THE SIMPLON TUNNEL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1396, 6 March 1905, Page 3

THE SIMPLON TUNNEL.

The junction of the two approaches in the Simplon Tunnel completes one of the most gigantic engineering works ever undertaken by man. The tunnel was to connect Brieg, in the Rhone Valley, with Iselle on the Italian side of the Alps, and the total length of the excavations was calculated at 12-J miles. The Mount Ceniß tunnel is 74 miles long, and was finished in twelve years, while the St. Gothard is 4297 ft and Mount Cenis 8789 ft above sea level, the altitude of the Simplon is only 2312 ft, and it has thus beon close on .£3,000,000, which is divided between the Swiss Jura Simplon Company and the Swiss and Italian Governments. But the accomplishment of tkiß great engineering feat is a, matter of more than local interest, and will be greeted with satisfaction throughout tbo civilised world. The completion of the tunnel will be hailed with the more gratification because within the last few months the work has been, delayed by obstacles that for the time seemed almost insuperable. By November, 1903, the tunnel from the north side had gone in about 6£ miles, and the tunnel from the Bouth about 4£ miles, leaving only about 1£ miles to be still excavated.

The average rate of progress had been about eight yards a day, and it was then confidently expected that a junction would be made by June, 1904. By December, 1903, however, very serious complications had arisen, and the Swiss experts who then examined the workings expressed the .opinion that December, 1905, might possibly see the completion ‘ of the tunnel. Considering the difficulties and dangers .that have had to be faced, it is wonderful that calculations of this sort should ’turn out to be even approximately correct. The most serious hindrance to the work in its early stages was the'faulty oharaoter of

the rook. Sometimes tho tunnel reached horizontal strata of stonoi which foil in monstrous flnkos, orushing tho timber supports liko paper. It was not till a huge armor-plated caisson supported by heavy iron pillars was constructed for the tunnel that tho work could progress with Bpced or safety! Frequently portions of tho tunnel fell in, maiming or killing workmen and burying tho machinery. Often groat subterranean lakes were tapped, sometimes of ioo-cold water, but often at a boiling temperature ; and it was the sudden irruption of a huge stream of boiling wator and mud into tho workings in September last that threatened to,ruin tho whole vast proieot. The groat pumps already installed were inadequate to carry off tbe influx of wator, and tho rise in the temperature had to bo oountoraeted by special refrigerating machinery. Engineers and gooiogists began to fear that tbe centre of tho mountain' must bo oooupiod by a molten mass that would effectually bar further and it waß even rumored that it had been decided to abandon tbe workings. On tho Italian side tho oxpeoted completion of tbe tunnel had given rise to a “boom ” in lauded property, and an immense amount of building had been ! started on liake Moggiore in anticipation of increased tourist traffio. When tho -news of tho difficulty encountered last year was published, there was a great commercial collapse in North Italy, and the people of Lombardy loudly deolared that they wore ruined. Now, however, there seems to be no 'doubt that the mountain is roally pierced, and the success of tbe project is assured. It was originally proposed to duplicate tho tunnel with a ventilating shaft, but it is quite likely tha‘ the Jura-Simplon-Company will be in olined ro rest content with the greal

triumph already achieved over the mighty forces of Nature in the deepest receaaea of her Alpine borne.— Star.