The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-05-27

The Vesuvius Railroad.

Nodern engineering skill has achieved
other triumph In the completion of a
aa;IWay to the edge of the crater of Mount
Tasnyius. In design 1t resembles the
switch back roads Of our Pennsylvania
,ountains, the motive power being a sta
,;onary engine placed at the foot OF the cone
The line is 600 meters 10 length, and has
been constructed upon a solid foundation,
"a hat it is believed to be secure against
The operation of any flow Of lava. The cars
are drawn upward by steel ropes, and
rontrolled in their descent by the same
means. The danger OF their springing from
The track is reduced by the peculiar con
s~truction of the wheels and each car is
furnished with a powerful automatic brake,
which, in case OF the swapping OF IA rope, or
any other accident, is supposed to arrest It's
course almost instantaneously. One Of the
chief difficulties of the undertaking was the
lack of water supply, but this has been OBJ
waited by the building OF a large reservoir at
each terminus of the road.
A railway to the crater of Nesuvius will,
perhaps. bring much satisfaction to the mind
ofthe traveller who in doing" Europe works
against time, but probably there are many
who will feel ind; fferent to rapid transit at
Of Eesuvius possessed all the charm of over
coming difficulties and conquering the waste
places of mature, not by machinery, but
through a stout heart and no small display
Of physical power. Starting from Reslna,
aided by horses, and directed by trustwOr-
thy guide, the traveller passed over the
road through the vineyards, and thence
over the lava streams to the Observatory.
There was no racket Of the steam-whistle
in the air. or suggestion Of any comparison
between the cinders strewn by the wrath of
IL 1ooo h., eho
spiteful puff of a locomotive. A short dis
lance beyond the Observatory the difficulties
Of the trip, now made SO easy by means of
rails and steel ropes, began. If there was
no eruption going on, the assent could not
be made unless the wind blew SO strongly
that there was reasonable certainty of the
elected matter being driven In one certain
direction. An hours climbing up a rugged
sweep of loose masses of pumice stone was
required to bring the visitor to the summit,
where, under the direction of the guide, the
crater could be examined. Now all these
difficulties are obviated. A simple. railway
ride of a few minutes places one Ia posses
sion of the mystery of Nesuyius. The
scientists tell us, however, that the great
mountain is even now threatening another
outburst. 1t would, perhaps, suggest the
idea of poetic vengeance to certain minds, Ii
l~esuyius, in ecstatic fury, tossed of this
modern Improvement as a thing too intOl-
cradle TO be borne.
1t p well known fact that the famous Her
itage, the Observatory, and this new rail
way, are located, not any shifting base fur
uished by modern Nesuvius, bar on a rocky
ridge remaining from the days when Som
mas peaceable crest grace1 the same spot.
La Somma had none o. the gloom OF the
burning mountain that now seems suspen-
II taH nc ~, n,.--,l 5000. - H. ~ ~ =,
otNaples It was a rural and charming
mountain, wooded from Its base to its SUI
nit. The merchants OF Polnpeii, Horcula-
9eum, and Naples uSed to spend here
their leisure time, and wealthy Romans from
all Parts Of Italy had country houses IN the
lelghborhood. Nesuvius, born of SoInma,
anti seated within the encirclipg GRASP ot its
parent, is a variable heap thrown up from
time to time, and again, NOT seldom, by a
greater effort ofthe same force, tossed away
into the air, and scattered in clouds Of dust
Over lar countries. Thus il has happened
often that esuvius III the course Of these
variations Of energy has risen 10 Il conical
height exceeding that of Somnia by 300 or
"' tee;. and again the top has been trunca-
Nd to a level Is low a. So:nma, OF even IS
much below that mounta;n "a * now behold
above. In this way Two cIa>es Of form
arse u the study of NeSuvius. One may
'e called the old OF Somma form. left after
Violent and exhaustive efforts ct the violent
aql exhaustive effort, OF the volcano the
&,uer the new and variable form which it
Hta>es the uneasy mountain 10 assume
When, in 1874. the Observatory was first
erected, advantage was taken ola long and
narrow ridge Of rock on Mount Cantaroni,
aGoSt at the foot Of the actual cone o. the
'Gtano: Owing, however, to the elevation
'he ridge, and the sharp point which 1t
PRESENTS to any steam oflava, the position
VI he building is much safer thau i; at first
~ip'PPears. Here the intrepid Professors
,I,nl'er spends his time, gr%aciously hoSpi
,a4e T. the visitors attracted a. his retreat
S.hsr by the charms Of scientific observa-
nI OF the new railway. Tie Professor,
,n' receives a considerable yearly salary for
b%e pursuit Of his valuable Investigations
%%Ss.hown himself a most courageous servant