrust dollars upon us in ever-grow-ing sums.”
    “Hear, hear!” someone called out while another said, “And how will that be done?”
    “In the following manner. We shall abandon the present technique of construction and proceed in a dif-ferent, cheaper, faster way that will have a broader base in the economy. Which stirring up of the economy I believe was one of the motivating factors in the first place.”
    “Does Sir Isambard know of this?” Macintosh called out, his face flushed, the tin dark barrels of his nostrils aimed like mighty guns.
    “To be very frank—he does not. Though we have discussed it many times in the past. His decision has been to continue the present slip casting technique until it proves im-practicable, if ever, and only then to consider different methods of con-struction. I thought him wrong, but as long as I was subordinate there was nothing I could do. Now that I hope to assume what might be called an independent command I am ex-ercising my judgment to make a change to a more modern, a more American technique, to—”
    “To stab him in the back!”
    “Nothing of the sort.”
    “Let him talk, Scotty,” the Texan called out. “He’s makin‘ sense so far.”
    He had their attention and at least the sympathy of some. Now if he could only convince them. There was absolute silence as Washington took a blueprint from his case and held it up.
    “This is what we are doing now, building the tunnel by slip casting, what has been called the most mod-ern technique. As the tunneling shield is pushed ahead and ground removed, this great metal tube is pushed along behind it. Reinforcing rods are put in place outside the tube and concrete is pumped in. The con-crete sets, the tube is advanced again and the end result is a continuous tunnel that is cast in place. The shield moves ahead at a varying rate but never averaging more than thirty feet a day. Very impressive. Until you consider the width of the Atlan-tic.
    “If this rate continues steadily—and we have no guarantee that it