The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-02-08

of the National Geographic So
ciety.
The possibility of rail connec-
tions between points like New Jcr-
sey and Brooklyn. or loading q
freight train in London for a vir-
tually all-rail trip TO Cape Town.
South -Asrica. is more than the
Imagination of the ancients con-
templatcd. a political aspect Of
the latter project is the putting
Of France in direct communication
via Spain. with her colonies in
North Africa.
Europc-to-ifrica by Tunnel?
Though it is probable that the
much discussed tunnel beneath the
English Channel will not material
iZe for some time to come. Il tun-
mel joining the continent of Europe
with Africa. should a study OF the
geological conformation Of the
Mediterranca prove it feasible.
would put France in direct COM
munication through Spain With her
colonies in northern Africa.
Though modern tunnel pro-
jects make the layman gasp 1T the
audacity with which engineers
burrow through >ase-old noun
tains, unmindful Of seemingly i'm
possible barriers, tunnelling has
been known since very early times.
Egyptians, Numidians and
American Indians followed out
underground passages 10 their
tonbs or temples. and early inhabi-
tants on the Euphrates temporar-
lily diverted the waters OF that
mighty river aside while they bor-
ed into the soft ground beneath the
river and walled up the passage
with brick masonry. The Romans
had more pretenIiouS ideas and
eXcavated 5000 foot passa sc
through the Posilipo hills near
Naples.
Human Moles" Pierce Alps.
II U!iislli lIlO1tS !la y lilstut IL ~ No
through the rock-ribbed bases of
the proud Alps. The second pas
sage of the Simplon tunnel, the
longest in the world. Will be open
ed 10 tourist traffic early in 1922.
Thus vii! be given an opportunity
for repairing the first Of these tun-
nels which has, since its opening
in 1905, borne the burden Of t;t.,
travel between France and Italy
through Switzerland. Above the
roof Of this tunnel. the y IL
miles Of which constitute the long
est railway tunnel in the world
rises the Simplon Pass. Napoleon
saw the strategic importance Of
this pass and caused the presen;
carriage road TO be built over it.
The Simplon tunnel was de-
signed With 4 double passage. each.
section Of which measures lG IL
feet wide. bat heretofore only one
has been completed. One interest
ing feature OF the tunnel is tha: il
is straight throughout except for
short curves at the ends where the
tracks through il join those on
the outside. 1.-THE trains, driven
by electricity. pass through it in
about 25 minutes.
4 Route OF so Tunnels.
"One of the most interesting
railroad lines through the Alps is
the Gotthard line with its 50 tun-
nels connecting Switzerland and
Italy. The ST. Gotthard tunnel.
which is between nine and ten
miles long. is older than the Sinlp-
Ion. The chief point Of difference
between the two is in the grade.
The Simplon is driven a. much
lower altitude and consequently
can be used for express service and
can carry freight at Il much low
er figure. The air in the Gotthard
Tunnel is fresh and free from
smoke.
Since the building OF these and
other tunnels through the Alps.
the famous old passes which have
figured so conspicuously in history
are becoming less frequented. ho-
nance still clings TO Mont Gcnevre.
probably crossed hy Hannibal. and
surely by Caesar in IS E. G. and to
Mont Cents. which heard the tread
of the I'rankiSh kings IS. they
marched into Lombardy. Then
there are the little st. Bernard
which Caesar also used. and the
Great ST bernard. famous for its
hospic founded in so. and re-
founded in the eleventh century
by ST. Bernard OF Mention. Which
gave Succor 10 the lost and needy
among the thousands Of pilgrims
who We're on their way TO Rome.
TO uucnch the thirst OF Ncw
York City men now are cutting
their way beneath Il part Of the
Catskill Mountains for almost IS
miles. so that. during The season
Of plenty. 10000. 900 gallons Of
water daily may be diverted from
the Schohayic watershed into the
ASholan reservoir.