10-25-2015, 10:23 PM
(10-25-2015, 10:13 PM)mallorian69 Wrote: Your estimate is for if a private firm were to do all of the work. There are ways to reduce the cost. The government already owns all of the equipment needed to dig the ditch so no equipment rental needed. Army combat engineers and navy seabees have experience digging ditches as part of defensive fortifications so they could be used to supply some of the man power further reducing costs. Prisoners could also be used for labor.
Those are just off the top of my head. I'm sure I could think of more if I actually cared to.
The cost of a ditch that deep would be staggering. The structure would require tons of re-enforcement and bracing every linear yard just to keep it from collapsing under the weight of the earth pushing in against it.
It could not be built by prisoners with picks and shovels. It would require complex drilling and excavating equipment.
1500 miles would cost hundreds of billions of dollars.
And, it would absolutely fill with water. So it would be a moat.
