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chap. iii.

ANNUAL PROGRESS.

75

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    		 6062 .40
    Total advance at
    Modane    		 4328 .00
    Total advance at
    both ends    		 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.
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