The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-08-19
BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILRoAD-THE KING.
WOOD TLNNEL.

WOOD TUNNEL.
Il order 10 satisfy public curiosity upon the condition
Of this very important WORT about which 70 many reports
hare been circulated to The disadvantage Of tie railroad
company have gathered the following particulars The
pnnel situated upon the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
260 miles from Baltimore ard l9 miles east Of Wheeling
1t is miles Of the romanlie vasisJ Of the Cheat
river and some nineteen miles east OF Grafton The ianc-
ton Of the Northwestern PaIkeTsburg railroad Its
length With the two heavy approach cus i above s.
goo feet q say) enc nile The tunnel proper loo feet
long
Tbe greatest height Of the ridge over the tunnel 5 about
go feet i i cut through slate rock and oyerlad fer
considerable distance with good Limestone root For the
remaining portion of its length the hag beer support
cd by fmbering preliminary the 6na arching. The
original Width Of Inc opening p feet The necessity
81 preparing or double track however with the hraTy
SIDE walls for sustaining the arch required that The OPEN
Ing should he wdened throughout its entire length This
IS done hy cutting away from three to four feet upon each
side, making the excavation twcnfF-ght feet in width.
The side walls built Of solid masonry laid IN
They feet wide and feet high above the tracks
TINS viii reduce the Riah when finished to "a feet OF
the - loo feet Of tunnel a. i supposed that not more than
1000 feet VIII require arrllng the limestone at the vest
end being sufficiently solid to sustain itself
For more than 1000 feet tee side walls com
Teed and being RAPIDLY extended or ibs remaining
1000 feet The arch TO he composed or brick for The
greater portoo and Of iron fer l309 feet TIE iron
arghing Is already nearly completed abeut lcoo feet haF
ing been placed ia the weakest and most Toubesome ports
81 the wer The greater portion Of the weak gefion Of
the tunnel which had been iueErapting the business Of The
road during ie moat Of July embraced this, and
form the arch in pieces each three feet vide and
strengthened by bread aituaual ribs Each piece weighs
tom making 500 tons Of iron in the 1900 feet
This forms 3 verv substantial wei a nUre ceiling.
The brick work Is ALSO being pushed Eth great radity
and care The brick az which enormous quantity will
be required Is made MURndsvie the Ohio river 100
miles from The tunnel.
One hundred feet OF this part Of the arcing i compile
1ed and The work i progressing very satisfactorily Not
outstanding the interruptions TO The business Of The
toad which occurred during the removal 81 Tie side earth
and the snhers heretofore supporting the roof not the
slightest accident has happened either passengers
goods going over the route Happily the fear Of inter
apton is nearly passed since most of The
imperfect roofing has been removed and substituted ~ the
and perfect aTrh-
To reader the free and fun Of the road matter 81
Certainty, and provide for every possible contingency ID
Of tie notwithstanding Fough-tApel and the
e0rous frcghtlng business that nust offer during The
sesson ndecbaeAt track Is being bUilt The
ridge The lrngth OF this read hnt two and one
eighth rifles and the highest grade j 200 feet Tie otd-
nary engines 81 The company vii haul toar Il The large
tonnage ears load ts track with 1hrtytwo tons
Of goods SIX niles per oHrihe speed observed in 20
Jag through the tunnel This viii insure the transit Of
passengers ard freight with he despatch provided ~ tho
comyanys timetables uhch IS sxefn hours passcn-
gers and siie less than ior.ysiRht hours for freight
Ibis very important Improvement which gives The road
double security against delays vail be In readiness fer
CT the 10Th q this nOnth-
il VIII he sCen therefore from tbs above statement that
the stgous cause Of The late tonhe he company bush
pes yrtaglly removed and thai 5afs reed he in
auged about future inieTruF01s from the iunne uPou
ts rosd which has acquired 50 important position
q n the leading channels Of communication between
he Atlantic and tie Great West