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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1962-04-05, Page 2Tunnel Costs Great In Money ,And lives Sixteen metal fangs projecting from its three••tiered jaw, the enormous shape moved to the at - tacit hi the dimly lighted. cevern With a roar it bit tato the farce eR the cliff, leaving the imprint of its giant teeth, Then the huge thing retreated. Little ocher -colt ar.'ed figures darted 'about, as if inspecting wounds of battle. The .figures were men in Waterproof clothing. The "mon- ster Was Jumbo, a 75 -tot tunnel- ing machine, mechanically drill- ing its way from France to Italy through tine granite base of Mont Blew' at the rate of 26 feet a day, From the other side of the 15,781 -foot mountain, digging to - warts Fratiee, an Italian team with a 40 -ton boring platform and pneumatic drills eventually will meet the men coming the other way. Every day the 432 tunnelers attacking the mount- ain from Its French flank and the 523 advancing from Italy move 17 yards closer to a new conquest of the Alps. The Mont Blanc tunnel, to be completed sometime in 1964, is one of the most impressive en- gineering projects currently un- der way anywhere in the world, To build 7,25 miles of two-lane highway under Western Europe's highest motuttein, the French and Italians will have to remove 1,308,000 cubic yards of rock — enough to lay a granite sidewalk completely around the earth, But though the cost of the under- taking is high — at least $40 million — the achievement will be immense. When the Mont Blanc tunnel is complete, the autostrade of Italy will be con- nected directly with the French autoroutes and German auto- bahns north of the Alps. The drive from Paris to Route, which now must skirt the snow -block- ed Alpine passes six or seven months of the year and follow the winding 1,000 -mile route al- ong the Riviera, will be shorten- ed by 125 miles and about one- fifth the usual driving time. Stimulated by the prospect of increased trade resulting from the Common Market, France and Italy agreed in 1.957 to construct and administer the tunnel joint- ly. The Swiss canton of Geneva contributed 10 per cent of the capital and named two directors to both the French and Italian tunnel -building companies. Gen- ova will benefit directly be- cause the Mont Blanc auto route will be the first to take heavy trucks from Switzerland to the nearest port at Genoa, Tunneling under the Alps, however, costs not only money but Iives. The older Swiss tun- nels, the St. Gotthard and the Simplon. which handle only rail traffic, took a toll of 260. So far, the French crews have lost five men in digging almost -3 miles into Mont Blanc: the Italians have lost four in digging a lit- tle more than 2 miles. "It's a war," says Italian en- gineer Silvano Ricceri. "We de- clared war on this mountain and we intend to keep on letting it have it until we can shake hands with them Frenchmen coming our way:' Of :he two nanous attacking. Mont Beane. the Italians are fated by _geelept to stiffer the brunt cf she battle. Almost from the beginning they have encoun- tered treatheeroue labs ea clay- like rock which crumble as the pressure of eons -old solidity is di:embed.. Be.atese the mountain origira:ed with an upheaval ten; the south that pushed the harder trek mass to the north, the dangereus `sults are far more numerous on the Italian side. They ar sou ere their presence nett: slsr'.'• explosions that drop etas:ve hunks of granite to the unnei floor, These blast, often ,:re followed by flokis of icy- water cywater bursting from Mont Blanc'e underground ressetvoire. S ix months age, one such wildtor- rent caught up a long metal bar and trove it `Bike a spear through IT'S PAINLESS — Sandra In- grrsana demansttotes new de- vt:e copble of making a coma pie e r'e t al X-ray in only one r, the chest orf Mince Gee:wive De Eakin, 60 deet away. 