The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-12
THIS TUNNEL BEATS THE RECORD
Something About the Great Under
taking at SimpIOn Pass,
From the London Times

CAOAh the LONDON Times.
Our Berne correspondent informs us
that the perfected railway tunnel under
the Simplon, passing under the massif
of Monte Leone between Brigue (Switzer-
land and Isella Qtaly) will be 10, 7S1 meters
long, and its highest point in the interior
7OS meters 20 centimeters above the sen
level, with downward slope in both III
recuons. The principal difficulty in pierre
ing the tunnel will consist in the very
nigh temperature-40 degrees centrigradg.
in that part of the route which lies
deepest under the mountain, and, there's
lore the authors of this project have
adopted new system in piercing it which
is very ingenious. The mountain will he
tunneled by two parallel passages at a
distance of seventeen meters from escS
other. The first tunnel will be comnIeta
~ finished so as to admit a single line
OF rails OF the normal gauge. the second
o ouiine1 VIII serve as a gallery, and will
double line some years after the connie.
ton of the first. This gallery. with its
1d6 iS galleries connecting it at every
Tor ventilation, the arrivak~nf ballast
trans ana other working material. for
GSonuucIlhg water at high pressure, ana
lying down electricity for lighting pur-
poses: The transverse galleries will he
closed by doors, but the two advances
transverse galleries, which are nearest
the workings when the piercing of the
rock IS being pushed forward will he
seft open. These doors will prevent tbs
current Of air from passing through the
earlier passages and secure a good venry
lation at the actual spot where the wort-
1ngS are furthest advanced This dranesbt
will then pass through the two advanced
tunnel No. 1. While one of these croSs
galleries is being pierced of course fhers
can be no current of air through II. in
of injectors @i'S
The temperature, already lowered bv IT,
fresh air from the ventilators, will fur
ther De cooled by Jets of cold water spray.
AFTER each case of blasting the debris
will be cleared away by hydraulic forca
and the Brandt perforat tors used to niercIs
the rock will also be worked bv the Ca 90 M
power The geological formation Of tn
mountain is favorable to the work &c |
gneiss will chiefly be met with. 60
AS regards the workmen, great precau-
tions viii be taken to insure their san-
tary well-being. They will each receive q
speclal klnd OF clothing to be put on he |
fore entering the tunnel. On leaving tbev
Will come out into a covered bnilSt-S
where they will be compelled to cban75s, |
their clothes and take warm hath b9
fore passing into the cold mountain air
Ihe contractors guarantee the necessar,,,
installations, the completion of tbe fir.yt |
tunnel, and the gallery for the fixed 80 -
OF 100000 francs, and the Completion
OF the gallery by turning it into A.
second tunnel with permanent No., f f
an additional 100000 francs. From t tor
time the traffic begins ventilators vii,
be used to renew the air of The t,,y WI
and to reduce the quantity NJ ca SIIilIeI
acid caused by the locomotives Each 3.ais
after passing through will close automatl
lcally the door Of the tunnel and ajr -.at1, |
be driven into the same by suitable s;dn
passages. The need of ventilation frnrs
tunnel No. viii, of course, have ceaso1i
route consist not only ~ IN N
OF distance between Calais 80
Milan, but especially in the conditions ~
han IN the Mont Cents and the 81 Gsothe
lrd. The eliminating point n ~ mr..
unneis IS stated thus; Mont Cents 5t ~
ni it ~. Gothard 5ieo mlters; simplon.