The tribune independent of Michigan. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935, 1934-03-10
BIG CHANGES MADE
ON FACE OF EARTH


ing ErOJectS Onocr way.
Washington. --Outstanding changes
brought about on the face OF the
earth during 1888 by dynamite. steam
shovels. picks and spades. rivetlns
gums" and concrete mixers are
summarized In a bulletin from the
National Geographic society dealing
with the engineering accomplish
ments OF the year. Owing 10 the
pushing forward OF public works In
the United States and a number of
other countries. in an effort To com
bat the economic depression, and 10
threats OF war In other regions, the
bulletin points out. more than the
normal number OF construction prof
ects were under way In all parts
OF the world.
Engineering activity was espe-
cially marked In highway construc.
tion." says the bulletin. I'm the
United States work progressed In MI
the states on more than 5000 sepa
rate bodybuilding projects financed
with public works administration
funds. For the most part. these
projects represented relatively short
stretches OF road experimenting and
improving existing highways.
1.-TWO scenic highways OF more
than local interest we're completed
or brought close to completion:
'Golng-to-the-sun' highway In the
Glacier National park. and the Sky
line Drive along the crest OF sec.
tion of the Blue Ridge mountains In
Virginia.
Railways Shrink In v. s.
"While net railway mileage In
creased In 1893 on several cont
nents. especially Asia. q much great
er mileage was again abandoned In
the United States than was built.
Less than so miles OF new track
was laid In Uncle Sans domain dur
ing the year. while more than 2.4OO
miles was abandoned.
Railways were extended In Chile.
Brazil. Peru. Uruguay Argentina
and Colombia: In Spain and Italy
In French Morocco, Central, South,
and East Africa: In Bulgaria. Yugo
slayin. the Soviet Union. Poland. and
Turkey In China: and in Australia
"One of the most important rail
way projects undertaken during
1898 was the double tracking OF the
Trans Siberian railroad.
Greater railway activity conferred
during the year In Manchuria and
Korea. TO central Manchuria
Famous Aswan dam across the
Nile. $50 miles south of Cairo. had
it's second frightening job com
plotcd during the year II viii now
iinpound more than five billion tons
OF water.
"The 2O-mile dam across the Zul-
der Zee in the Netherlands. the last
gap In which was closed In 1882.
took final shape during 1893, and IN
September Its top was officially
opened to rail and highway traffic
After nearly three years OF ex
cayation and preparation of thu
Boulder dam site on the Colorado
river. the FIRST concrete was poured
June 8. Two years Will be required
to pour the 5,5O0.0OO barrels Of con.
crete that will go into the structure.
by means OF four-mIle highway
bridge. opened April %. Venice be
came more closely connected with
the mainland and for the first time
automobiles were driven to the edge
OF the island city.
"A new bridge across the Hud-
son at Albany was dedicated In Jan.
nary.
Work was started on the two
huge bridges In San Francisco which
are to span San Francisco bay and
the Golden Gate.
tso-Mlle Canal In Russia.
1.-THE Soviet Union completed the
most important artificial waterway
0f the year the Baitic-White Sea
canal. extending for approximately
$50 miles from POvenletz, on Lake
Omega. to Soroka, on the White sea.
II has II locks and Is dams.
AT home. barge service between
New orleans and Chicago was for
mally lnaugurated during the sum
mer on the Lakes to-Gulf waterway.
neteen-thlrty-three saw a con
siderable addition to the worlds
tunnels. In Japan the ave-mlle
ranna railway tunnel was com
pleted after 10 years of work. In
chile completion Of the three mile
Las Ralces tunnel gives direct
rail connection between southern
chile and southern Argentina. Spain
completed o.and-a-half-mlle tun-
mel between Burgos and Madrid. In
Africa 'holng through of the
Mount Bomba tunnel removed the
greatest raIltrafiic obstacle between
Brazzayllle. French Equatorial AZ
rlca, and the Atlantic.
"Subways were extended In three
nf the great cities of the world:
New York, London and Paris; and
opened for the first time In Osaka,
japan. one New York extension
involved the boring OF twin tubes
under East river. Work progressed
rapidly during 1893 on the new sub