COMPLETION OF MOUNT ST. GOTHARD TUNNEL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 116, 15 May 1880, Page 2

COMPLETION OF MOUNT ST. GOTHARD TUNNEL.

The St. .Gothard Tunnel was completed on the last day pi . February, 1880. . Thus the piercing of the longest tunnel in the world has been achieved in seven years and five months -r-a rapidity of execution quite unprecedented, for relatively to its length the St. Gochard has been bored in a fourth of the time occupied in the boring of the Hauenstein tunnel, and in less than half the time taken by the Mont Cenis. Pew people have an exact idea of the hardships of the tunnelling. In the present instance it means boring through nine miles, and a quarter, of solid rock. The borings were commenced in 1872, with machinery worked by compressed air, and operations were carried on from both ends at once. The cost of excavating and tunnelling over the 9£ miles was set down in M. Eavre's ( the architect's) contract at two millions sterling, which may give, one some idea of what the submarine tunnel , between Boulogne arid Dover will cost, should it ever be attempted. Advocates of speed in travelling will look upon the completion of the St. G-othard tunnel as an unmitigated boon. Going from Bale to' Milan they will be spared the jolt by diligence or by sleigh, according to season,' between Bellinzona and Lugano, and will have the satisfaction of passing in the dark through one of the grandest tracts qt scenery in Europe. They will do in 25 minutes what used not. .always to be accomplished: in 25 hours, for there . were times when blinding , snqwatorms broke suddenly over , that steep and treacherous Sfc G-othard Pqss, making

travellers right gldd to meet the Monte Hosa Hotelat the top, onthe. Hospit;^ where the benovoleace bfrtlie: canton 'of Ticino has/ provided' beds for. .the-ipoo^ travellers.. ' The St GtothawL Tunneliis a mile iahd fito-thirds longer) than that of the MontCenisi Erom its; central point (3779 feefcrabove ithe -sea; level) there .is a fall towards : Airolo of 1 per 1000 feet -Altogether dt is a stapende ous work,! and its utility to the- (commercial and ' trdvelling , classes , will immense; ', The whole of ; the: ; workmen* engaged in the tunnel; have been pre> sentedfwith a medal. The size ; ,of the medal is> about, that of a fire-franc piece. On one Bide,*withina!wreath).of bay. leaves, is the date of the completion of the tunnel, : f,* March, 188Q," surr rounded by the words "<Ai favor^nti altrafoto del Gottardoi— (T6!th6;W.orkmen engaged in: tunnelling ; the St; Got r hard.) On the other side are the arms of the three participating States, • tqgether with their . names-— Germania, Helvetia, and Italia— and underneath •the words " Viribus unitisJ'u < .■.■M-.-.-X