New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-26

turf this is the hest protection. The steep is
pegged into diamond patterns from top 10 bottom
vent the earth from washing until the grass mas
taken firm root Workmen are stlll everywhere
busy with these labOTs aud the traces OF the means
by which they used 10 eXcayate the road stlll re-
main la place the only approach was by Dnild,
lng bridge 81 tre5tIe-WOlh' tN9 or IIco t
feet high across the gorge. and bringing the mate
rial from the opposite SIDE.
our heavy train, drawn by only one engine,
moved steadily but very slowly forward; we ana
not make more than 10 miles an hour. L was quite
satisfied. for the scenery, II not equal 10 tue va
Mala or the gorge OF CONDO was very gIWaiu'
M the village of SchOnberg and vision OF glaciers
and snow fields closes its vista, the view was so IN
comparaby finer than that from the post-ioaa HAY
we were all speedily reconciled to the so-calle9
PROCLAMATION of the Alps by railways AsWe auNAhCcu
further past the little villages of Natrey and Stem
ach it became evident that this advantage Character
ICES the whole course Of the road. The opposite
side of the gorge is less rude; there are mere anu
there cultivated slopes hanging sneD9S r OF gram am
more frequent CLEANS al me hlgh Alps All THESE
features came into our unfolding dl0fama. and gave
the scenery of the BTeuner variety, beauty, and
majesty which it certainly did not possess to such
a degree in the pictures OF my memory:
At the end of an hour the difference in temperature
was very pcrceptible The banks of freshly dug earth
were smoking from the evaporation of frost, and
there still gray rime in the shade. The gorge
became wilder and ruder. twisting in abrnpt turns as
il forced its way into the heart of the mountains The
slope below was frequently 50 steep, that foundation
walls were started on the very brink of the stream
and carried up hundreds of feet to prevent the track
from crumblmg away Yet there was no sense of in
security; the work was admirable and thorough
everywhere.
Half an hour more and the SHOWS were much nearer
to us. lcces hung from the rocks on the upper side
Of the track and the alr had vintry edge: At the
village of Cries the valley forks. That on the left IS
called the Oberberg aud into 1t the track turns Tor
the purpose of making immense return curve. ike
that az Kttanung Point. on the Pennsylvania Cen
trail A projecting spur of the mountains IS pierced
by curved tunnel and the road climbs back into the
man valley along the nearly perpendicular scarp OF
tremendous face Of rock. This is the most daring and
successful piece OF work the line The grade Is so
heavy that the locomotive dragged us with an eXeI-
ton which was felt throughout the whole train. IL
was like Il tired horse on steep hill side man on
foot could easily have kept pace with the painting
aud gTDlning monster.
post-road like a white thread far below us All din
culties we've now az an end. The grade became
gentcr and the sides Of the valley less abrupt Inc
short mountain grass, the stream diminished almost
To nothing and tho falling apart of the mountains
IN front showed that the summit was at hand soon
d dark little lake appeared, with low collar or
saddle of pasture beyond, upon which, when we
reached il. we found post with the words summit
of the Bre ncr" Two or three hundred yaTuS iur-
ther the train stopped 1.-THE old Breuner house
and We were all allowed 10 get ont for few minutes
The distance from Innsbruck TO the summit Is Il
miles by the pOsi-road and the railway does not eX-
coed H. Innsbruck /, 900 feet above tho sea so that
the elevation between the two points Is 270 feet OF
an average of 3l feet 20 the mile rms considerably
snpasscs both the Scnmcfing and the Baltimore ana
ONO road Nllit the Nllutulil~ o. tD1t ' tl" nv
much greater. These facts may be OF interest NJ
home now that we are about TO cross Two AIlHe
chains Of much greater elevation than tie BIeuner
Pass The road across the Sierra Nevada has already
reached q point T. 100 feet higher, but without any
such extreme grades being required
from the summit southwark, the ROAD mas Dteli
finished tor some time but was not opened 10 travel
until the whole line Wa, completed. 10 seems now
rs ii all the communication between Germany ana
Italy were CrOWdug over this route Every day The
trains are delayed los the rush OF travellers. SIX
weeks ago the last diligence from BOtzcn drove into
Innsbruck hoIscs and coaChman badged with Grape,
the post lliou blowing dead march on his trumpet
Now. instead of one coach with dozen passengers,
there are two trains a day with two hundred
The southern approach 20 the pass D. more gradual
and offers much greater facilities for the construction
of the road The VALLEY OF EsaCh is broad compared
with the WiptLal. the bases Of the mountains are
moro shelving. and the tremendous embellishments
a the northern side no lOuCerneeded Is about
forty mi,- frOuI the summit 90 BotZcn which ~ 40
feet above thc se1eye ma king an average OF mt
te Jess than 900 feet per mile for the whole distance
Al Franzensi,sfuug and below AtZwang. the valley
contracts tDa gorge aud tho Track ls carried through
with much labor aud expense. elsewhere, NJ appears
10 have been easily built.
ON the very summit OF the Bfsuncr | saw some
matches IL oats and barley. For zen miles, there -
not rnuch chang in the vegetation; then chestnuts
begin 10 appear and vineyards terrace the suINaro
sides of the mountains. As the tram PUSHES down
ward with rejoicing speed, the landscapes become
warmer with every mile. tlg-tTces hang over the
carlen-Wall. aud dark Italian expresses guard tie
church yards until - you emerge from the jaws OF
the rocky gorge INTO the broad valley Of the Adige,
go Rotten u b. Italy, m form and icat}Ee ana color,
which Is before you. D. l.