For more than half a century, in fact ever since the opening of the first English railway, it has been the dream of engineers to obtain direct communication between Liverpool and Birkenhead, and the Welsh lines. The ferry-boat traffic had been enormous and ever increasing, but it little helped the transit of minerals and heavy goods. Even since the construction of the great Runcorn bridge the land route had been found long and troublesome. It was not till 1870 that parliamentary sanction could be obtained to make a direct route by tunnelling under the Mersey, but attempts to carry out the scheme were not then successful. At length, towards the close of 1879, an arrangement was made with Major Isaac, and from that time the work was unceasing, above 3000 men having been constantly employed. In 1886 the work was completed. The importance of the undertaking was recognized, and the Prince of Wales was invited to open "The Mersey Tunnel." The Princess of Wales was unable to be present, but on the 20th of January, 1886, the Prince, with his sons Prince Albert Victor and Prince George, came from Eaton Hall, where they were the guests of the Duke of Westminster. On his arrival at Birkenhead the Prince was escorted to a daïs, and an address was read by Mr. Knight, the secretary, on behalf of the chairman. Mr. Cecil Raikes, M.P., and the directors, engineers, contractors, and officers of "The Mersey Railway Company." In reply His Royal Highness said:-- "Mr. Raikes and Gentlemen,--I thank you for your address and for the cordial and loyal terms in which you have welcomed me here to-day. I experience at all times sincere pleasure when circumstances permit me to associate my name with any undertaking tending to advance the welfare and convenience of the community, and I accepted, therefore, with much satisfaction your invitation to be present on this interesting occasion to assist in the inauguration of a national work of such vast importance. An enterprise of this nature is always deserving of the warmest support and encouragement, as it not only completes the railway system of the district, and thus provides constant and easy means of communication between towns of such prominence as Liverpool and Birkenhead, but it cannot fail also before long to afford material benefit to the millions of hands in the neighbouring industrial centres by aiding the more rapid development of commercial intercourse. The heartiest commendation should, therefore, be bestowed on all engaged in the promotion of so great and worthy an object. I fervently trust that well-merited success may be the result of your labours, and that an ever-increasing prosperity may be your reward for the difficulties which you have encountered, and which have been mainly overcome by the admirable skill, the indomitable patience, and the unceasing and unwearied energy