and the passengers and trains
in transit, be buried to that depth in the heart of the mountain, but
all idea of shafts, either to facilitate excavation, or to promote
ventilation, must be out of the question. The breath of life itself must
be respired, from either extremity, with artificial aid, in shape of
currents of fresh air transmitted, and of foul air withdrawn, by
mechanical apparatus ever at work, at least during excavation, which is
also itself to be effected by machinery of a new and simple nature,
worked by water-power of mountain streams whereby the trains are also to
be run through the tunnel, which ascends, from the northern or Savoy
side, at Modane, all the way to its exit at Bardonneche, with a gradient
equal to 19 in 1000. The machine, once presented to the rock, projects
into it simultaneously four horizontal series of sixteen scalpels,
working backward and forward, by means of springs cased in, and put in
motion by the same water power. While these are at work, one vertical
series on each side works simultaneously up and down, so that together
they cut out four blocks, or rather insulate four blocks on all sides,
except on the rock behind, from which they are afterward detached by
hand. It has been already ascertained that each of the two machines, at
the opposite ends of the tunnel, will excavate to the extent of 22 feet
a day, and it is estimated that the whole excavation will be completed
in four years. The gallery to be perforated by the machines will be 13
feet wide by 7 feet high, and this once cut through, the bore will be
enlarged by ordinary means to 25 feet in width and 19 feet in height,
and a double line of rails laid. The estimated cost of this great tunnel
is only 13,804,942f. It is to be immediately commenced at the north
entrance."

* * * * *

Medicine has killed as many people as war. Powder and pills are as fatal
as powder and ball. Be careful, therefore, how you allow people to shoot
them into you.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The International Monthly Magazine,
Volume 1, No. 1, August 1850, by Various

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY ***

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