ON ROADS AND BRIDGES. 129 



its steep side, crossing in a depression on the top on to a higher ridge, 

 so that, while the carriage winds slowly np the heavy grade, the nim- 

 ble pedestrian can scramble up the hill from angle to angle of the road 

 and reach the top much sooner. 



"O'er the Simplon, o'er the Spliigen winds 

 A path of pleasure. Like a silver zone, 

 Hung about carelessly, it shines afar, 

 Catching the eye in many a broken link, 

 In many a turn and traverse as it glides; 

 And oft above and oft below appears, 

 Seen o'er the wall by him who journeys up, 

 As if it were another, through the wild 

 Leading along he knows not whence or whither; 

 Yet, though its fairy course go where it will, 

 The torrent stops it not; the rugged rock 

 Opens and lets it in, and on it runs, 

 Winding its easy way from clime to clime, 

 Through glens locked up before."* 



The carriage roads of Switzerland are extremely interesting from the 

 great difficulties which were frequently met in their location, and from 

 the ingenuity with which these difficulties have been overcome, to say 

 nothing of picturesque and in many cases wild scenery by which they 

 are surrounded. 



The Simplon, built by Napoleon in 1800 — 1806, M. Ceard chief engi- 

 neer, is the oldest and the most famous of these roads. The length of 

 the mountain division of it, between Brieg and Domo d'Ossola, is about 

 forty-eight miles, and in this distance there are 611 stone bridges, ten 

 galleries or tunnels, some cut out of the solid rock and others built of 

 masonry, to protect the road against avalanches, besides the retaining 

 walls and other necessary structures along the line. It has a width of 

 twenty-five to thirty feet, a maximum grade of one in twelve, and cost 

 about $25,000 per mile. At one time more than 30,000 men were 

 engaged upon it at the same time. Mont Caris, by the Chevalier 

 Fabbroni; the Spliigen, by Donegani; the St. Gothard, by Miiller; 

 the Bernadin, by Pocobelli; the Stelvie, by Donegani, are all of the 

 same class of roads and are highly interesting to the student of engi- 

 neering. Their summits are all more than 6,500 feet above the sea/.. 

 In this country a very interesting road is now being constructed up 

 one of the flanks of Mount Washington, in New Hampshire. It starts 

 from the Glen House and keeps a nearly regular grade, with here and 

 there short levels for resting the horses. It winds up the side of the 

 mountain without encountering any great difficulties, and will, when 

 finished, afford an easy carriage route to the summit, an elevation of 

 more than 6,000 feet above the sea. 



'Rogers' Italy. 



