Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-12-26
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COG MZHZEZ XIII E4Y

are. the St Gotthard Is the greatest Swiss
engineering work. II unites Switzerland
and Italy aud carries the traveller over
a difficult mountain pass. The Romans
built a road here several thousand years
ago. and later this was improved by the
Swiss In summer time travellers went
over the pass 10 coaches; In winter on
sleds But tue road was often covered
high with snow and very narrow. Every
year hundreds were Killed 10y falling
avalanches. or we're blocked with snow
and frozen 10 death This railroad was
projected by the Swiss In 1851. But the
work was not begun until 1871. Three
countries IL Switzerland, Germany and
contributed subsidies TO the amount
OF 10000. 900 francs for the carrying out
OF this great commercial enterprise. Italy
gave 5s.ooo.000 francs. Germany 100000
aud Switzerland 81 ,o0o.0eo. Ar work
was begun by Louis Farce. Swiss en-
gineer. who died Of apoplexy while work
ing In the Tunnel, 1t takes an express
10 minutes to 20 through. and slow
train from 20 minutes to one-haf hour.
There Is Only Que pair Of rails. SO that
trains go only one way and n bell rings
from time TO time ungil the train comes
out. There has never been an accident
nor a stoppage since the tunnel was built.
In the morning the train lenves Lucerne
and is IN Milan by evening. II goes to
Musegg, where II Hscerds site height.
Here II passes through arched tunnels
high above the lake Coming out OF the
tunnels the blue lake appears anew. Next
follows a stretch Of plain between ArtS
and Slemen To the right - the Lake OK
Lomerz and the island OF Sehwanan; 70
the left the strange peaks Of Mytheny
after q short curve round the Reji ana
the lake at the anest point, Brunnen
There is a long ride across the plains with
a view Of the lake to Fluelen. At Erst-
field the great heavy mountain locomotive
is attached and the Alpine Railway be-
gins The mountain engine tugs and puns
ms IL mounts 10 Goschenen. AT this height
the Erstfelden Glacier appears there
leaplng torrents, here foamiBg waters q q
the pleasant fragrance Of deep pine foi
ests Beyond Armsteg he Gotthard enters
funnel TO escape the avaiancbes OF
Brlstenstock At this point the rlyer
appears 20 flow upward; this Is because
the train winds here there and every
where The two most difficult points are
nj Batsherg and the lnefelsberg But
n splendid bridge, wonderful work Ok
railroad engineering. spans that a'Yfal
gan II was here that many Of the most
dreadfui accidents occurred In the middle
ages Beyond Is the Italian frontier.
| IScino has characteristics of Its own
| Green whlripools In the shade OF NOOK
ana wood on the left Monte Protb-O
! bars any exit; on the right are s'Jping
| bills The train sweeps once moe through
| tunnels. then white gorges. alleys ana
| streets appear aud disappear. giving way
/
| Once more Ieciuo Is ftard gurgling. tell
| ing the impatient Traveller he Is approach
! ing Mian with its great cathedral.
| Another handsome railway is over the
| Bernese Mountains. AT first the pain 10
| among lowlands, but soon the mountain
| engine Is attached, and the train mounts
! higher and higher. Below are the val
legs, spotted with pastnring cattle anG
/ swiss chalets Here the people tend TO
! their cattle during the summer, and DO
| wood-car ving In the winter. From Berne
! to Interlaken the train 5 carried across
| valleys until another steep ascent Is made
| and foaming waterfall is heard Ihen
down steep railroad, whence the view
over the Hare Valley IS free ana OPEN
TO Brunig and interaken.
The last Of these great mountaineering
! enterprises Is the YHngfrau Railroad.
! planned by George Ieller lie started
! tho work but died soon after II was be-
| gun The Bernese railroad goes from
Interaken through the lovely valley OF
Santerbrunnen and GrtadetWaH Up lhe
Klenie Schudcgg = he mountain sides are
rlnt vim The Alp roses and other noun
tain flowers II er and sleeper asceuds
mo engine TO the cold fisnie Schudcgg:
a good vantage point for the three sister
mountains Eiger. Monsch and tho
Yungfrau- ROBBED III the pure robes OF
eternal snow
mother mountain engine goes TO the
| Fl.er Glacier where the beaut II fung-
iran peers forth Ia fuIl glory. Another
| suauniue rnilrond has been built to the
Efsmejr. This WIS considered serious
difficulty, for o tunnel had TO be builf
under a glacier. There still remains ons
hours ride, but the question Is answered.
! will tourists be able TO endure the cold
OF those dizzy heights. The cost Of this
| engineering enterprise has been $780,
600 francs, r., sl.3JD. 900, The Swiss have
adorned many their cities with hand
some yiaducts At Berne there Is n splen-
| ala steel btl4ge across the Hare. IL Is
the work Of otto Bonie
The towns Of Geneva, Zurich and LD-
cerne are also adorned with haudsome
| stone bridges.
Herr Roman abb Is one Of the greatest
| Swiss engineers. He has improved the
/ min oogwheel Sylvester March, aud &C
I complished this by making the pins .
part OF the rail- The wheels are caught
three times during a revolution. He did
| this while building a railroad over the
HAIRY. This work was done In -sS5. By
1900 his improved system was used IN
Europe, Japan. Australia. and carried Up
pixies Peak
that they were ab'e to keep down the
water, but that steady work was required.
The aands, therefore, shifted the cargo
| by the sword or horn of a swordhsh. IL
| had passed through the copper sheathtng
OF the ship, through the outer pianklng
| four and half inches in thickness,
through nine inches space between that
and the lining, and then through the IN
ner planking another four and half
! fpchaa thick