St. Landry democrat., 1880-03-20
The Mount St. GOtsierei Tunnel.
COMPLETION OF a WONDERFUL PIECE
OF ENGINEERING THAT CONNECTS
ITALY AND GERMANY.
IRa;fiulOrp SIM /

baltimore SUM-
The cable announces that the Noun
St. Gotherd tunnel, uniting Germany
through Switzerland, with Italy, ha,
been pierced from end to end, the fina
blasting of rock to bring two ends into
connection being made on Sunday last
1t now only remains to finish UP the
work and form a junction between The
Swiss system of railways and that OF
Italy. What the Mount Gents tunnel
did for France the Mount Gothard tun-
mel will do for Germany, the connection
of the Swiss lines with those of Ger
many opening direct communication
from the latter country with Italy
10y the St. Gothard tunnel, as the con
nection of the French with the Italian
lines gives France an easy railway
route to Italy by that of Mount Gents.
AS the cost of constructing the Mount
Gents tunnel was shared between France
and Italy, so the cost OF constructing
the Mount St. GOthard tunnel is shared
between Germany, Italy and Switzer-
land. The total cost of the former was
| S15, 100000; of the latter $45, 100000.
| The large additional cost of tile St
Gothard tunnel was owing to the diff
Guilty of its approaches and the necessi
ty OF lining nearly Onehalf of its length
with masonry. 1t is the longest tunnel
in the world that OF Hoosac being four
and three-quarter miles, Mount Gents
seven and one-siXth miles, St Gothard
nine and one-quarter miles. Its cost
exceeded the original contract price by
over S12 100000. For a time, from the
losses sustained by NJ. Favre under his
contract, the work was suspended, and
it was thought would be abandon
ed; but an international conference
was held at which it was determined to
push the tunnel to completion, and the
necessary means to accomplish it We're
furnished. The Mount Gents tunnel,
or rather as it is now called, the Col de
Of the Gotham Alps, distant from Mount
Gents some fifteen miles, lies wholly
in Savoy, a territory ceded by Victor
Emmanuel to France in consideration
of the aid given him by the latter in ex-
pelllng the Austrlans from Italy. 1t
passes thence to Turin, in Lomb hardy.
The Mount st. Gothard tunnel, on the
other hand, is on Swiss soil, on the
border line between the canton Uri and
Tessin, and the railway, after leaving
the Southern end of the tunnel, pass
es through the whole length Of the
canton of Tessin, before reaching, by
the main line, Lake Magiore, on the
Italian frontier or, by a diversing
line, Lake Lugano, on the same from
tier. Ii the Mount Gents tunnel had
not been built that of St. Gotharl
would not have been projected. Until
the Col de Frejus was tunneled sixty
thousand travellers crossed into Italy
annually over Mount st. Gothard, or by
the Splugen and Simplon roads, and
nf hA nh.,r
Italy and Switzerland, Northeastern
France, Western and Central Germany
and Northern Europe took the same
routes. The opening of the Mount Cents
tunnel in 1870 put an end to the profitable
monopoly of the Swiss highways, and
was /; serions blow to Italy and Swift
erland. 1t was then felt that this diver
sion OF travel and traffic must be coun- |
tertcted by the construction Of a new |
railway route across the Alps. Atten-
ton was first directed to the Simplon |
road, and some work WAS begun on it /;
but it was soon found that such a road, |
like that by Mount Cenis, would be |
tributary to the interests of !
France. The choice next lay between
the Splngen and the St. Gothard routes,
but the objection to the Splugen route
was that as it would pass down the
valley OIL tne upper hulue ana along
the Austrian frontier, it would be liable
to interruption and control in the event
Of European war. 1t was then CON
cluded that to insure the neutrality Of
the railway it must run wholly through
Swiss territory, and for this reason,
Notwithstanding the greater length of
tunnel to be pierced and the greater cost
the route by way of Mount St. Gotiiard
was chosen. 1t had the advantage of
iirect railway communication with
Germany on the enc side and Italy
IN the other. The route passes through
he interior Of Switzerland, remote from
he track OF hostile armies, and, besides
atfording to travellers view for the
Whole OF its distance Of the granuest
Alpine scenery, energies upon Italy in
he neighborhood OF two of it's finest
axes, where close connection can be
made with the Italian lines and the
,ort of Genoa. From what we have
aid it is easy to understand the
Importance OF this great work, and how
he great cost Of it is likely to be com
'ensed by its becoming the chief route
+ excurslonists, and equally so Of mer- .
handlse passing to and fro between ..
ne countries instrumental in building
lis famous tunnle. .