't "be bar was one of thousands 'theItalians are bolting to -the tunnel's 'ceiling, like disarrayed corset ribs, to hold Unstable rock in place, Before the surface is lined with concrete, the restrain- ed but continuing rockfall is naught in a heavy metal netting hung under the "corset." This inside lacing is frequently pre-, ceded by temporary timber work erected in waist -deep water and, 81 -degree heat. Recently, an un- derground river suddenly burst through the rock at the rate of 300 gallons per second, adding to floods already channeled into run-offs along the tunnel floor, Itis an eerie world inside the tunnel, In cold weather, a thick white inlet stuffs the tunnel mouths like loose eotton. For the first 500 yards, warm tunnel air hitting sub -zero air coming in from outside condenses and cov- ers everything with a mountain dew, Because of the deafening noise inside the tunnel, all talk is by hand and lamp: tip and down for Yes, crosewise for No, "The Sicilians have it over every- one," engineer Riceeri explained. "They're born talking with their hands," The key tactic in the Italian attack on themountain is the valeta — the ten-hour unit of work required to drill, charge, fire, and then clean up after an explosion. On the Italian side, the fuochino — roan of fire — is Giovanni Carnevale It is he who drives down the plunger that ex - pieties the charge. Just before he fires, an assistant steps out of .a hut and blows a trumpet that sounds like the mating call of a goat, Despite the geological frustra- tions, the Italian advance has re- cently picked up to a rate of 8 or 9 yards a clay. Chief engineer Virginia Scavarda estimates that "we'll be drinking French wine and they'll be drinking ours in eight or nine months." Between the tunnelers on the two sides of the mountain, there are disagreements about the equipment and tactics being used. "The French have had the good luck to run into granite and not water and crumbling rock," engineer Scavarda pointed out. Nor do the Italians think much of the $500,000 Jumbo. "Let the French bring that ma- chine and their boasts over here," seid miner Salvatore Marocco, "and they'll be buried." Among the French tunnelers, there is respect for the Italians and understanding for their dif- ficulties. "Let's get one thing straight," says Andre Gervais, the French project boss. "We're not racing the Italians. You don't treat building a tunnel like a football game," Gervais never- theless wonders if the Italians would do better if they had elec- tric trains like his instead of diesel equipment, "If I had just one of their diesels in the tun- nel," he says, "I couldn't get a French workman to g: inside no matter what we did to ventil- ate the pine." —Front NEWSWEEK Takes Half A Day To Wind His Clocks If you want to know the time, and you live in the Isle of Man, then don't bother to ask a palfee- man. Suet drop into the public house which Mr. James Tullech keeps in Victoria Street, Doug- las. For what is surely :he biggest and mos: curlcue cei:ection of darks in the C.ourtry can be feted there — and carefully wound, ticking over the se onds and telling the right time. It takes Mr. Tul:och more than half a day to wind his clocks. He is not content just to collect clocks, he makes them, too. One of his creations is fash- ioned with a group of Tourist Trophy motor cyclists circling round and round, each one bear- ing on bis back a number which indicates the time oe day or night On on the ceiling of his bed- room, he has the dial of a work- ing clock which he lights up with the ftiek of a switch on the bedherd. In Mr. Tullocb's prized collec- tion is a clock nearly 100 years old which gives the day. month and year as well as telling the time. It also gives a pretty ac- curate weather forecast. Then there is a clock with fingers which move backwards. Side by side with it is another, constructed like an owl with great illuminated eyes which squint in sinister fashion et a quarter to three. Some of his quaint clocks any worked by springs; others are electrically operated But pete haps the oddest of all fs a tante- piece nearby 400 years old which still keeps perfect time. It is a water clock — one of a type net ;rade today -- and you just gist* it a drisik when it neede wind- ing. Mr. Tullore claims that he has a clock for every day of the PRIME MOVER—Nick Young, 4, uses his pet terrier to turn o park merry-go-round in Chessington, England. 1;. 