PASS OF THE SPLUGEN.
107
Sclmeehorn, is unknown; but the learned Dr. Ebel, who has weighed thesubject, refers it to the commencement of the fourteenth century, when, forthe first time, the track over the Spliigen offered a substitute for the former,and, following the glens of the Piz Beverin , re-established the communicationbetween Chiavenna and Tliusis.
About the middle of the fifteenth century, when, by the gigantic efforts of afree people, the gorge of the Roffla and Yia Mala had been rendered practicable,the passage of the Spliigen rose into fresh importance, and as it opened a lineof direct intercourse between Germany, Switzerland, and Italy , rivalled theSt. Gothard as a medium of traffic. These paths, just broad enough for theemployment of beasts of burden during summer, and of small sledges in winter,presented in those days nearly the same facilities, dangers, and accidents, for thetransport of merchandize; but since the construction of the new routes, andnotwithstanding the efforts made on the part of the canton of Uri to keep pacewith the march of improvement, the route over the St. Gothard , with which somany striking recollections are associated, has lost one-half of its commercialimportance.
The advantages conferred upon commerce in particular, are proved by thesimple fact, that goods, which it formerly required six or seven days to forwardfrom Coire to Chiavenna, are now transported over the same distance in two orthree; while, by travelling post, that journey, once so formidable, is now per-formed daily in ten or twelve hours. Merchandize forwarded from Milan, underthese circumstances, reaches Zurich in eight days; a fact, which furnishes incon-testable evidence of the vast improvement which the last ten years have effectedin commercial expedition. It is calculated that the annual transit of merchandizeacross the Spliigen amounts to 25,000 quintals, and that, on an average, eightor nine waggons cross the summit daily. During one day in the month ofAugust, upwards of two hundred waggons, laden chiefly with cotton for Switzer-land, and timber for Italy , have been known to cross the summit.
The highest part of the route, or col, presents the form of a valley, throughwhich the Hanslebach precipitates its thundering tide. Gradually descendingfrom this point, and passing the Grison frontier, we reach the Casa Cantonierainn, or hospice, of the Spliigen, where, as on the Bernardino, shelter and refresh-ments may be had when required.* It serves also as an entrepot for merchandize,and a residence for the inspector of tolls, and a body of custom-house officers.
* “ And where, upon occasion”—as it has been punningly stated by a late tourist for the benefit of suchof our fair countrywomen who travail—" ladies have been happily confined.”—For the disastrous effectsof the recent storm in this route, the reader is referred to the succeeding pages.