A NEW CABLE-WAY IS NEARING COMPLETION IN THE SWISS ALPS. WHEN THE FINAL SECTION IS OPENED TWO YEARS FROM NOT IT WILL BE ONE OF THE LONGEST IN THE WORLD. ALREADY THE LOWER SECTIONS ARE WORKING, CARRYING TOURISTS ACROSS SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SCENERY IN EUROPE - AND PROVIDING THEM WITH UNRIVALLED VIEWS OF MANY OF SWITZERLAND'S MOST FAMOUS PEAKS - NOTABLY THE JUNGFRAU, TOWERING ABOVE INTERLAKEN.

THE CABLE-WAY RUNS FROM THE POPULAR RESORT TOWNS OF STECHELBERG AND MURREN UP TO THE SUMMIT OF THE SCHILTHORN - NEARLY TEN THOUSAND FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL (2970 METRES).

WORK ON THE UPPER STAGES OF THE CABLE-WAY IS STILL GOING ON. THE MEN WORKING HERE FIND IT EXHAUSTING WORK. THE AIR IS THIN AT TEN THOUSAND FEET - AND TEMPERATURES ARE CONSTANTLY BELOW FREEZING POINT. EVEN MACHINES DON'T BEHAVE NORMALLY. A BULLDOZER, FOR INSTANCE, WORKS AT ONLY 40% OF ITS NORMAL POWER.