Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-05


8ars ExFcm2esi--S--aPhic DescTip.iosa
OF tilc Ro.:ce-E7 Fri. JAILED En~sgseer-
fss- Tri5sa:PI,s, Spiral Tunnels, and
Ssadscss-Eisc ssrcaf Eiae-zIie Fun
Rol-Ets CO1stTGcfici-An American,
Bris' Gse9-'Ea piping the Sources OF
sprinCs-E;Ie F'szsnel Engineer, EIosais
EavEC-CoStiT EnIsa INK s2icnis-Sixty-
three Bridges am Eyge,.y-six Miles
% EUs1IeiaiuG-tzaZn Scenery
Rhetorical .,iaegs-zugano the Escau-
tifgR.
The stupendOus undertaking Of tunDelling the
great central group OF Alps aud constructing
the requisite approaches by rail is an accom-
piisaed fact. Where in the past man and beast
toiied wearisome through the de1Ies and over
the pass Of the mighty st. Gotthard. to-day
Justify pClfs the locomotive on its snuous course
and uEhindered. darts through the granite fast
ness Of the mountain monarch.
The question of constructing this great inter-
national highway encountered from the very
start difficulties of an apparently insurmount-
able character. The tunnel to be perforated,
would b the longest ever attempted and sub
ject to uaasc ertained geological contingencies
But the supreme difficulty presented itself in
the question, how, under the circumstances. the
sum required for the successful prosecution of
The work, ag9regating some forty-five million
c. dollars. could be secured. There was no
land grant or credit mObilier to he awaited of.
The railway would be wholly upon Swiss terri
tory, and Switzerland could not raise the re-
quisite amount of money within its confines,
and so retain control OF the road Foreign aid
must be had; but would this be admissible?
Would not any foreign control Whatever of
such highway through the very center of the
country jeOpardize its liberties2 This was a
most serious question 10 be raised in a republic
surrounded b. moaarch!es and the surmount-
Ing OF this difficulty. and securing devoid OF
ans detrimental effect. the requisite funds, was
quite as ierCUlean a task rs were the engineer
Ing problems the undertaking presented. it
was eventually. however. accomplished. Italy.
whose railway system and Mediterranean ports
were greatly Interested i'll establishing so Greet
G line Oh communication with Central and North
western Europe, ins, ,iIed by the fOrethuusht of
Cay0Jr. granting two subsidies a@1re ing
eleven million dollars. Germany. also largely
Interested III having more direct communication
WIN Italy and her ports. actJated rs the aStute
Ness ola Bismarck. granting six million dollars;
and Switzerland. with q Welt at the helm. sum
Ofneariy Ike amount. This aggregate of twenty
three million dollars these governments granted
sii:,ply is "a fOedS teTriu. free Of any conditions
which could in the least impair the territorial
integrity Of Switzerland. or i'll any manner affect
its principles of strict neutrality.
Tie GOtthasd Railway Company. which
purpose OF constructing and operating the
contempla. Ell railway. was theTeupon definitely
organized. and its statutes in conformity with
law. having secured November I. 1871. the ap-
pr0yai oi the Swiss government. Went iinme-
Cl.tJeiy to work. Its franchise obligated il to
raise sum equal 10 that contributed ny the three
states named. which it eventually did by means
OF issuing stock iuT about One-third OF the
amount and bonds fpT the remainder. The
board Of Managers elected al the time. lg the
~. ,fG. -ru ion con
sists OF JWenty-1Uur members. fifteen Of whom
must be residents anu citizens Of Switzerland
presided over until Recently 10y the eminent
Swiss statesman. tinaneer and political econo-
mist. feer- HeTZ0g. now deceased. From among
The members OF the beard of managers an
executive committee or directory was chosen for
like period. and vested sith full administrative
powers. As presiding and chief executive
officer was selected one of the earliest and
etaunehest supporters OF the enterprise DR..
Alfred EScher. Of Zurich. man to whose in
0Onitabie energy AMI reSiStiess perseverance is
ole in IA large measure the success OF the under
taking Upon retiring in 1873 he succeeded
BY his able and experienced associate. the Hon.
J. Linsg, of Lucerne. who, with DIR. ). StOffel
md Hermann Detler, now constitute the direc-
tory.
AMONG TIE FIRST THINGS DONE
b. the directory after being installed was to
e. ter into a contract with Louis Favre. of Ge-
Drya, August :, 1872, for the construction of
She great tunnel. and appointing K. Gerwg of
Cagfsruh engneer-in-chief. The latter served
1n;l 1919. when he retired, and was succeeded
b. ". Heilwag. who. however after a time also
withdrew. when the duties of engineer-in-chief
GrFpyed on his first assistant Mr.. Gtrlch until
1915 when the experienced Swiss engineer. e..
BrIdei. was placed in charge.
Inc main stem. as finally determined on. ira
verses the distance from immense. near Lucerne
ID central Switzerland to Dirneila on the south
border nj IrS al al
Inspection took place May 22d to 18th. 1882
amidst ceremonies OF the most impressive char
aeer, participated in 10y high officials Of the three
Nations directly interested. From and after
June ]. 1882, the entire road is open for gen
erai traffic. trains running regularly on
schedule time. at present. On nearly the entire
length OF the line a single track is all that has
been Laid: but the tunnels, bridges viaducts
etc. are constructed with view to accOmmo-
date a double track
The grade OF the road in the mountain divi-
sion is limited 70 ~ per cent, {31 $40 feet per
mile). except in two places. where for a short
distance. - per cent has been permitted, and
no curve Is allowed with radius OF less than
$50 feet The total cost Of the road. including
rolling stock, aggregates 80, 100000.
The rates OF transportation are permanently
ahmed III the franchise granted TO the COMPANY
viz: for passengers over distances where the
grade does not exceed - feet per mile first
Class. 33 cents per mile: second class. 10 cents
per mile: third class. =; cents per mile
ceeds the above, a charge of 80 per cent addi-
tOnal is allowed.
For baggage. Is cents per ton per mile, with
an increase to double this amount upon sections
Of the road where the grade exceeds % feet per
mile
For fast freight or express. IA 2-5 cents ton
per nile. and no increase whatever.
For ordinary freight. one-fifth OF a cent per
son per mile. with an increase OF four-fifths of
cent per mile on sections whose grade exceeds
% feet per mile.
For raw products shipped per car load one and
Snrec-hitns OF a cent ton per mile with an in
crease OF one-laf OF cent per ton for each mile
over sections of the road whose grade exceeds
- feet per mile
The main office Of the company is located in
Lucerne, from whence, To the northern termjni
at 1mneDsee. distance of ten miles existing
lines are utilized for the present.
Starting at Imincnsee. located at the base OF
the wcil-known Rigi on the western shore of
lake Zug. /, $40 feet above tdewater the main
stem OF the GOtthard road follows in a south
easteriy direction close along the borders of
the lake, shaded by the precipitous mountain
wall. from the parapct OF which. 4 $50 feet above
90 many thousands in ecstacies 1.-The rising sun
and sf.r =