Balloon Bridge Across the English Channel, c. 1850 April 25, 2015
Author: Beach Combing | in : Modern , trackback
This story appeared in British newspapers in September of 1850. It was one of several attempts, attempts that had been going on since Napoleon had considered invading England and that would continue until the Channel Tunnel was finally drilled through, to do away with the English Channel. Any dolt can build a tunnel or a bridge, of course. But to get the mysterious word ‘aerostatic’ into the equation… Well, that takes guile and just conceivably talent. As you read this try and imagine the structure as it is built: we really need a drawing… For Beach at least the Balloon Bridge has serious steampunk potential and the sorry but the white balloons and pond lillies that head this post don’t really do it justice.
The Academy of Sciences [in France] has at present under consideration a plan of a most extraordinary character, being neither more nor less than a suspension bridge between France and England. M. Ferdinand Lemaitre proposes to establish an aerostatic bridge between Calais and Dover. For this purpose he would construct strong abutments, to which the platform would be attached. At a distance of 100 yards from the coast, and at distances of every 100 yards across the Channel, he would sink four barges heavily laden, to which would be fixed a double iron chain of peculiar construction. A formidable apparatus of balloons of elliptical form, and firmly secured, would support in the air the extremity of these chains, which would be strongly fastened to the abutments on the shore by other chains. Each section of 100 yards would cost about 300,000 francs, which would make 84 millions for the whole distance across. These chains, supported in the air at stated distances, would become the point of support of this fairy bridge, on which the inventor proposes to establish his atmospheric railway. The project has been developed at very considerable length by the inventor.
Whether or not the project was really considered by ‘the Academy of Sciences’ remains to be seen: was it perhaps not just a bargain basement inventor having fun with a ‘Roast Beef’ or a British journalist? In any case, what a vision. Is there not perhaps a drawing somewhere of this vast bridge with its permanent balloons and how would they have been kept up? Errr aerostatically? Ferdinand Lemaitre does not have a Wikipedia page or any kind of presence on the internet other than this story and its inevitable journalistic spore in the Dominions and colonies. Can anyone add substance? drbeachcombing AT yahoo DOT com
2 May 2015: Giorgio hits golds with a picture of THAT bridge. Thanks Giorgio
http://haju68.comoj.com/Photo/bourget/salle_ballons/P1080893.jpg The Bourget Museum (which adds on their comment, ‘imagine the first gust of wind’)
