Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-11-09
The 81. GoIhard TuaneI.

Inc foreign correspondent OF the
Boston Herald writing from Leip-
sic says: While at Goeschenen /
had an opportunity of seeing the
st. Gothard tunnel, which is now
being bored through the noun
tains from Goeschenen toward Italy
and from Ariolo toward Germany.
The approach to the tunnel on the
Goeschenen side is in the midst of
the widest 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,
whlstling of the engine and ham
mering from the blacksmithing is
incessant, as the work is continued
day and night by gangs of two
thousand men, who, under NJ.
taYres direction, prosecute the
work. These men have been at
work, in varying numbers, how
ever, 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, if the money does not
give out, and there is good deal
of trouble in securing all that is
needed, At present the entire
route is surveyed from Luzerne and
Zurich TO Milan, and parts of it
cut. In the tunnel three and three
quarters kilometerS have been COM
pleted on the German side, 'and
about four and quarter on the
Italian. The tunnel will be ten
miles long. The workmen EN-.
ployed are almost all Italians, and
work eight hours out of twenty
four. Dynamite is used for the
purpose sof blasting, and all the
ordinary chilled steel, the diamond
drill being unemployed. The usual
machine for driving the drills is
employed, and works entirely by
means Of compressed air, which is
brought from the reservoirs by
means Of a large iron pipe. These
reservoirs are supplied by Il num-
Der of condensing engines, turned
by water, for which purpose a.
mountain stream is, some way above
the north of the tunnel, diverted
into a sluice-way. A strength of
ten to twelve atmospheres is always
maintained. Compressed air is also
used to work the engine, which
carries its reservoir behind, like a
tender on an ordinary engine, only
it is about sixty ieet long, and Of
the cylinder-boiler shape. 1t runs
easily and smoothly, and, being
without any heat, is much pleas
anter to work. 1t is used mainly
for hauling the stone from the in
terror to a side track, after it is
brought away from the immediate
vicinity to the blast by means Of
horses, Although this tunnel and
route will take a long time to COM
plete, it will'unquestionably be of
the greatest service when time is
considered, as the route is from
England to Cologne, along the
Rhine to Frankfort, then Basel,
Luzeme and st. Gothard, and you
are in Italy. The engineers in
charge prove sufficiently that the
high grade to which the road at
tains before passing into the tun-
mel will in no way impede the haul
ing Of freight, and that with good
speed, 1t will, unquostionably, be
q part Of the direct route to India
from England, aud decidedly the
shortest to Italy. A competitive
route through the Rhone Valley
and by the Simplou Pass to Italy is
| projected in France to keep this
travel through France, but Is still
In embryo. II would have tho adj
vantage Of having the railroad fin
ished as far as Seisse and built as
far as the foot Of the pass.
Beacons6eld, Disraelis new title, is