Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-04
WHO OWNS THE JuNGFRAUs
Project of Building N Railroad Up
the Peak Brings Tn the Question.


A curious question has arisen in swift
erland. 1t is. Who owns the Jungfrauy
Probably few of the thousands OF travel
lers who have gazed at the snowy peak
OF the Virgin OF the Bernese Obeland from
Interlaken have ever thought about the
matter. Apparently the people who have
lived for generations al it's base have con-
sidered Il still less. Ordinarily questions
Of proprietorshlp cease at the line OF per-
petual snow. Even thrifty people Ike the
Swiss do not see any particular beneft
In claiming what lies above. II may pos
sibly be necessary enough TO know 10
whom belong the fir trees. which one can
cut down. or the Alp-pasturages, when
nourish so many cows ana goats, out
when one gets above 7,sO0 feet or SO one
gets Indifferent about the glaciers ana
fields OF snow which constitute the
wealth OF these high attitudes.
railway is to be built up the jung
frau and summer resort hotel erected
somewhere near its summit. Ihat u
what has caused all the trouble. The
projectors before going ahead. have been
DESTROYS Of applying to somebody Tor per
mission, so that there may be no Ques-
ton of damages in the future. But 50
far they have been unable 70 ma Tue
owners. IL is uncertain even IN wha'
ttUN.n the runway anu Tic hNA'f VIZ
for the boundary line between the cam
tons of Berne and Volais cuts the jung
frau in two, and the line has never oeeh
surveyed and nobody knows which Is
which. This Is an important matter on
account of the taxes. for Switzerland Il
great taxing country. Although the pro-
perty has been there all along, no one
has ever claimed IT, and 1t has never
been assessed. Since 1911. when the as
cent was first made by Rod and Meyer
TO a height Of 1850 feet many CLIMBERS
have crawled up the TANKS OF the noun
tain. but until now no one has ever
thought of asking whose, property ne
was trespassing upon.
The railway, which has been projected
for some time. will be ratchet-Wneei
arrangement like the one on the hlsL
IL will be carried up as far as II Is pfac-
ticabe TO go. and Will be supiemei.eu
by an elevator in 4 shaft which VIII run
to the summit. There upon huge plat
form levelled in the snow. 1t Is the inten-
ton to build "A hotel with all modern I'M
provements.
The Alpine clubs, which have built so
many refuge huts I'm the mountain tops.
have never had any difficulty In getting
concessions for the purpose, but that mas
been because the buildings came under
the head of works Of humanity, and were
never taxed, but when Joseph Naii0t built
his observatory on the summit OF Mont
tape. The municipality Of Chamonix was
afraid ne was going to set up tavern
1900 feet or so i'm the air, and the Mayor
spoke in indignant terms OF the outrage II
would be II travellers went on 10 the
summit without stopping for refreshments
at the inn on the Grand Mulets-alreany
licensed Everybody who has been at
Chamonix knows that they squeeze more
out of you there i'm the name OF the VIZ
lage law than in any other place in the
world and therefore NJ. Vallot was not
surprised that before he could 80 ahead
with his observatory he was Obliged to
agree 10 build I'm addition on the Bosses
a refuge hut containing hunks, tables,
chairs stove and kitchen utensils, which
was to become the property of the com
mune. and for the use OF which Tor
single night the commune was 70 TAX
each traveller a dollar, and an additional
dollar as indemnity TO the innkeeper OF
the Grand Mulets. These conditions COM
piled with. science was allowed 20 nave nav.
"A show. and the observatory was punt
where IL now stands