State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-04-05

The ALBANY Tunnel. Our friends, the
Trojans, having secured themselves n
bridge, have graciousy permitted us to
build tunnel. They have gone over the
river, and they allow us to go under it,
Very well. We CAN 'dive deeper aud
come out drcr" than they have any idea
of.
Travellers may cross the bridge, but will
bcgrudge the toll they pay for the privi-
lcge, while they pay their money cheer'nlly
for drive through tunnel, and think
they have got double the worth of their
money!
Is the thing practicable? ask some of the
refleciing sort Of people. We answer per-
fectly SO.
/ The tunneling of hills has been long an
old story, and the Thames las at this mo-
moment channel completed more than
half way across, beneath its muddy bed.
That project was talked of as long ago
as 1902, and after q Cornish Miner had
examined the bed Of the river, a company
was formed under the name Of the Thames
Archway Company, though after seven
years hard labor under different Engineers
the attempt was abandoned.
NJ. Brunei, a French Engineer, ON his
return from this country, where he in vair
sought employment, took up the subject
and succeeded in enIistlng the support Of
men of capital and influence. The new
company was chartered in 1924 and in lS2;
he went boldly to work, and by means o
a conrivance with he called u shield ant
which he describes as being a kind of ,
horizontal cofierdam, he made a substan
) tial structure under the river, 30 feet wide
, with double prchway % feet six inche
high. -..t .
, A most Interesting account of the pro
: gress of the work and the difficulties en-
, countered from time TO time, is to be fonnt
, in the Penny Magazine for December
t 1882.
- In 1928, the river broke in upon the tun
! mel, and the Engineer had a narrow es
, cape with his lite, but notwithstanding til
A violence of the influx, the work itself wa
= found totally uninjured.
: From this time until lattcrly, the compa
5 ny found itself impeded for the want o
t funds, but the unlirlng exertons Of tn
Engineer at last have prevailed with til
3 British Government, additional means ar
4 provided, and the work is now going o
+ with every prospect of complete success:
S When finished it must become n grei
t thoroughtare.
2 The Albany tunnel viii not be expose
e 10 any of the peculiar difficulties whicI
y have attended that of the Thames. Th
l tide there, varies 80 feet, the soil is sand
e and porous. The water was kept out wit
e extreme difficulty.
4 Here the weight Of water will he quit
= uniform, and much less. BY means {
!. Coflerdams, all pressure can he exclude
:; until the work is finished. The bottom {
: the river is rock, and it can be made in til
i most lasting manner.
s The average cost of the Thames Tun
n mel with all its attending difficulties is onl
G6,3,9 per entire yard of earth removes
6 including the cost of $50 rods of accom-
y panying brick work.
n The expense in this case will be far LEI
s. in every particular, and we believe IL
: projectors have convinced themselves {
y the fact.
If When the books nre opened for subscriI
II ton, we hope every Albanian will put h
a name down cheeriully. Let the attem
be made. II it fails, the expenditure
= the money among our lahorers and mechal
it les will be beneficial To them. If it SUI
re cceds, as it no doubt will, if properly MAJ
ii managed, it will give new revenue to Il
&c city without injury to tho navigation, al
l. draw thousands OF people from every pa
le of the United States to see it.
IS The public certainly, thus far look upc
ID the enterprise with deep interest and mu,
tie good f eIing.-.Albany Gazette.