Some Tunnelling Feats 59 



lives are forgotten, whilst those who were 

 the opposite are remembered, and even 

 receive the affix " Great " to their names- 

 Napoleon for example. 



Before any of these magnificent tunnels 

 were started upon which pierce the Alps, 

 and give direct rail connection between 

 France, Germany, Switzerland with Italy, 

 and other countries lying south of these 

 ranges, a tremendous amount of careful 

 surveying had to be undertaken. 



To the average person it seems quite 

 impossible that a long tunnel through moun- 

 tain ranges can be started from both ends 

 and then meet within a fraction of a foot 

 within the heart of a great peak. How can 

 the engineer, without actually walking over 

 the peak a feat often quite impossible 

 be sure that his two tunnels will meet and 

 not miss each other by yards, if not by 

 miles ? 



He would answer, " By careful calcula- 

 tions made with compass and theodolite 

 and checked over and over again to ensure 

 their correctness. " Even so it seems some- 



