Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-02-02
A VISIT TO THE TUNNEL MACHINE.

lHcy Say lONcHcT more.
A VISIT TO THE TUNNEL MACHINE.
Since was last in this region, and visited
the great machine for boring hole through
Hoosac Mountain, near North Adams, Mass, for
the Troy and Boston Railroad, the machine has
been set up, and an actual experiment made with
encouraging results. | clambered over the
mountain again, to learn of the precise pro-
gress of the wonderful experiment We found
the work suspended, on account of repairs and
aterations-the cutters proved too fral to stand
the quartz and flint found in the mica slate
which forms the chief material of the rock-they
were soon broken, and rendered unfit for SER
vice.
Now it is proposed to make them heavier and
frmer, and then the work will be resumed
This will be in the course of fortnight or three
weeks time.
The great machine imposes strongly on the
as now seen, all in position. 1t is
a huge affair, massive, strong, and apparently
perfect as machine in all its parts. 1t is en-
closed in large house, as large as common
sized two story dwelling. The twenty-five
cents admission fee is charged to see the mon-
ster-a petty exaction, which, however necessa-
ry it may seem to the proprietors to secure
themselves from annoyance, or to "put money
in their purse" dwarfs the great achevment of
somewhat into ones conceptions of
an elephant or monkey show.
Conceive of great huge iron windmill, with
massive frames and supports, wheels within
wheels, central shaft as big as barrel, and as
long as boa-consrictor, this shaft moving for
ward with central drill inches in diameter
as the wheel, rs feet in circumference, with
wheels distributed along its outer edge, moves
around some five or six times mnute-con-
ceive all this, if you can, and you have an idea
of what the thing itself is. The cutters or
knives are differently arranged from what had
Instead ofthickly studding the circumference
ofihe great wheel, they are placed only at inter-
vas, and set out several feet in advance, in n
sort of huge ploughshare. They are made in
the form ofpulleys, and rcvolve as they come in
contact with the rock. They are perhaps ten
or twelve inches in diameter, and two sets Of two
or three each and two of two each were arrang-
ed upon the wheel, as it was originally in oper-
alton. 1t is intended, however, to increase the
number
1t cuts from sixteenth to an eighth of an
inch at each revolution, and makes five or six
revolutions, a minute, which more than meets
the warrant of the builders. The core of the
rock is blasted while the machine remains close
by, but there is no apprehension that it will be
essentially injured by the exploding masses of
rock. The building over it suffers heavily with
each explosion, however, and requires a corps
Of carpenters to keep it in order After the
machine gets its length into the rock, however,
there will be another sort of building over it
not made with hands and requiring no repairs.
The experiments now made embolden the
'nderiakers in this magnificent enterprise, tho
changes and improvements may be found nec-
,ssary as new difficulties present themselves in
hO piOSicoo VI tHO WOlhs ticy ItB"Iu Tue great
'oint as overcome, and entire ultimate success
IS certain. Still there are many doubters here
IS well os elsewhere, and it must be confessed
hat there are many opposing circumstances
likely to present themselves as the boring goes
IN, to which solution has not yet been discov.
red, and which promise to greatly hinder, if
lot to destroy, the practicability of the great
work. Yet the friends of the enterprise, who
ave seen their faith in the grand idea of the
Machine now so apparently triumphant, may
nstly repose confidence in the same New Eng.
and ingenuity, perseverance and skill, to over
ONE all side-obstacles in its complete accom-
lshment of the majestic work it has underta-
en.
A great hindrance and annoyance already pre-
ents itself in the disposition of the rock, after
is cut and blasted out. II is slow and tedi-
us labor to break it up and draw it throughout
he machine--but there can be no other re-