The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-03-07
From the Nashville Banner.
DAYLIGHT THROUGH THE
TUNNEL.

"A h'S"u WI" ""S P'SScus a. tIiC
completion Of this important result,
furnishes US with the following inter.
esting particulars, of the celebration.
We had intended to do oul selves the
pleasure Of witnessing it in person,
but were unable 10 do so.
THE Tunnel CELEBRArroN.-The
opening Of the Tunnel on the twenty.
second OF February, was most Joyous
occasion. The heading in the direc.
ton Of the Crow Creek Valley, was
blown through at IL o'clock on the
night Of the 2lst; and, on the next
day, about seven hundred ladies and
gentlemen assembled on the Cumber-
land Mountain to celebrate the event
by appropriate ceremonies. A pro-.
cession was formed with lighted can
dies at intervals in the line, and moved
through the Tunnel from the west to
the east side. A car was carpcted
for the accommodation of the ladies'.
They were. therefore. the first to ride
through a Tunnel in the Cumberland
Mountain.
After the passage Of the people
through the Tunnel, they assembled
around the stand. where it was I'm.
derstood Mr.. Stevenson was to speak,
and present medals to the Contractor
and Superintendent.
Mr.. Stevenson commenced his re.
marks with a cheering account of the
progress of the work on the Nashville
and Chattanooga rail road. The 10.
connective vas approaching Franklin
county at the rate of a mile and a
quarter week, which would com.
plete the road eighty miles by the
first Of March next. 1859. This will
bring US nearly to the Tunnel. the
comparative completion of which we
are now celebrating. 1t falls TO the
lot Of Tennessee. (Mr. Stevenson said.)
to make the first railroad bridge across
the waters of the Tennessee, and the
first clear opening to all the mountains
to the Mississippi Valley These tri.
umphs will, in all time to come, be
regarded as the beginning of the last
half of the 10Th century. Pennsylvania
and Maryland and Virginia, have been
for twenty years cndeavoring to pene'
tra,e the inexhaus,ble wealth Of The
Mississippi Valley by means ola Tun
mel. They failed utterly, after ex-
pending about twenty millions Of del.
lars on the work. Tennessee took it
in hand but yesterday. and, as il by
magic,sthe work is accomplished
The energy bestowed upon this work,
and the manner in which it is done,
are worthy of the highest commenda.
ton. This is the opinion OF The Di.
rcctors, and they have commissioned
me Continued Mr.. S. to present a
medal to the Contractor and Supcrin.
tendent. Before discharging this pleas.
ing task. ne felt called upon to say to
the young engineer in charge, that his
; work is highly honorable and credita
bic to him. Mr.. Merriweather start
ed with our corps but boy, and he
has already established a reputation.
His work here has been executed
with such perfect accuracy and pre-
cision that the centre lines cover each
other the whole way. from end to end.
Of the Tunnel, a distance of nearly
three thousand feet. That your rea.
ders unacquainted with civil engin'
eering may app. ciate the compIi.
ment to Mr.. Mefriwea,l,er, we will
make an explanation Of the work.
The lines which were 10 determine
the course and direction Of the Tun.
mel had to be first laid down on the
surface Of the Mountain, and then
transferred to a depth Of 1855 feet
through the shafts. and run horizon
tally into the Mountain from each
end of the cutting. Now, in running
these directive lines. from either end.
Mr.. M. has executed his work with
such scientific accuracy that the cen.
ire lines meet exactly and cover each
other the whole length of the Tunne!!.
Mr.. Stevenson referred TO the dis.
coveries of the past half century
Fulton's applying steam 10 water.
crafts. railroads, the telegraph. the
electro magnet Hoes printing press.
gas.light. water gas. said to be dis.
covered by Mr.. Paine. gun.cotton.
chloroform, &c. &c, and asked. who
can calculate the discoveries and in-
veniions of the half century just be.
gan? 1t starts out with the opening
Of the first Tunnel through the Cum.
berIand Mountains. and we look hope.
fully to the future.
DARING AND SILLY FEAT.-A res
cent English paper records that at the
While Hart Hotel Aylesbury. several
wealthy sportsmen being assembled
in a wide old hall. one of them upon