1 TABLE TALKS ,i dare Andrews If breakfast always means oat- meal to you, there are delicious ways of varying it so you can enjoy it with a' different flavor every morning, says a writer in the Christian Science Monitor. Have you tried using honey in- stead of sugar, or maple syrup, or jam, or brown sugar, or cin- namon sugar instead of plain white sugar? Chopped dried prunes or dates are good as a topping, too, as are stewed prunes or apricots. w * * For, of course, you're not obliged to have hot oatmeal for breakfast, although enjoyment of this popular hot cereal doesn't preclude your having oatmeal la- ter in the day as cake or cookies. Here are two recipes in the des- sert category: OATMEAL CRISPIES al cup sifted enriched flour 14 teaspoon soda cup shortening (must be room temperature) / cup brown sugar IA cup granulated sugar l teaspoon salt 1 egg 3e teaspoon vanilla 11.4 cups 3 -Minute oats le cup chopped nut meats Sift together flour, salt, and soda into bowl. .Add shortening, sugars, egg, and vanilla. Beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Fold in oats and nutmeats. Shape dough into rolls, wrap in waxed paper, and chill thor- oughly, Slice 14 -inch thick and place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake in moderate even (350° F.) 10 to 12 minutes. a a For an unusual and tasty des- sert, prepare this special oat- meal cake for your family. OATMEAL CAKE 1/ cups boiling water 1 cup 3 -Minute oats 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white sugar t_ cup shortening 2 beaten eggs 11 cups sifted flour 1 teaspoon soda la teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon Stir oats into boiling water. Let stand 20 minutes, Cream short- ening with brown and white su- gar, Add 2 beaten eggs,' Sift to- gether flour, soda, salt, and cin- namon, Add creamed mixture, then add oatmeal mixture. Bake in 71/2 inch by 12 Inch cake pan, 325° F., 35-40 minutes: - TOPPING sea cup butter to cup brown sugar Y4 cup cream 1 cup chopped pecans 1 cup flaked coconut 1, teaspoon vanilla. Melt ingredients t o g e t h e r. Spread on cake as it comes from oven. Place under broiler ap- proximately 10 minutes or until coconut browns, . r And here' are some good sand- wich ideas using several differ- ent types of cheese: Blue and Swiss: Blue crumbled between ham and Swiss cheese slices gives new treatment for an old favorite—ham and Swiss on rye. Place on mustard -but- tered rye bread and garnish with lettuce, Brick: For a different grilled cheese, .use thick slices of Brick topped with sauerkraut on but- tered. pumpernickel and grilled. Cream: Make dainty tea sand- wiches by combining cream cheese with chopped salted alm- onds or chopped ripe olives or chopped dates or orange marma- lade. Cut into fancy shapes. For those who enjoy the fun of a fondue party, here's a recipe for a dunking fondue: SWISS DUNKING FONDUE 8 egg yolks le pound grated Swiss -type cheese 5 ounces butter et cup cream Salt, pepper, grated nutmeg In a flameproof casserole or chafing dish mix the egg yolks and cheese with a dash of salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste. Place over very low heat and, stirring constantly, add the but- ter bit by bit , When it thickens, add the cream, stir until well blended, then bring at once to the table to keep warns over a very tow flame; do not allow to cook. This can be eaten with French -type bread to dunk or slices of fried toast can be dunk- ed into the pot, Noted Carrie! Driver llack Horne Again Ivisited a femme man of Paki- stan recently, Camel driver Ba- shir Ahmad and his family en- tertained me in then one -room straw, shack in the tiny refugee village of Chatai path Mosgood across the railroad tracks on the outskirts of Karachi. His camel pawed the ground In a place of honor in the center of the "compound" made up of dozens of similar straw shacks housing some 1,000 people, Bashir's two little sons, wear - lug short tunics, played near the place where the camel was teth- ered on the rough dusty grouizd close by the shacks. His oldest son, 17, had just come from a school he attends outside the vi'1 rage. Bashir was wearing the same typical heavy Pakistan cap and buttoned -up -to -the -neck coat he had on in every picture that was made of him in the United States. His famous smile beneath the fierce mustache was still wide. Apparently the publicity of his visit to Vice -President Lynde•n B. Johnson, and his subsequent tri- umphant tour of the United States have not spoiled him at all. True, as he confided, he had been made President of the refu- gee village since his return after a conference with held by all the elders of that tiny shack town. A- half dozen. village women had already gathered protective- ly around Mrs. Bashir who was hiding behind a straw stack, Many Moslem women fear being photographed. Slowly she peeked ' up over the top of the straw, one dark eye showing beneath her veil. Bashir's small daughter Ima- man, 5,clung to her father's knee shrinking back when anyone looked at her. Apparently gaining confidence, Mrs. Bashir finally emerged and smiled. Rather reluctantly Bashir in- vited me into his home, since his wife had never yet allowed any- one to visit. I promised I wouldn't snap any pictures, He led me into the dark Iittle en- closure, scarcely bigger than a large closet.