The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1880-03-19
a Great Work Completed.


by the magnitude of the under
taking of NJ. de Lesseps to open a
salt water canal through the 18th
mus of Pouama have certainly not
kept themselves we'll abreast of the
times in the matter of engineering
progress. For nOtwithstandingthat
10 the present attitude OF the pro-
posed canal projects, having in view
the tacilitatiOn of communication
between the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans, the citizens Of the United
States are inclined 10 favor the
Nicaraguan route, ii is for other
reasons than that which alleges the
lmpracticability OF the Chagres
route on account OF the cost of its
construction. Before the world had
been made familiar with the tun-
neling OF the Alps aud the excava-
ton of the Snez canal such argu.
ments might have passed Tor some.
thing, but at this day people are
disposed TO look upon nothing as
impossible when subjected to the
force OF capital and engineering
skill. So thoroughly had this idea
taken possession Of the public miud
that the recent completion OF the
tunnel through Mount ST. GOthard
was scarcely noticed, uotwithstand
ing that its dimensions exceed
those of any similar undertaking
in the world. The northern entrance
Of the tunnel is situated near the
small village of Goeschenen, in the
canton of Ur, in the German
speaking portion of Switzerland,
while the southern entrance is near
the village OF Airolo, in the Italian.
speaking canton OF Tessin. The
total length of the st. Gothard
tunnel is 9.l4 miles, while the tun.
nels of Mont Gents, Hoosac and
Sutro are respectively 7.6, 4.74 aud
1854 miles. Between the years 1S40
aud 1850 the project of construct.
ing a railroad through the st. Go.
thard was first mO0ted, but it did
not take permanent form until the
next decade, when the Central
Swiss railroad company assumed
charge Of it, and u commission was
appointed to make the necessary
surveys. In 1869 Germany, Switz-
erlant aud Italy entered into
treaty for the construction oil the
road, aud in 1872 a company was
formed aud bids for the work were
called Tor. That OF NJ. Louis Favre
was accepted. The estimated cost
was nearly Sl0,O0O,0OO, aud the
work was formally begun IN Sep
tember, 1872. Until 1873 hand Ia
Dor alone was employed in enlarg.
ing the opening, but machine labor
subsequently, superseded it. Ac-
cording to the contract the tunnel
was to be of u horseshoe form
1865 feet high by 24.93 feet wide
at the level OF the sleppers aud
23.24 feet 1T the springing OF the
arch, which is about 6l feet above
the sleepers. Mr.. Fayre, the con.
tractor, has not lived to see his
great undertaking brought to a
successful conclusion, having died
suddenly in the tunnel in July last.
For a long time after the opening
of the works he lost money
heavily, owing to unforeseen con
tingencies, but in last April an in.
ternat:onal conference set the total
cost at 227, 100000 francs, and am
Pile funds were advanced to him. 1t
is now several years since modern
science aud perseverance rendered
the Alps no longer a barrier be-
tween France and Italy, aud in but
a few months passengers will be
whirled fiom Switzerland into the
plains of Piedmont at the rate OF
twenty miles an hour. The war
between mankind and the noun
tains has been gradual but de-
termined one. Hi. st there were
footpaths, then military and post
roads, then dilligenees making
rapid time through all the principal
defiles. Now the locomotive aud
the underground railway will ren.
der all these things OF the past.