The New York herald., 1879-10-17

The engineering enterprise of the present age IL
great that there is nothing extraordinary in the
fact that before the St. Gohard Tunnel Is COM
peted it is contemplated commencing third gigan-
tic tunnel through the Smplon. company for
the construction of this tunnel and the railways In
connection with 1t was formed in 1874. and 1t has
already laid down the line from Lausanne through
the valley OF the Rhone to Brieg. at the foot OF the
Simplon. The present French Ministers, together
with NJ. Gambotta and also President Grevy are very
anxious that this colossal undertaking should
be proceeded with without delay. and 1t is
affirmed that the French government intendst to
apply to the Chambers for grant of 4s.o0o.Ooof.
for this purpose 1t is also asserted that the Italian
government disposed undertake the construction
of limo from Isii at the foot of the Simplon, which
will bring the tunnel into connection with the lta
ian Railway. This line. it is estimated. will cost
somo 2S 000. .O00f Concerning the tunnel itself the
following details are taken from the Records of the
Posts and Telegraphs. Though the Simplon Tunnel
will be longer than either the Mont Cents the ST.
Gothard Tunnel. 1t is thought that its construc-
ton will not be more difhcult. The en-
ated ut an altitude Of 1852 metres above the
level Of the sea. and the Mont Gents Tunnel
mel will be situated comparatively low and the rail
way leading to it from Lausanne is quite straight.
Mth o an me rt no & greater 1hs the
incline will be greater-thirteen in 100. In
consequence of the low position of the tunnel
the work will not be subject to such constant inter-
rupten by the snow has been the case with the
Mont Gems and ST. Gothard tunnels. The Rhone on
the Swiss and the Riviera the Italian side will fur
nish the necessary powerfor the boring, and thanks
to the warmth Of the climate of the canton of Wallis
it will not be necessary to suspend operations even
in the most rigorous The tunnel will bc even
longer than the St. Gothard this latter but 10
kilometres in length, whereas the Simplon will be
1917 kilometres long, biologists are OF opinion that
the stone of the Smplon is less hard than that OF
either Mont Cents st. Gothard and It is calculated
that the boring he proceeded with ut the rate OF
from to 10 metres per day, that the tunnel will
probably be completed in six. Or ut most seven.
years from the date of its commencement. The
estimated cost of the enterprise is $4,000 0O0f.-
"a, 000f for the tunnel ITSELF making 0OO000f
per kilometre. This estimate may be consid-
cred little high in comparison with the st;
Gothard Tunnel, which is being constructed
for 2,500,000f per kilometre; but 1000, DOOR.
will be expended on the completion of the road to
the mouth Of the tunnel, and 5,0O0000f. OH the
building of large international station at Brieg.
Only a small portion of the S0.O00.00Of which will
be for the carrying out of this enterprise
will be raised by public suhscripton-that Is to say.
only 000f. The remaining &c. 800 O0Of will be
granted to the company follows:-The Swiss gov
ernment will subscribe 450O.000f the canton of
Waadt, 5000 000f the canton OF Wallis OOOOOOf.;
the cantons of Berne Freiburg. and Geneva.
800 ,00Of. the Swiss Western Railway Company,
$780, .000f.. and France. 48000,0O0f