Morning journal and courier., 1880-03-02
THE ST. GOTHARD TUNNEL.

THE SIT. GOTHARD TUNNEL. The announcement that the work of pierc ing Mount St. Gothard is satisfactorily com pleted again calls public attention to the grea tunnel that is to be so important to the trade of Europe. The function of this tunnel is tc establish easier intercourse and cheaper between Italy and Germany, between the Mediterranean and the German sea. The scheme of which 1t forms part includes a railroad which begins at Immensee, on the western shore of the lake of Zug, touches Schwys, runs along the eastern shore of the lake of Lucerne, touches Fluelen and Altdorf, runs along the Reuss, enters the tunnel at Gosehenen. leaves it at AiroIo, runs down the valley of the Tcino, and ends at Pino, vil- lage on the eastern shore of the Lago Mag giore. There it enters Italy and joins the great railway system which centers at Milan. This trunk road has length of 147.6 kilo- metres. The subsidiary roads, Cadenazzo- Locarno and Lugano- Chiasso 39 kilometres long, produce grand total of 1866 kilome- tres, or almost 116 miles, the whole of 1t in Switzerland. The cost is estimated at 227,-
 
 shareholders have paid in $7,OOo, 900; the bondholders SIG, 900, 900; the rest is paid 'ta fonds perdus,' as the phrase is, by Switzer- land with $6,OoO, ,O0o Germany with $6, ,000,- GOO, and Italy with $11, ,OOO, GOO.
 The tunnel itself is 94 miles long, more than mile longer than the famous Mount Cenis tunnel and about 4 miles longer than ha %rn al ;e straight through the mountain, as in the case of the Mount Cenis and the Hoo sac, but in both the European tunnels sharp grades are rendered necessary by the nature of the country. Work was begun on the St. Gothard tunnel in 1872, and it was one of the conditions of the con- tract that the perforation should be done within eight years from August 7. 1872. It will be seen, therefore, that this great work has been done in less time than was original ly allowed for it. A comparison of the time it has taken and the money it has cost with the time and money spent on other great tunnels is interesting, and shows the rapid advance which has been made in drilling machinery, etc. The Mount Cenis tunnel, length eight miles, less few yards, cost $15, 900, 900, and was constructed in the thirteen years from 1857 to 1870; the Hoosac tunnel, length A miles, cost $13, ,oOO, ,0oo, and was finished in eleven years from the time the work was proper Iy begun The St. Gothard, length 94 miles, has been bored in about seven years and half. The contract prices sum up to total estimated cost of $9, TOO, 900. This amount was to cover all expenses whether direct or accessory, and all risks and contingencies from whatever cause arising. If this part of the contract is held to, the St. Gothard will be much the cheapest of the three tunnels in cost of construction. in addition to it's other and sufficient distinctions.
 For the present, it is stated, but one track will be laid in the tunnel, but second track can be added at any time without interfering with travel. The profits will all go to the shareholders and bondholders, the three inter- ested States having merely reserved the right of being represented in the management of the road and the regulation of the tariff