— The one piece of `furniture was a big bed with ropes stretched across but no mattress or pad of any kind, writes Helen Waterhouse in the Christian Science Monitor. Swinging over the led was Bashir's apparently prized pos- session . , a Pan American World Airways bag! Bashir has turned down the Pakistan Government's offer to build him a house in another better section of the city, a far more pretentious home than the one with the pole roof and straw sides he now owns. "I told them I would not move from here unless they will move this entire village," Bashir ex- plains through an interpreter. Small girls wearing bright veils led me to the store where the Bashirs do their shopping. We stopped to talk to a native barber seated outside a shop clippingthe hair of a man sit- ting cross-legged on the ground in front of him, "Bashir was alvaye a big thinker," the barber told us, implying that Bashir was always looked on as a "smart man" by his fellow villagers even though he never had a day of sohooling: Tee idea some report- ers raised that he might have been coached for his famous trip is unthinkable, they said, "He just used his native Wit and charm," one well-to-do Indian in. Karachi told me; Bashir confided that in the "good six months" of a year, he makes the equivalent of about $90 to $100 a month by ,meeting the nearby trains with his camel cart and takixrg consignments of freight to the various shops and hotels M Karachi, which pay him for his services. He has had sev- eral offers of jobs since his Unit- ed States visit, including one as a watchman at a hotel but so far has Made no decisions. .barto, Shah, a taxi driver, de- scribed best the reactions of other camel drivers to Bashir's trip to America. "Bashir will al- ways be a very rich man," said Shah, also a philosopher at heart. "I do not mean rich in money, however," he hastened to explain. "His wealth will lie in the fact "' evet+yone in the world will trust him from now on." The taxi man added, "We taxi drivers get to know people very well. I myself, have driven a king and some of your senators in my cab. But Mr, Johnson was the first big pian who came here and looked down at a common man and made him happy. "But Bashir is still the same humble man he always was. , He will never change," he added. Only two types of mammals lay eggs: the duckbill and the. spiny anteater, the animal _ with the long tongue. WAY OUT—A perpetual ava- lanche is what takes place at the Suuth Williamsport home of Sumuel Bruno, The snow melts, slides out to 24 feet and hangs on the roof sus- pended before dropping. ISSUE 12 — 1962 s4r— L Tene 0 • Orlcamille Medea 0 8oghori 280,000 *Mascara \\ Tiaret f{eRourt • Tit trcee • Sedeau • EI- Attcha 300,000 • Pouf.Cozelles pe zoite / B,augie 70,oC0 CanstonflPhilipne 0eYill • Souk •- Setif 80000 Aires Bordj `N Bou-Arreridj � • Batne Tet este 1 Biskra \w • Djel(e Bir -el -Ater A(1ou Meth/tie f G;r}rilte PORTUGAL A;, Seitz • SPAiN Atlantic Ocean 1dy ITALY GREECE Meditarrsncan try Saa aConcentration of Europeort Population 0 industry Oil Pipelines Got Pipelines )' iron Ore C) Ports ALGERIA TURKEY LIBYA ALGERIA: L Alli, PEOPLE. RESOURCES—A 1 g e r f a Stretches . for 650 miles along the :,iediterranean Sea between Morocco and Tuniafc. Annexed by France in 1842, it has been the scene of blood and death during 71/2 -year-long revolt by Arab nationalists. As Newsmaap Shows, more than half of the one million Europeans, mostly born in Algeria, live in the five largest cities. UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC Newsntap Moslems number over nine million. Industry and coin- mer°ce, as well as population, nro largely concentrated its the coastal regions, Algeria extends inland about 35(t relies. beyond are I'erattce's Saharan Departmentswhere extensive oil deposits are being deVdloped, Indications r,.v that the imminent hence agreement between Franca and Algeria will include sharing of this Vahgable reseurcee.