The Proposed Observatory at Mount Blanc.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 247, 17 October 1891, Page 3 (Supplement)

The Proposed Observatory at Mount Blanc.

M. Imfeld, the Swiss engineer, who has been engaged to examine the nature of the summib of Mounb Blanc for bhe construction there of M. Jansen's proposed observatory, recounts in a Zurich journal the difficulties which he is experiencing in his preliminary survey. He is staying with eight workmen and two doctors at M. Vallob's observatory, which has an albibude of 4,400 metres, and thence they proceed daily to the summit, whero they work for several hours a day in the endeavour to ascertain the depth of the snow for the purpose of getting the necessary foundation for the building. M. Eiffel has expreesed the opinion that the cohsbruction of an observatory will only bo possible if the snow doas nob exceed a depbh of 12 mebros. M. Imfeld sbabe- bhab they have encountered traces of a ridge of rock 18 or 20 metres below the summit, and covered with one metre of snow. They have therefore comWenced to make a series of lateral tunnels on three sides, at a distance equal to 12 metres below the summit, to ascertain if the ridge extends to that height. Progress is necessarily slow. Most of the men are suffering from mal de montagne. Some, however, who are engaged at M. Vallob's cabin are able to work almost as long as in the valley, and they also cab and sleep well. In spibe of two coke stoves, the thermometer of the cabin never rises above zero; even ink freezes, and water boils at 83 deg., and they cannob properly cook bheir food.