The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-21
VINO owns THE JUrarsIUp
A Novel ouestioa BrouEht Up by the Project OF
BuiidinE n naiiroad Up It.

"Ahhah-h = y " 80
A curious question has arisen in.switzcrland.
! 1t is, Who owns tho Jungfraui Probably few
OF the thousands Of travellers who have gazed
at the snowy peak OF the Virgin Of the Berneso
Overland from Interlaken have over thought
about the matter. Apparently tho people who
have lived for generations at Its base have con-
sidered 1t still less. Ordinarily questions of
propriotorship cease at the line of perpetual
snow. Even thrifty people like the Swiss do
not see any particular benefit In claiming what
lies above. 1T may possibly DO necessary
enough to know to whom belong the FIR trees,
which one can cut down, or the Alp.pasturages,
which nourish 30 many cows and goats. but
when one'gets above 1900 feet or so one gets
Mathematician the glaciers and fields OF snow
which constitute the wealth OF these high
attitudes.
A railway is to DO built up the Jungfrau, and
q summer resort hotel erected somewhere near
Its summit. That is what has caused. all tho
trouble. Tho projectors, before going ahead,
have been DESTROYS of applying to somebody for
permission, SO that there may DO no question of
damages In the future. But so far they have
been unable to find the owners. 1t is uncer-
hotel will be, for the boundary line between
tho cantons OF Berne and Volais cuts tho jung
frau IN at two, oS and tho line has never been I sur.
- an important matter on account Of the taxes,
for switzerland Is a great taxing country. Al
though tho property has been there all along,
been assessed. Since 1911, when the ascent
was first made by Rod and Meyer to a height
OF 1880 feet many climbers have crawled up
tho TANKS OF the mountain, but until now no
ono has ever thought of asking whose property
ne was trespassing upon.
The railway, which has boen projected for
some time, will be a ratchet wheel arrange
ment, like the one on the Rigi. 1t will be car
ried up US far as IT. Is practicable TO go, and
VIII be snpplemented by an elevator in n shaft
which will run to the summit. There, upon a
huge platform levelled In the snow, it Is the in
tention to build a hotel with all modern i'm
p~rovements.
The Alpine clubs, which have built so many
refuge huts in the mountain tops, have never
had any difficulty in getting concessions for
the purpose, but that has been because the build
tngs came under the head Of works of humanity
and were never taxed; but when Joseph Vallot
Blanc, there: was unwound q lot Of red
tape. The municipality of Chamonix was
afraid he was going to set up n tavern
10000 feet or SO in the air, and the Mayor
would. he II travellers went on to the sum
init without stopping for refreshments at the
inn on the Grand Enthusiastically licensed.
Everybody who has been at Chamonix knows
name Of the village law than in any other
place in the world. and therefore NJ. yallot
was not surprised that, before he could go ahead
with his observatory, he was obliged to agree
to build in addition on the Bosses a refuge hut
containing hunks, tables, chairs, stove, and
kitchen utensils, which was to become tho
property Of the and for the Use Of
which FOR n single night the ommune was TO
tax each traveller a dollar. and an additional
dollar as indemnitS-to the innkeeper of the
with, science was allowed to have a show, and
the observatory was built where 1t now stands.