1900.] on the Great Alpine Tunnels. 435 



for a similar result, and therefore placed a sheet of steel on the roof 

 of their drift, so that the tool, when it encountered the steel plate, 

 would simply grind away on the top. 



But, to the mutual surprise of both the engineer of the existing 

 company and of the contractors for the new work, no drill was en- 

 countered, although it had gone to a lower depth than was necessary, 

 some 90 feet. The engineer thereupon lowered, in a foolhardy 

 manner, an explosive charge, and blew in the side of the heading, the 

 tool having meandered several feet to one side. Fortunately no one 

 was hurt, but the engineer was still in ignorance as to what had 

 happened. A bright idea struck him — namely, to lay on the town 

 fire-supply of water down the hole to see if he could fill it. The 

 result was he nearly washed the men away in the heading ! 



Electric Traction. — It is desirable to point out how very necessary 

 it may be, in the case of this and other long tunnels, that electric 

 traction should be adopted. Abundant power close at hand already 

 exists ; the air of the tunnel would not be vitiated — a matter of great 

 importance where briquet fuel is used — and the rapidity of conducting 

 the traffic would be improved. 



In Baltimore an electric locomotive is attached to the through 

 expresses, which takes them through, steam engine and all, at fifty 

 to sixty miles an hour. No stoppage of the express is required at 

 the further end, the electrical locomotive running ahead into a siding ; 

 and some of the very heaviest freight trains, including the locomotive 

 and tender (far heavier than are ever seen in Great Britain), are 

 hauled against a gradient of 1 in 138 at fifteen miles an hour. 



In fact, in England, we are most lamentably backward in the 

 employment of electricity, and unless the Central and the Local 

 Authorities can be aroused from their lethargy, and from their oppo- 

 sition to all such enterprises, England will continue to lag in the 

 rear of other nations, instead of, as in past years, teaching them a 

 more perfect method. 



In conclusion, may I ask for the sympathy, nay more, for a 

 silent prayer on behalf of our tunnel and railway heroes, when we 

 are passing along some of the great railway works of the country, 

 or of the world. 



Need I refer to that young Resident Engineer who, when a length 

 of a certain tunnel during construction through quicksand fell in, 

 burying eleven men, volunteered at the risk of his life, in conse- 

 quence of the men being panic-stricken, to go down the shaft and 

 rebuild the damaged work with his own hands and alone ? And to 

 that ganger who, having held back for a time, seeing that the engineer 

 was determined to do the work, jumped into the bucket with some 

 strong language to the effect " that he wouldn't see the master killed 

 alone," and went down, and they two completed the next length before 

 the men would return to work. 



There are heroes on our railways as there are in our army and 

 navy, and they deserve better recognition. May I plead on behalf 



