New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-04
SYMPTOM TUNNEL CONNECTIONS.

When traffic through the SimplOn tunnel once
becomes practicable, as will probably be the case
next spring. Switzerland and Italy will for a
time get the chief benefit of opening the new
route Other countries also will derive some adj
vantage from 1t, though not Immediately. From
Northeastern France Italy is already accessible
by way of Basic and the St Gothard tunnel, and
the Mont Gents tunnel similarly serves Southern
France Before the Simplon route can be util-
lied by passengers from either Paris or London
to Italy connections must be provided by en-
tirely new construction. The present lines fur
nish connection by this route between SwitZer-
land and Italy, but present French connections
are not such as to make the Simplon useful for
through traffic. Just what is necessary has long
been under discussion and decision by the
French government has been reached only within
the last few days.
Only two schemes appear to have received
much consideration, but their relative merits
have been urged by their respective advocates
with earnestness, not to say warmth. One called
for road through Pontarlier, France, and Iau-
same, Switzerland, and would have involved
more or less tunnelling in the Jura range The
other led through Lons-le-Saunier to Geneva.
The latter route is the longer by about fifteen
miles, and the more costly, fewer than eleven
tunnels being required for the forty-eight miles
of railway that it demands and one Of the pro
half miles. The opponents of the second propo-
sition also declare that as it would bring q good
deal Of business to Geneva that city should have
contributed more literally than it has done to
the support of the enterprise.
On the other hand it is alleged that as the
grades are easier the Geneva route hours
time would be saved in spite Of the extra dis
lance This is ostensibly the reason which has
induced the French Minister of Public Works NJ.
Gauthier, to approve the plan and to enter into
an agreement with the Paris Lyons and Medi-
terranean Railway Company for its execution
1t is limited that politics also played a part in
the negotiations but the suggestion may be dis
credited To disnterested outsiders it would
seem that the evident superiority of the route
justified the increased outlay. The gain of an
hour by through passengers and through mail
from Paris and London to Milan. Rome Naples
and Brindisi would certainly be public benefit.
1t is proposed eventually. if not at the very
| outset TO operate the railway In the Simplon
+ tunnel with electric power. A journey twelve
miles in length and consuming from twenty five
TO thirty minutes would be exceedingly uncom-
Portable in such passage If those who made
the trip were obliged to breathe the gases and
smoke of ordinary locomotive 1t will prob
ably be necessary for time to limit the electric
service 70 the tunnel, but before many years
great extension Of it should prove feasible. AL
ready electricity is employed interurban
roads In both Italy and Switzerland cheap
source of supply being provided by Alpine
streams. In France, too. lively appreciation
of the merits of the traction agent has been
manifested. If. therefore, anything like four Or
five years should elapse before the projected
road through Lons-le-Saunisr is completed the