Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1934-02-01
BIG CHANGES MADE
ON FACE OF EARTH
1888 Sees Great Engineering
Projects Under Way.

brought about on the face of the earth
during 1888 by dynamite, steam SHOW
els, picks and spades, riveting gums.
and concrete mixers are summarized
in bulletin from the National Geo,
graphic society dealing with the engi-
neering accomplishments Of the year.
Owing to the pushing forward Of pub
lie works in the United States and a
number Ct other countries, in an effort
to combat the economic depression.
and to 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 especially
marked In highway construction" says
the bulletin. "In the United States
work progressed in all the states on
more than 5000 separate bodybuilding
projects financed with public works
administration funds. For the most
part, these projects represented rel
atively short stretches Of road supple
menting and improving existing high
ways.
1.-Two scenic highways of more than
local interest were completed or
brought close to completion: Going
to-the-Sun' highway in Glacier Nation
al park. and the Skyline Drive along
the crest Of a section of the Blue Ridge
mountains in Virginia.
Railways Shrink in U. S.
"E'hile net railway mileage in
creased II 1888 on several continents,
especially Asia. much greater mile
age was again abandoned in the Unit.
ed States than was built. Less than
so miles of new track was laid in
Uncle Sans domains during the year,
while more than 2,4O0 miles was aban.
doned.
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. Yugoslavia,
the Soviet Union. Poland, and Turkey !;
in China and In Australia.
"One of the most important railway
projects undertaken during 1888 was
the double-tracking Of the TRANSIT
berian railroad
Greatest railway activity centered
during the year in Manchuria and
Korea, to central Manchuria.
Famous Aswan dam across the Nile.
$50 miles south of Cairo, had it's Sec
ond heightening job completed during
the year. 1t will now impound more
than five billion tons of water.
THE 20-mile dam across the Zuider
Zee in the Netherlands, the last gap
in which was closed in 1882. took final
shape during 1888. and in September
its top was officially opened to rail
and highway traffic.
after nearly three years of exca.
walton and preparation of the Boulder
dam site on the Colorado river. the
first concrete was poured June 6. Two
years will be required to pour the
5,500,000 barrels of concrete that will
go into the structure.
by means of a four-mile highway
bridge, opened April 25, Venice be-
came more closely connected with the
mainland. and for the first time auto
mobiles were driven to the edge of the
island city.
"A new bridge across the Hudson
at Albany was dedicated In January.
Work was started on the two huge
bridges in San Francisco which are
to span San Francisco bay and the
Golden Gate
15o-Mile Canal in Russia.
"The Soviet Union completed the
most important artificial waterway of
the year-the Baltic-White Sea canal
extending for approximately $50 miles
from Povenletz. on Lake Omega, to
Soroka. on the White sea. 1t has II
locks and Is dams.
"At home, barge service between
New Orleans and Chicago, was formal.
ly inaugurated during the summer on
the Lakes-to-Gulf waterway.
"Nineteen-thirty-th saw a consid-
cradle addition to the worlds tunnels.
In Japan the five-mile Tanna railway
tunnel was completed after 16 years
Of work. In Chile, completion of the
three-mile Las Races tunnel gives a
direct rail connection between south
ern Chile and southern Argentina
Spain completed two-and-a- half-mile
tunnel between Burgos and Madrid.
In Africa, 'holing through Of the
Mount Bomba tunnel removed the
greatest rail-traffic obstacle between
Brazzavllle, French Equatorial Africa,
and the Atlantic.
"Subways were extended in three
Of 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 Dor.
ing of twin tubes under East river.
Work progressed rapidly during 1898
on the new subway system for Mos.
cow"