The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-07-30
For the Perrysburg Journal.
The Housac Tunnel.
IIorsAc TUNNEL, July %, 1857

FRlEND HIGGtNs-D ar Sir Fishing for trout
in the mountain streams of Vermont, is very
pleasant recreation for an nhlbtant Of the fiat
regions of Northwestern Ohio A coil seat by
the side of one Of these ripling streams, shaded
from the vertical rays of July sun, by tn. dark
foliage of the mountain fir, is not lightly to b.
prized, by one whose days are pent up in an
Office and his evening reflections enriched by the
aromatic p'r(umi OF cabbage leaf cigar, smok-
ed at the door of the village bar room But, far
away from the perplexins scenes of business,
freed from the cares and anxeies of courts and
counting rooms, here the happy fisherman sits
patiently watching his line, with every nerve
taught, AMI every faculty wide awake, to detect
the first nibble at his hook s'ntIy famed by the
cooling breez', which mingles its murmurs with
the riplings of the stream gliding gently down
the mountain slope. Notwithstanding the great
pleasure which these little fishing excursions
have afforded me-, cannot Alter myself that
an account of them on paper, would b. as inter
esting to thi readers Of the Jurhal, as short
description of the tunneling of the Housac
Mountain, one of the most stupendious rail road
open rail road passage from the Housatonc
to the DarriielI river Tha entire length of the
tunnel will b. twenty foIr thIu'lnl aud thr'e
hundred feet, little less than four miles and q
half. The labor on this tunnel as now locISed
was commenced in the month Of May, 1886,
and the company have penetrated eight hundred
feet in the heading course, and three in the drift
feet per week during the time they have worked.
At this rate, working from one end only it
would require only half the time, or thirteen
yeats. Bat this is too slow a way to construct
rail roads, and the comp my are having recourse
to machinery, by the aid of which they expect to
diminish the han labor anl expedite the work. A
very large machine for boring the rock, has been
set up on the west siie Of the mountain, which
will cut 8 feet in diane ter, leaving the balance to
be blasted Ii is estimated that This machine
will cut two feet per hour and should it prove
successful, another will be put up Immediately
on the other side, and passengers from the west
in six or seven years my expact to BE- carried
to Boston on the underground rail road
The entire distance of this tunnel will be
through solid rock of mica slate, and it is inter,
estug to enter this subtcrrdnean passage and s,e
the workmen drilling and blasting the rock
which so easily Yields to the touch of the skill
full hand after having withstood the blast OF
ages, while the mighty mountain above, covered
with dense forest, stands unmoved and un.
concerned at those little strokes, which in few
years, viii have accomplished one OF the most
gigantic la5ors in the rail road history Of the
world.
This work when completed will aid to the
already well deserved reputation of American
praciicahility, and scientific skill,
The labor will be prosecuted from both sides o
the mountain, commencing more than four mile,
apart, and after CROPPING their way in this darl
passage over two miles from each end, they ex
pect 10 meet without any deviation.
The estimates of the cost of the labor have
been so various that but little is known of wha
will be the true cost and the uu lureseen contin
| gencics are 50 numerous, that no estimate car
b4 made even from the expense of what has al.
Teudy been done. Should large streams OF Wa
| ter be met with. it may render the farther pros
ecution Of the work impossible whereas on III,
other hand, should the rock give way to sub
stance more easily removed the work may b.
carried on at less expense, anil compile ted in
much shorter time Than was anticipated.
Yours, Respectfully, C..