The Republican journal., 1871-10-19
The Aibine Railroad Tunnel,

Is there not q source of the subliu1 e
which the classification of the rhetorician
has missed? We acknowledge 1t in the
majestic aspects Of nature, in the achieve
mcnts Of heroic effort-in all which pro-
foundly moves us to admiration in the ex-
ercise of self-sacrifice, valor. genius. Ger.
tainly there is something very nearly APP
preaching, if not reaching the standard,
in that daring outreach for results which,
joined to science and mechanical skill
have achieved those great works, the per
fected fruits Of which the world is enjoy
ing. OF this class is the Atlantic tele-
graph that slender thread which running
under the wild waves of q thousand
leagues Of water, conducts the subtle flash
bright with intelligence. Again it is to be
found in the patient, slow work of genius
which mingles the waters of the Mediter-
ranean and Red Seas through leagues and
leagues of red desert sand and sends
over it the huge ships of commerce.
OF this class of achievement is the
great tunnel which runs under the noun
tain peak of the Alps through the thick
ribbed granite, for distance of seven and
half miles, by which the long and peril
GUS days journey over the ridge is reduc-
ed to a pleasant ride of ten minutes. The
unprofessional mind is lost in amazement,
not less at the patient faith which sees
clearly and surely the completion of the
great undertaking than at the wonderful
skillth at so lays the line and plummet to
the work that it shall meet in the centre
of the rock. under the summit which
towers more than two miles high
Its Inauguration last month, brings
freshly to mind the history Of the great
Mont Gems tunnel, 1t was began in 1857,
and is the offspring mainly of that Won
derful Italian statesman, Count Cavour.
This tunnel, seven and half miles long,
was bored from opposite sides Of the
mountain, until it met in the centre. We
copy lhe account Wh.ch was printed at the
time, of the meeting of the working par
ties in the bowels of the earth
son the eth of November one of the chief en-
gincerS. when going his rounds on the north
side, tancied he heard through the rocks the
sounds of an explosion at the other end. He
ascertained that there had actually been an eX-
ploson at the hour when he heard the report
and day by day the sounds became louder and
more distinct AT the beginning of December
writes NJ. Ganesi, we heard quite clearly the
blows of the perforators against the rocks
Then we vaguely heard the sound of voices
For three days and three nights engineers
toremcn, and heads of gangs never left the tun-
mel. We could neither eat nor sleep; every one
was in a fever. At length, on the morning of
the 9th of December, the rock fell in near the
roof. The breach was made, and we could see
each other and shake hands. The same evening
the hole was clear, the last obstacle, and the
mountain was pierced; orr work was done.
barely halt-a-yard error. The level on our side
was only sixty centimetres Qess than three
quarters Of Yard too high"
No wonder the promoters of the enter
PRIZE and the people reioice-and It is fit
that the inhabitants of all civilized uoun-
tries should Join in the celebration OF these
successive steps Of victories over the OBJ
stacles Of nature-the triumphs of intellect
in the war t. establish the universal do
mimion OF man.