Page:Whymper - Scrambles amongst the Alps.djvu/105

the way in which the waste power of nature has been applied for the reduction of the difficulties of the undertaking. There is not a single steam-engine on the works: everything is done with compressed air, or by hydraulic power. Just one half of the tunnel was driven at the end of October 1866, after more than nine years of labour. The third quarter was finished by the end of 1868,^[1] Unless extraordinary obstacles are encountered, the two ends will probably meet in February 1871;^[2] but it will be long after that date before the tunnel will be used for traffic.^[3]

1. The advanced gallery only.

2. Table showing the Progress of the Advanced Gallery on each side,
   from the Commencement up to 1st November 1869.

   Bardonnêche.

   Modane.

   Total of
   

   the two
   sides per
   annum

   General
   

   Total

   Year.

   Advance
   

   in mètres.

   Total.

   Advance
   

   in mètres.

   Total.

   By manual labour		1857
   		1858
   		1859
   		1860
   		1861
   		1862
   By mechanical means.		1861
   		1862
   		1863
   		1864
   		1865
   		1866
   		1867
   		1868
   		1869

   27	.28		725	.00
   257	.57
   236	.35
   203	.80
   170	.00		5337	.40
   380	.00
   426	.00
   621	.20
   765	.30
   812	.70
   824	.30
   638	.60
   699	.30

   10	.80		921	.00
   201	.95
   132	.75
   139	.50
   193	.00
   243	.00
   "	"		3407	.00
   "	"
   376	.00
   466	.65
   458	.40
   212	.29
   687	.81
   681	.55
   524	.30

   38	.08		1646	.00
   459	.52
   362	.10
   343	.30
   193	.00
   243	.00
   170	.00		8744	.40
   380	.00
   802	.00
   1087	.85
   1223	.70
   1024	.99
   1512	.11
   1320	.15
   842	.10

   Total advance at Bonnêche

   $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$

   6062

   .40

   Total advance at Modane

   $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$

   4328

   .00

   Total advance at both ends

   $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$

   10,390

   .40

   See Appendix for the progress of the work since this date.

3. The railways which will connect the tunnel with existing lines will be difficult and costly works, with numerous tunnels and bridges. A good deal of the heavy work is done on the line between Susa and Bardonneche, but on the French side the works are almost untouched.