Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-03-29
ON CLASSIC GROUND
AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM ROME By
REV. c. c. HAYS
Peculiar Habits Il the People and the Antique and
Picturesque Buildings Reconnaissance
Great Feats Of Railroad
Engineering

ROME March 5, lS90--In going from
France into Italy by all means take the
Central Switzerland railroad instead of
the southern route via Mt. Ceries. 1t gives
YOU some of the finest scenery of the Alps
and the famous Gotthard tunnel This
railroad was constructed under greater
difficulties and exhibits greater engineer
ing skill than any other of the same length
in the world. The contractor, a very
wealthy man. was financially ruined in the
great undertaking. The cost of the road
exceeded the estimate by about Slj,OOO,OOO
and required ten years for its construction.
Its final completion is owing 10 the sub
stantial aid furnished by the German gov
eminent. Germany being anxious for direct
with Italy and southern
commerce. The road was first opened in
1883 and lately has been paying large divi-
bends. From Lucene 20 the
top of the mountain it is
AMARvEI. OF ENGINEERING SKILL.
Again and again it tunnels the solid rock
and bridges the yawing chasms. In one or
two instances complete spiral is formed
i'm the interior of the mountain. making
what they call spiral tunnel The train
enters at one point, and by constant
curve like the thread OF screw, mounts
upward. emerging high above on the same
side of the mountain We passed one vii
lace four times. each time many feet higher
than before. Several of US are familiar
with the wonderful mcanderngs of the
Denver and Rio Grande railroad IN the
Rocky Mountains, but we are al agreed
that the Swiss road exccls II.
And here we are on historic ground. we
have fine fine view of the Lake oil the
-Four Cantons. and presently stop al Al
toorf. the home of William Tell. The VIII
layers show the very spot where
TELL SHOT THE APPLE OFF
his bows head. but our conductor blunuy
Informed us that the Swiss never knew
ANYTHING about Tell until Shillcr wrote ms
story.
Arth-Holdan has a pathetic history.
Arth is the name Of the present village.
HOldan was "a town near by OF 3.OOJ lnhaO-
itants. but in the year lsus. without a mn
ute's warning a great avalanche OF rock
came down from the mountains overlooking
the place and buried every house ana IN
habitant All that is seen now IS an I'M
mense mound OF huge boulders Recently
in making an excavation some Workmeh
found a silk handkerchief well preserved
surb MS the Swiss maideus of that day wore
abOut the head. IL is all that is known pl
The city deep buried under the rocks
At an altitude of 1000 feet we enter ST.
Gotthard tunnel. and in about twenty NM
utes emerge ON the Southern slope This
tunnel is nearly
ELEVEN MILES LoNG.
the longest i'm the world. Think of a tun-
hel reaching from Wheeling TO 81. Glars
willie. 1t is walled and arched with heavy
stone. and evidently built 20 stay.
-. tf.fu r4ofrf we were IN SNOW
storm. On the Northern slope the snow
was several inches deep and the am cold.
but AT the end of the long tunnel we found
ourselves I'm "a Southern atmosphere. and ia
II few hours were enjoying the siHht OF
new made gardens and grassy slopes ana
blooming flowers
BEFORE leaving Switzerland. a word for
the Swiss They are busy, enerEeuc' m
teligcnt and progressive people. We sh"lI
hold them in lasting remembrance I"t ao
Basic they gave us the best dinner ana u-
diest lodgings we had had since leaving
home Their
CHEESE Is UNPARALLELED,
and their silks and watches are known the
world over. Their railroad system Is supe-
rior 10 that of the English and the frencn'
and their system of compulsory euucd'ioH
is wortv of imitation. Their whole country
is NOT much more than hali the SIZE OF
West Virginia, but they have the qualities
of heart and character that 20 70 MAKE d
great nation. Every foot OF arabic land Is
eriltivated. and high up on the mountain
sides we saw cottages and small gardens.
whore the Door man is toiiing for his bread
and making for himself home. They say
that some of the Swiss homes arc on such
am incline that the children must be tcd 10
a tree to keep them from tumbling down
the mountain Yet these people are dppar-
entity contcntod and happy.
Descending toward the Mediterranean
and striking the beautiful lakes Of Lugauo
and Como we are soon upon the Italian
frontier At Chiasso we encounter
THE DREADED CUSTOM HOUSE.
All our bundles must De undonc, and CON
tents of valiscs and trunks exposed 20 the
scrutiny ofthe officers We are Americans
and they Italians. and we fire away at each
other without mercy. neither one knowing
what the other is saying We soon us
cover that they are especially concerned 10
know five have amy French tobacco. III
seems that the Government re
ouircs everybody who uses tobacco
I'm Italy 10 use the home product. ana
woe be to the man who undertakes 10
smuggle the weed from abroad. lntoA-
cants and firearms and new purchases OF
any kind are also liable % Doe thrown out or
heavily taxed. We all escaped well ana
still hold on 90 our possessions.
At tine beautiful city Of Milan the sec
ond CITY of Italy i'm siZc-your pilgrims
halted Tor the night. visiting the
MAGNIFICENT CATHEDRAL rY MOONLIGHT.
To-day we are in Rome. and I'm my next
letter viii have something 10 tel you Oh
the Eternal City" and it's people
G.. c. HAYS.