Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-04-26

Some of the greatest troubles were
met in 1904, when only 1868 metres
were pierced, but for months together
the splendid drills regularly turned out
eighteen feet Of gallery every twenty
four hours, which far exceeded the
rate ever before attained in the world
on any work of this kind.
The gradient ascends at each en-
trance toward the middle for the pur-
pose of drainage, and this alone made
possible the completion of the work.
At n distance of 4,4OO metres from
Iselle spring, or rather river, of
cold water was struck, which gushed
1850 gallons minute and delayed
operations on the Italian side for
months. Moreover, the ground was
treacherous and this necessitnted elab-
crate propping. The largest timbers
were crushed and steel Orders were
twisted. The latter We're eventually
made serviceable with the aid Of con-
crete cement.
Hot Springs.
Meanwhile from Brigue the workers
reached the summit of the gradient in
the middle of the tunnel, although the
temperature had risen to 1872 degrees
Fahrenheit, which was rs degrees
higher than expected. The Swiss
workers then began to drive down to
meet the Italians, and the hot springs
troubles, which had been fully fore
seen, began again. Water Of tenn
perature Of III degrees Fahrenheit
was soon tapped, but this was over
come for a while by sending jets of
cold water into the assures.
When, however. the Swiss had gone
500 metres from the summit the works
became filed with scalding water and
finally stopped the working from the
Brigue end. This was in May, 1904.
IT. was the last named accumulation
which gushed through the final breach
subsequently. From the Swiss side the
| works into Italy now remain complete.
Arching Of masonry covers In the
water channel beneath the floor of the
tunnel. 1t is expected that a train
will go through the tunnel not later
tlln May OI tnlS yeur.
Discoveries Affecting Science.
The difficulties OF the tunnel are
more interesting and important from
some standpoints than the tunnel it.
self. The mountain has no seeming
connection with any volcanic system
and it is type of the ordinary Alpine
peak, supposedly solid rock, from its
base to the summit. Yet, the noun.
tain has system of internal circula.
| ton Of both air and water In powerful
currents at very high temperature
The facts learned during the boring
will enter fully into future discussions
of the causes Of earthquakes and vol
canic eruptons, and may so far to
ward bringing about the formation OF
finally satisfactory theory. Wher
the tunnel from the north had passed
its central point by some 1000 feet 6
dynamite charge opened a vein of no
air whose temperature DR.. Viret state:
was between 100 and 144 Fahrenheit
These currents of superheated air II
the heart of the mountain indicate
immense pressure as the cause o.
superheating, fact now to be takel
still more fully into consideration II
accounting for the operation Of tn,
superheated steam, which is one o.
the most powerful factors in such vol
canic explosions as that which "bleu
off the cap" of Vesuvius and of Mon
Pelee. After the workmen driven on
by these hot-air blasts had been en-
abled to return to work by the use o
powerful ventilators distributing COLI
air drawn from the outside, and b!
sprays of cold water playing insld'
the tunnel TO keep down the tempera
ture, they continued to work unit
May, 1904, when at depth of three
miles they began to encounter streams
of superheated water, which pourel
into the tunnel from both above ant
below after the blasting.
The presence Of this hot water Ii
the heart of the mountain at such
depth bears directly on point II