Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-07-04
Report of Preliminary Survey and Estlma.
/ ted Cost ofTuneI under tho Ohio Rivor.

res. ana Eng TT. Wayne o. 81 II. H. 70.
In compliance with yonr INSTRUCTIONS, pro-
ceeded on the 30th day of March to organize a
party, and commenced the preliminary suiveys for
the tunnel under the Ohio river, upon the pfopo.
sed extension of the Fl. Wayne and Southern Rail-
road.
The line for the tunnel leaves the located line
of your road near lis crossing with Jacksonville
and Columbus Railroad at Jacksonville.
Cnrving about nine degrees TO the West from
the point of commencement, it runs on course
of S. "a deg. IS min. W., sthroug bout its entire
length.
AT the distance of $500 feet from the point OF.
beginning the line reaches the river, which is
crossed al angle of sixty eight degrees, Just ut
the head of the falls.
AT this point the river is q, 3It feet wide on the
course OF the line, at an ordinary stage of water.
Entering the city of Louisville at the foot of
Seventh Street. the line passes though densely
populated part of the same to Broadway street,
near the louisville and Nashville Railroad depot
grounds.
The descending grade into the tunnel commen-
ces 1850 feet from the beginning of The line, and
descendS ut the rate OF SO feet per mile, for the
diameter of ,450 feet, 10 the head OF the Indiana
chute in the river. 1t then aseends at the rate of
81 feet per mule for 1900 feet, 10 point near the
centre OF the river, then descends 1.-THE rate of IL
feet per mile for 1900 feet 10 the inlet the Lou
isyllle and Portland Canal, then descends at the
rate of 30 feet per lie for 6,400 feet to the sur
face of theground near the l.. 81 N. r. X. depot
grounds, and south of ali valuable improvements
in the city.
This places the top Of the tunnel below present
steamboat navigation, and all contemplated I'M
proyements in the channel of the river, and also
IRON one TO three feet below the bottom of the
nver, where no improvements are contemplated.
The material to be passed through, will be, on
the Indiana side of the river, common earth ex-
cavation for about % feet deep. then fac quail
ity of limestone, adapted to building purposes, for
about % feet-then body of limestone, the quail
ity of which is uncertain, for tile remaining dis
lance, % feet or more.
stratum of hydraulic cement may form the
bottom of the funnel, but the depthihe excavation
will extend into ii IS uncertain.
The Kentucky side of the River will probably
correspond weary nearly to the above, with The ex-
cepnon OF greater amount oil earth above the
rock.
The north approach from the commencement of
The descending grade to the end of the arch,
will be 1850 feet. ofwlch $50 feet will be above
the present surface Of the ground, leaving the
cayalion in the approach of 200 feet long.
The south approach, running from the points
above mentioned, will be l,50O feet, excavation
the whole distance.
For that part ot the tunnel under the river, tits
proposedto put in au arch 81 feet thick ut the
spring line, and &c inches at the crown, resting
upon abutments % feet thick; all made of COM
pact limestone. For The part without the river it
Is proposed to use brick arch resting upon stone
abutments, of the dimensions given above except
200 feet in length which it is supposed will not
need arching, the lock being imperyious 10 water,
sist The pressure upon it.
To guard against the admission of water il is
proposed 10 continue the arch either side of the
river above extreme high water, and insert an in
verified arch in the bottom, when the material
through which the tunnel passes is moi imperyious
to water. The masonry is TO be put up IN goo d
hydraulic cement, the outer part OF the walls and
the space between the walls and earth or rock
adjacent TO be grouted, while the top OF the upper
arch. is to be well covered with hydraulic mortar
and Teton, and the bottom of the Inv erted arch to
be well protected with tue same materials. Water
proof walls arei 10 extend from the ends of the
arch, on each side OF the track, othe points where
high water and the grade line meet, the inverted
arch in the bottom TO extend to tue same point.
The approaches will be covered sons to exclude
all water which might otherwise fall upon the
grade and run down into the tunnel.
1t IL proposed 10 make The tunnel %. feet wide
bstweenthe walls, and II feet high above The ion
Of the rails at the centre of each track. This will
give ample room Tor two tracks, each six feet wide,
and for trains to pass each other without danger OF
collision.
The position of this proposed tunnel, being Just
at the head oil the proposed falls, the is very
low during greater part Of the summer and au.
tumn, frequently being as low two feet deep in
the channel, and sometimes DIS low as Twenty-Five
inches, while greatpart of the bottom is entirely
bare. This gives an opportunity 10 work IRON the
surface down for the whole width of the river,)
as is done in ordinary rock excavations, instead of
working at the ends as is usually done III tunnel
D1 OpCIdlIuB III lulS way Inc 2woIk
musl cost materially less than ordinary tunneiing
through hill or mountain. The spoil materiel
can be used for building and Strengthening the
Golfer dams, affoiding ready deposit just haud
for the material excaynted Working from the III
downward, quaIrying the rock in The ordinary way,
while it will be attended with much less expense,
there must be much less waste of the material,
and the rock may be obtained any desirable size
and dimensions. The ability 10 work from the top
downward al ibis point although important f,om
the considerations just stalled, must be highly
appreciated from The fact ttat by possibility can
loss OF life occur by coming in contact unexpect-
edy with assures or creyices in the rock through
which water might be admitted suddenly, filing
up the tunnel.
Much of that part above the river can be work.
ed from the surface in the same manner.
The building of Golfer dams and pumping in
connection with the above, is an item of some nm
porlance, which is duly considered in the 10 low
ing estimate.
The highest point of ground passed through, is
593 feet above low water, and 90 teet above the
bottom oil the tunnel where II occurs, which Will
make the expense of working shafts much less
than usual in tunnel building.
The excavation for the tunnel, will probably
furnish rock enough of good quality for the
ry, and may furnish as much cement IS will be
needed, should the bottom prove 10 be of this ma
terial.
There will also be a large quantity of rock for
sale which will be valuable, either for selling upon
The ground, for Shipping north into the country
not SO bountifully supplied.
Upon the foregoing facts the following estimate
is based
Earth excavation in approaches and shaftsS 1896
Rock do nver and north side 24i,l59
Tunneling proper in rock and earth 269,000
Stone Masonry 332, sos
Brick 137,457
Golfer dams, pumping and contingencies $1,000
SuperstIucture and ballast 29,500
Total sLo7s.al7
Upon the superstition thai side walls will not be
needed through rock excavation, and that one half
of the rock remaining after building the masonry.
Can be sold for ifty cents per yard, there VIII be
saved Sl39, l63
Leaving cost OF tunnel 934,654
REHABILITATION.
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