The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-11-09
Tho Greatcnt Tunnel In Europe
Tho Direct ROuto from England
to Enuius

TO India
The foreign correspondent OF the Dos
ton Herald, writing from Leipsic, says:
While a. Goescheuen had an opportu.
nifty Of seeing tho St. GOthard tunnel
which is now being bored through the
mountains from GoeScheuen towards
Italy and from Ariolo towards Germany.
The approach to the'tunneI on the Goe'
schenen side is in the midst Of the wild.
eat and most picturesque scenery. A
number OF workshops, sheds. cantines,
and various small buildings cluster about
the mouth, and give to an otherwise wild
spot the busy hum and noise Of enter
prise, for the clicking OF machinery,
whistIing Of the engine and hammering
from the blaCksmiIhiug is incessant, as
the work is continued day and night
BY gangs OF 1000 men, who, under
N. Favre's direction, prosecute the
work. These men have been at
work, in varying numbers, however, just
four years the present month, and it will
take all their energies, united to the
work OF those on the Italian side, TO
finish the undertaking by 1880. This,
OF course, II the money does not give out,
and there Is q good deal OF trouble in
securing all that Is needed. At present
the entire routcis surveyed from Luzerne
and Zurich to Milan, and parts Of it cut,
In the tunnel three and three-quarters
kilometers have been completed on the
German side, and about four and quar-
ter on the Italian. The tunnel will be
ten miles long. Tho workmen employed
are almost all Italians, and work eight
hours out Of twcnty-fur. Dynamite
10 used for the purpose OF blasting,
and all tho drills are the ordinary chill
cd steel, the diamond drill being unem.
ployed. The usual machine for driving
The drills is employed, and works entire.
ly by means Of compressed air, which il
brought from the reservoirs by means Of
large iron pipe. These reservoirs are
supplied by q number Of condensiug en-.
Hines, turned by water, for which purpose
a mountain stream Ii, some way above
tho north Of the tunnel, diverted into
Sluice-Way. a strength Of ten or twelve
atmospheres Is always maintained. Com.
pressed air is also used 10 work the en-
CINE, which carries its reservoir behind,
Ike 4 tender on an ordinary engine, only
It Is about sixty feet long, and Of the
sylinder.boiler shape. 1t runs easily
and smoothly, and being without any
heat, 10 much plcasanler to work. II ia
used mainly for hauling the stono from
the interior 10 a side track, after II ia
brought away from the immediate
vicinity TO tho blast by means
Of horses. Although this tunnel
and route will take long time to com.
plSte, it will, PROFESSIONALLY, be OF the
greatest service when time Is considered,
a. the route is from England TO Cologne,
along the RhinO 10 Frankfort, then to
Basel, LuIerne and St. GoIhard, and you
are 10 Italy. The engineers in charge
prove sufficiently that the high grade to
which the road Gttains before passing into
the tunnel will in no way impede the
hauling Of freight, and that with good
speed. Il will, PROFESSIONALLY bel part
Of the direct route TO India from Eng.
land, and decidedly tie shortest 10 Italy.
A competitive route through the Rhone
Valley and by the SimplOn Pass to Italy,
l. projected il France 10 keep this travel
through France, but it is sill embryo.
Il WSuld have the advantage Of having
the railroad iniahsd a. far a the foot Of
~ pas.