PIERCING THE ALPS. NEAR COMPLETION OF A GREAT WORK.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 89, 12 October 1904, Page 5

PIERCING THE ALPS. NEAR COMPLETION OF A GREAT WORK.

[PBESS ASSOCIATION.] (Received October 12, 8.45 a.m.) BERJNE, 11 Ih October. The Simplon Tunnel has been completed, except for 244 metres (about 266 yards). Latterly the work was impeded by boiling springs, but refrigeration was used with success.

The road over the Simplon Pass, 6594 ft high, in the east of the Canton of Valois, Switzerland, was, before the tunnel was projected, considered one of the greatest; engineering achievements of modern times. It was commenced^ in 1800 under the direction of Napoleon, and was completed in 1806, at a cost of £720,000. In its length of 41 milea it is carried across more than s>ix hundred bridges, over numerous galleries cut out of the natural rock, and through large tunnels. Operations on the railway tunnel were commenced near Iselle on 15th August, 1898, but were afterwards contim d from both ends. Though called the Simplon Tunnel, there are two parallel tunnels, each about 12£ miles long, tho distance between them being 57ft, and connections are made every 670 ft. One terminus is at Brieg, in the Rhone valley, and the Italian end is at Iselle. It was estimated that the total cost would be £2,800,000. It was calculated that the Simplon Tunnel could be completed in 5£ years, or in three years' less time than the St. Gothard Tunnel, although the latter is some 15,000 ft shorter than the Simplon. One of the tunnels will be used for railway traffic first, the other, which will be used for ventilation purposes, may be developed .vflenvards. It was calculated that the opening would be in December, 1905, s>o that the work has been earned out with great despatch.