THE ST. GOTHARD TUNNEL.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 141, 19 June 1880, Page 3

THE ST. GOTHARD TUNNEL.

The St Gotbiud Tunnel was completed on the last day of February, 1880. Thus the piercing of the longest tunnel in the world has been achieved in seven years and live months—a rapidity of execution quite unprecedented, for relatively to its length the St. (lothardt has been bored in a fourth of the time occupied in the boring of the Ilauenstein tunnel, and in less than half the time taken by to Mout Cenis. Few people have, any ox-, act idea of the hardships of tuntudling. In the present instance it nutans boring through nine miles and a quar'.ei of solid rock. The borings were uomnit-u.'ud in KS7'2, with machinery worked by cmpressed air, nnd operations were carried on from both ends at once. The cost of excavating and funnelling over the 0} miles was sot down in M. Favro's—the architect's—contract at two millions sterling, which may give one some idea of what the Submarine Tunnel between Boulogne nnd Dover will cost, should it ever be attempted. Amateurs of speed in travelling will look upon the completion of the St. Gothnrd Tunnel ns an unmitigated boon. Going from Hale 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 thr/iugh one of the grandest tracts of scenery in Europe. ' Tliov will do in •Jo minutes what used not always to be accomplished in 25 hours, for there were times when blinding snowstorms broke suddenly over that steep and treacherous St. Gothnrd Pass, milking travellers right glad to reach the Monto Rosa hotel at the top, or the Hospico where the benevolence of the Clinton of Ticino has provided hods for tlio poor travellers. The St. Gothnrd Tunnel is a tnilu and two-thirds longor than that of the Mont Cento. From its central point (.'(,77!) feet above tlio sen level) there is a fall towards Gcsoliemm of 6 per 1,000 feat, and towards Airolo of 1 pur 1,000 foot. Altogather it is a stupendous work, and its utility to tlio commercial and travelling classes will be immense.—European Mail.