Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-11-10
#isfellaneuas 8tadiug,
THE sIMPLoRl TUNNEL.
Progress Of the Work Upon Bigger "Hols
Ia tho Ground" Than Now York's.


signor Musso has made an interest
Ing visit to Iselle, two hours drive
from Domodossola, and gives a descrip-
ton of the works on the Italian side Of
the great Simplon tunnel. All along
the splendid road. up the Simplon, now
stands quantity Of villas and Gotta
ges, either belonging to the families Of
the superintendent of the works, or to
italian proprietors, who, foreseeing the
immense future development of Iselle,
have secured the best sites. There are
1900 Italian worBmen employed at this
end of the tunnel, and the numerous
inns and drinking shops. bear signs
with the names Of their native towns
Naples, Capua, Gaeta and even POM
peii These inns are Of wood, plastered
outside to keep off. the damp; ev-
cry winter: some are destroyed by the
snow and must be rebuilt. A permis-
sion Is necessary to see the works, and
the visitor must sign a declaration re-
nouncing all claim for compensation
in case he is injured, for there is con-
stant danger in accidents. There is q
hospital at the gate Of the works, with
surgeon always in attendance. There
are also a Catholic and a Protestant
chapel. The length Of the tunnel will
be 1870 meters. The outlet at the Ital-
ian side is 633 meters above sea level.
The works are being carried on with
feverish activity day and night, for II
not finished on the date fixed, the 18th
day Of May, 1904, each day Of delay
will cost the contractors 5000 francs,
while, on the other hand, they will gain
the same sum for every day If the
works are finished sooner. than that
date.
Engineers and workmen remain in
the depths Of the tunnel for eight hours
at a stretch amid the droppings of wa
ter, the screenings Of the perforators
the fumes Of gas and lamps, for electric
lights have proved useless, as they are
extinguished at the explosion Of the
mines. When the perforators have
bored hole some three feet deep. 1t is
filled with dynamite and fired. These
explosions are very dangerous, for, in
spite Of all precautions, fragments Of
rock may hurt the workman or the
very ground may open beneath his feet.
When all the mines are laid, a man Is
set to count the explosions, 80 as to
make sure that all the mines have gone
Off. Till this is ascertained no work.
man may return to his post. Still, ac-
cidents sometimes occur. Luckily Sig
nor Musso only found few worlmen
in the hospital. One had been deprived
Of a leg and another was dangerously
wounded in the body by fragment Of
rock.
On the Italian side the tunnel has
been made for $500 meters, and this,
with what has been done on the. Swiss
side makes fourth part Of the total
length. The work now proceeds at an
average Of four to five meters per day.
Fewperforators work at the same time,
there being only work for two or three.
Every day 500 three-sided steel points
are consumed, which are remade, or re-
sharpened, at a special work shop,
where large number Of men do moth
ing else. When the perforators and
IUlIlSS lldNS IuduC a. i1A Sc 0OAS AAA sAAS
rocks, the men set to work with pick
and chisel, working in one hole above
the other; when both holes are as wide
as desired, the men come out, and the
thin partition between the upper and
lower holes Is blasted, and the work Is
complete thus far. By this system
there is no need Of scaffolding to sup
port the roof, and many kinds Of acci-
dents are eliminated.
The contractors have fine baths and
douches for the workmen, and a large
building contains their changes of
clothes, while there is also a washing
and drying establishment. There Is a
special bath for the engineers. The
wages of the workmen vary from to
6 francs a day. OF course they get