Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1907-01-10

avnlanches, or we're blocked with snow
and frozen to death. This railroad wak
projected by the Swiss in 1851. But the
work was not begun until 1871. Three
countries - Switzerland, Germany and
Italy-contributed subsidies to the amount
OF 110,OOO0OO francs for the carrying out
Of this great commercial enterprise. Italy
gave $4,000, 900 francs, Germany 100000
and Switzerland 100000. The worA
was begun by Louis Farce. q Swiss en-
gneer. who died Of apoplexy while work
ing In the tunnel. 1t takes an express
10 minutes to go through, and a slow
train from 20 minutes to one-half hour.
There is only one pair Of rails, so that
trains go only one way, and a bell rings
from time to time until the train comee
out. There has never been an accident
nor a stoppage since the tunnel was built
In the morning the train leaves Lucerno
and IS IN Milan by evening. IL goes to
Musegg. where It ascends quite a height.
Here Il 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 Arth
and slemen. To the right is the Lake Of
Lomerz and the island Of schwanan; to
the left the strange peaks Of Mythen,
after a short curve round the Rel and
the lake at the finest 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 rugs and puffs
as Il mounts to Goschenen. At this height
the Erstfelden Glacier appears: there
leaplng torrents, here roaming waters and
the pleasant fragrance OF deep pine Tor
ests Beyond Armsteg the Gotthard enters
n unnel to escape the avalanches OF
Bristenstock. At this point the river
arpears to flow upward; this is because
the train winds here, there and every
where. The two most difficult points are
at Batsberg and the Inefelsberg. But
/ n splendid bridge, a wonderful work OF
railroad engineering, spans that awful
gap Il was here that many OF the most
dreadful accidents occurred In the middle
ages. Beyond Is the Italian frontier
Iecino has characteristics Of Its own
/ Green whirlpools IN the shade Of nook
ann wood On the left Monte Prothno
bars any exit; on the right are sloping
hirs. The train sweeps once more through
tunnels, then white gorges, valleys ana
streets appear and disappear, giving way
to mountain slopes and mulberry trees.
once more Iecino is heard gurgling tell
ing the impatient traveller he Is approach
Ing Milan with its great cathedral
Another handsome railway is over the
Bernese Mountains. At first the pain IN
among lowlands, but soon the mountain
engine Is attached, and the train mounts
higher and higher. Below are the val
leys, spotted with pasturlng cattle ana
Swiss chalets. Here the people tend 70
their cattle during the summer, and DO
wood-carving in the winter From berne
to Interiaken the train is carried across
valleys, until another steep ascent IS maoe'
and a foaming waterfall is heard. Then
down a steep railroad, whence the vie"
over the Hare Valley is free and open
to Brunig and Interlaken-
A more recent construction Is the Enga-
dine Railroad, which goes from Ihuois 10
Coire, and then to St. Morltz and fontre-
sena. 1t is the work OF Mr.. Henning'
and was completed only three years ago
It was started as a private enterprise
but the company did not have the money
to complete It, and so the work was
taken nm by the government. Until this
time the coach road was the only means
/ Of access 10 the Engadine- From Core 20
St Moritz the ascent Is steep. Inc rali-
road IS carried zig-zag up the mountain
sldes through several tunnels and across
gaming ravines The two viaducts the
Schmittenobel viaduct on the left, and
the great MISUNDERSTANDING, between At
rensen ana Filisne on the right. The last
makes an ascent Of 20 degrees, and, with
a sharp curve, spans great gap anu GU
ters tunnel Of PIT meters. The one on
the left Is 140 meters long, and II Is oun'
at a height OF 35 meters
The last of these great mountaineering
enterprises Is the Yungfrau hailrono,
planned by George zeher. BE started
the work but died soon after II was De
gun. The Bernese Railroad goes from
Interlaken through the lovely valley OF
Santerbrunnen and Grindelwald up the
Klenie Schudegg. The mountain Sides are
mink with the Alp roses and other noun
tain flowers Ter and sleeper ascends
the engine TO the cold Klenie Schudegg;
GOOD vantage point for the three sister
mountains-the Eiger, Monsch and the
Yungfrau-robed In the pure robes Oh
eternal snow.
Another mountain engine goes to the
Figer Glacier where the beaut-- al Aung-
fran peers forth 10 full glory Another
spanning railroad has been built TO the
Eismeir. This was considered serious
difficulty, for a tunnel had to be ouls
under a glacier There still remains Que
hours ride. but the question is answered,
viii tourists be able to endure the coiu
Of those dizzy heights The cost OF tnla
encIroprina enterprise has been o,ouo''
600 francs. or 81 300. 600 The swiss nave
adorned many a. their cities Win hhhu'
some viaducts. At Bene there rs splen.
did steel bridge across the h"'e' IL
the work of Otto Bonlc.
The towns OF Geneva, zurich and Lu
corne are also adorned with handsome
, stone bridges
Herr Roman Abt is one OF the greatest
Swiss engineers. lie has Improved tn'
hin coewheel O.. Sylvester March, ana &C
complished this by making the pins d
part OF the rail. The wheels are causn
three times during q revolution. He &c
This while building a railroad over tho
, Inrz. This work was done In .es5. BY
1900 his improved system was used IL
. Europe. Japan, Australia, and carried al
J Pixies Peak.
. These are only a few OF the many rail-
I road constructions but they are enough
, TO show thar the Swiss have conquered
! their dauntless mountains by building tun
7 nels, claiming gaps and ascending thu
I steepest heights with mountain engines.