Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-02-07
Sl.bQl SEQ

Difference. Sl.60l 500
Or near $50 900 per mile 10 favor OF The Monroe
experience any test olruth, Mr. Fisk greatly In
10 The time required 10 construct tho tunnel on the Green
Orer 500 feet in length nnd moro han SO cent
longer than any tunnel In the Uulted Siacs. Tire King
wood tunnel, which he REFERS criterion by which
judge Of the lime required for the construction al Al
leghany Of this 6 500 feet tunnel, because that was
driven great portion of the way through sof.
COAL which dug out and removed with great
ease presenting fewer difficulties 10 speedy compile.
ton than any tunnel that has been constructed 10 the
Sates and there being such material coal the ALE
ghany the comparison cannot hold good The stone there
Ia sand stone as am normed) very similar that OF the
Blue Ridge tunnel and mixed with slate. The sandstone
and slate are found In like manner at tho tunnel at the
Allegheny The Virginia and Tennessee Rail Road where
they have had such great difficulty In constructing tunnel
The Blue Ridge tunnel and The tunnels the Virginia and
Tennessee Rail Road afford and proper data by which
estima,e the time of constructing this tunnel one mile
and threeeiehths In length Those tunnels under the
oPsncnl OF distinguished, enlightened md learned snecfs
have been driven at The rate OF abon, 63 feet per m2nI or
756 feet per Al this rate tho tunnel on The Green.
brer will require nine years complete itbut may
be said that by the sinking of shafts lie completion may be
haseued This is doubt true, TO a certain cyen-bnt
the writer has been informed by an eminent and practical
engineer that It will require about years and half 10
sink Shaft iGO feet and that when DONE the dirt and stone
having bs raised and carried at The top Of The
oha the process Ia very slow OnG and The cost OF the tuH
mel will almost be doubedso that the speed Of driv
log Is increased the cost is increased Suppose that by
sinking shafts great cos this tunnel could be completed
three years sooncr-hcn by the orly fair criterion we
have, by whiChO estimate il would require six years 10
complete IT, and certainly three years longer Than The tan
Rcls The Monroe route. III ls great COVlnSlon anu
Ohio improvement is 10 90 completed In the shortest prac
licabe tc, 10 be yielding revenue 10 the Stale
the Monroe route would have The advantage in time by
three years-whch the superintendent OF The CoV1eon
and OHIO Rail Road estimates being worth half million
annually the trcsa.y and would give The advantage In
.iue the Monroe route Of 81 1000. So that the Mon
roe route in cost end lime combined has The advantage over
the Gecnber route by than $1,000 OUO-beog equal
to about $50 600 per mile.
Of Mr. Fsks estimates Of 'earh, loose rock ac rock cx
cavalioa examination be made 10 test Their correct
ness for The first time in rail iold reports he negects 10
state the quantity Of each the cost per cubic yard o.
earth rock excavation Likewise in curyaufee whilst he
makes tho average nearly the came on each, somethnS
more the Monroe than the Grccnbrc he negects 10 say
whether the obccti liable the maximum
or Level grades and, il is very questionable it, on
two lines Of road, fifty miles in length starting and tcml.
mating The pont5-ths line miles and half
shorter than the other, and consequently saightcihe
average will be greater the short and straight
line than on The long and crcutous lne
will be perceived that by The report OF Mr. Fisk, The
Monroe Is the shortest by two and half mies. which,
in the shot distance of fywo miles would be considered
By mucriy Of Engineers as having very Important bear
ING in the selection Of routes; and would venture the as
scop would considered important Than grade, in
,hc selection of routes in which the maximum grade of
each from East Hcs Is SO AMI GO feet, md from West 10
East s. 80 feet; but Mr. Fisk has laid much stress on
The difference ;ten sei in grade from West 10 East SHALL
with your permission Massrs. Editors in your next issue
endeavo. show that he is al fault in this than in his
other estimates ANTI FOGY.