eurasia(优雷夏)-第5节
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through synetic granite and encountered very little water； and when we
were about to break through at the summit we provided the workmen with
fur clothing； and with air respirators； so that they would not be overcome
by the cold and rarety of the atmosphere。 We had a car driven by
electricity to carry the men and material into the tunnel； having four
cogwheel drivers on each side； and the tunnel throughout was lighted by
electricity。 We built the observatory of composition metal and glass； which
was carried up on the car…but come along and you shall see for yourself。〃
We entered an observatory car that was run by its own dynamo but in
case of the dynamo giving out a trolley wire overhead… could furnish
power any moment。 After a pleasant ride of an hour's duration we came
out of the tunnel into the observatory and I saw two magnificently
mounted telescopes； one for visitors to look through and the other one for
taking photographic views。 I looked through the visitors' telescope and to
my astonishment the sun was blue and when I asked one of the
astronomers present the reason for it he replied that the sun was a great
dynamo and that the dazzling brightness seen at low altitudes was caused
by our atmosphere offering like the filament in an incandescent lamp great
resistance to the electric energy of the sun producing a brilliant glow and
if you were able to go outside the atmosphere of our earth you would only
see the sun as a dark body in space and you would find yourself in
absolute darkness and eternal silence。 Night fell and when I looked again
through the telescope and gazed on the countless hosts of heaven's
millions of suns there came into my mind and I repeated aloud that noble
passage in the Bible； 〃The heavens declare the glory of God and the
firmament showeth his handiwork。 I remarked to the Chief Engineer as we
went down to the station； that a great many people visited the observatory；
for I had looked in the visitors' book； where every person was required to
sign his name。 He replied； 〃Yes； if a private company owned it； it would
make the stockholders wealthy； for it has become to the globe…trotters
what Mecca is to the Mohammedans for no tourist would dare to return
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home without registering at the observatory and we encourage them by
publishing their names in the National Gazette。
〃If you would like to accompany me I think I can show you another
work we are engaged in that is adding to the accumulated knowledge of
the ages。〃 I gladly assented and after ten days of railway travel we arrived
at the great platinum mine of Eurasia。 It was on the continental divide
between Europe and Asia and had been worked on a small scale at the
surface for a great many years； but had not produced much platinum and
owing to an increasing demand for it in the arts the value of it greatly
exceeded that of gold； while at the present time it is on a par with silver；
owing to the government selling it in the market of the world for what it
will bring and smashing any gambling ring that would attempt to corner
the market。 We entered a cage and were lowered to the one thousand…foot
level； then we got out of the cage and； walking about twenty yards； we
entered a chamber where there was another shaft and hoisting works and
were lowered to the two…thousand foot level； which opened out in every
direction； connecting with a drainage tunnel eight miles long； which
carried off all the water for sixteen square miles of surface。 After
explaining to me the old methods of mining he said with a smile： 〃Come
with me now and I will show you our new method；〃 and entering a large
chamber that looked like an immense warehouse； we stepped into a cage
and went down； changing from one cage to another every thousand feet；
until we stopped at the sixty…four…thousand…foot level。 We visited several
crosscuts and drifts on this level and found several hundred men at work
taking out platinum ore of a high grade； and my companion told me that
they were doing the same work on several other thousand…foot levels； the
ore improving in quality as they went down。 〃You no doubt observed as
we came down that the shaft was circular； but you may not have seen a
second shaft of the same diameter as the hoisting shaft forty feet away。
The second shaft is used for air pipes； water pipes and insulated electric
wires。
All the electric current to run the hoists and the compressed air to drive
the drilling machines and to maintain free circulation of air throughout the
workings； comes down that shaft and all the surplus water is pumped up it
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to the two…thousand…foot level； where it is carried off by the drainage
tunnel and a complete system of escape ladders…besides at every level is a
hoisting engine and cage to take the workmen up if danger threatens them。
To insure an even temperature in the mine we keep a supply of liquid aid
on every level； which is renewed daily； connecting the liquid air chest with
the pipe that supplies fresh air to the workings。 No expense is spared in
taking care of the health and safety of the workmen and if a man gets sick
or injured he gets the same pay as if he is working； and if a workman gets
killed his wife receives the same pay that he received as long as she lives；
and his children are as well provided for by the government。 None but
married men are employed and there is lively competition to secure
employment with us。〃
He informed me that they sank the shaft with rotary drilling machines；
cutting a channel one inch wide and five feet in depth； leaving a core nine
feet ten inches in diameter in which four holes were drilled four feet six
inches in depth and loaded with a new explosive as powerful as dynamite
but without its injurious fumes and perfectly safe to handle at any
temperature。 They averaged in sinking twelve feet daily and as they went
down the rock became more compact and finer grained。 As there were no
hot springs in the vicinity and no signs of volcanic action even in
prehistoric times； the temperature of the rock even at the sixty…four…
thousand…foot level was only one hundred and twenty degrees Fahrenheit；
and any increase of temperature in the workings was owing to the electric
light generating heat in the dense atmosphere of the lower levels。 My
companion invited me to weigh myself on the ore scales and to my
astonishment I only weighed one hundred and twenty pounds； and I
exclaimed that something was wrong with the scales； but my companion
offered to take the scales up with us to the surface and test them。 We did
so and on weighing myself again the beam tipped at one hundred and sixty
pounds my regular weight。
Then he informed me that there was a progressive fall in weights on
every level as they went down and that if no unforeseen obstacle interfered
they would reach the limit of attraction from the surface downward and in
his opinion it would be at fifty miles。 I asked him what they would find
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there and he replied that in his opinion it would be the same subtle and
elastic essence that fills stellar space； but he added： 〃God alone knows the
secret of the universe in his keeping。〃 We visited the great smelting；
refining and assaying works in the vicinity and he introduced me to the
general superintendent of all the mines on the continental divide； who
invited me to accompany him on a mine inspection tour and he would
show me the improved method they used in prospecting for ore and
extracting and milling it to the best advantage。 〃When our mining experts
discover a mineral belt containing precious metals or copper； iron； lead；
nickel； platinum； cobalt； quicksilver； manganese or any other ore used in
manufactures and the arts；
