lpine Mountain Landslide

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

Winter vacationers from all over Europe would visit Lilliland and participate in the sports events of the season. Skiing was one of the most favorite activities on the Alpine Mountain slopes.

A very large segment of the visitors would arrive by train. The train tracks into Lilliland from Switzerland went through the Alpine Mountain tunnels and along the side of the mountains. All too often a mountain landslide would block the train tracks and sometimes the trains would be damaged. It would take some time to repair the tracks and get the trains rolling again. The tourists did not like delays to their vacation plans.

Baron Von Lodge asked the railroad company to fix the problem once and for all time. But their answer was usually the same. Nothing could be done about the landslides of snow, mud and rocks.

The Baron summoned his advisor, Professor Hamblin, to see if something could be done to fix the landslide problem so that the vacationers could arrive on time and enjoy their vacations on the ski slopes without getting stuck on a train that could not move.

Professor Hamblin investigated the landslide problem by studying the soil, rock formations, and the wind and rain and foliage, and numerous other conditions that related to the problem.

When Professor Hamblin made his report directly to the Baron, he recommended that a steel canopy be built over the tracks. The purpose was not to catch the landslide, but to deflect it away from the train tracks. He also recommended that more trees be planted on the mountainside. Over the years, the Baron recalled that Professor Hamblin emphasized the importance of trees in the balance of nature. "The value of trees cannot be over-estimated," he said.

The Baron implemented the professor's plan and it worked very well. Everyone in Lilliland was happy again because the tourists could visit Lilliland in greater comfort and safety from the mountain landslides.