The St. Gothard Tunnel Dethroned

The great St. Gothard tunnel, which was begon Oct. 1, 1872, and finished in 1880, is 9i miles in length and cost $196.40 per f oot throughout. At present it is the Titan of all the world's tunnels. "These cannot last forever," however, and by the end of 1895 St. Gothard will be dethroned, the great Simplón tnnnel, now in course of construction, coming in with the title of "largest and longest tunnel in the world." This new claimant for Titanic honors is being built to supersede the famous "route of the Simplón," a road over the mountains which was constructed by the first Napoleon. The Simplón tunnel will be almost onefourth longer than the now celebrated St. Gothard, its total length from opening to opening being, according to expert calculations. 12- miles. In short, it is almost exactly three miles longer than St. Gothard. The old 'route of the Simplón," which wül be practically abancloned when the tunnel is completed, is abont 38 miles in length. At present it takes 12 long hours to cross the Simplón route. When the tunnel is finished, less than a half hour will be