Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-30
The Journey to and from Adams, Mass.
Correspondence Of The Star.


South ADAMS, Sept. 81, 1857.
The rain having ceased soon after the mailing
Of my last letter, and Old Sol making his appear
ance, our party set about the necessary pTepa a.
tions for our proposed visit to the Hoosic Tunnel
The team was ready about O'Clock, when under
the guidance Of our friend and host we set off on
the road through the Hoosic valley. After having
travelled about four miles, with beautiful noun
tain scenery upon either side, skirted with pro-
ductive-l looking farms, handsome dwellings, &c,
we reached the base of the mountain, where
preparation was made for entering
THE HoosIC TUNNEL
Here we found the Ponderous iron machine,
which bad been erected by the Company for the
purpose Of boring through the mountain II Is of
gigantic proportions, propelled by an engine near
by, and, but for the crumbling nature OF the rock
when the machine was first put in operation
would no doubt have answered the purpose for
which II was intended. As it was, the crumbling
debris clogged the mac hinery, thus dsheartening
many of the friends of the enterprise
IL Is not regarded as failure, however, even
now those having II in charge contendng that
as soon as the boring Is fairly entered upon and
the mica sate-rock reached, it will do the work
Having examined the entrance to the tunnel and
tie many objects Of interest round about our
guide, with torch in hand, preceded us into the
tunnel-the very bowels of the earth as one of
the party remarked-to the distance of about
three hundred feet the over hanging rock the
dripping water, and the remembrance that il had
already been the death place of two men, seemed
| to impress the party with dread, and we made a
retreat ere reaching the distance to which IN
| workmen had progressed.
| From our guide we learned that the tunnel Law
on the route OF the proposed Troy and Greenfield
railroad, and would shorten the distance consid-
| erably as well as obviate the heavy grade in
crossing the mountain, Of which mention is made
elsewhere The length of the tunnel when CON-
| pleted. will be about four miles, or which only
about ,:UO feet are opened; 0OO on the east and
| 400 on the west side of the mountain The esti-
mated cost is about one million Of dollars but
| the amount already expended and the nature of
the work, lead the best informed to the conc usion
that two millions OF dollars will be necessary to
| complete the tunnel.
| The State Of Massachusetts proposed to loan
| the company two hundred thousand dollars to aid
| them in the work, upon condition thatthe amount
| should be- paid in instruments as each one thou
| sand feet OF the tunnel completed and the
road put in operation, and bill to that end was
| passed; but the company have ex expended all the
means in hand, and have not progressed far
enough to receive any portion Of the State loan
consequently the work is now suspended That
| the tunnel will ultimately be finished is regarded
| as fixed fact, although some time will pro badly
| elapse before the necessary funds will be raised
to recommence the boring Our party spent some
| time here, examining the many objects Of inter-
| est. until nghtfall admonished us to return; be-
| fore doing which, however, many of us secured
| small pieces Of stone from the tunnel and other
Ittle curiosities. The ride back, in the bracing
mountain air, gave each one of the part, an appe-
title that was not easily appeased on aching the
| house OF our host, where a bounteous repast was
| spread. The remainder Of the evening was spent
| in discoursing upon the wonders OF Nature, and
| the exertions OF man In overcoming what had
| been supposed to be insurmountable obstacles.
| HOMRwARD Bound.
Al early dawn next morning the party were ND
and preparing to leave Adams, and the kind
friends who had done much to make our visit
pleasant After breakfasting, good bye'' was
| said, aud we Were en- route to the depot OF the
Berkshire Railroad, by which we Were to he con
veyed to the connection with the Western Rail
road at Pittsfeld, on way to Boston At As
| we left South Adams, and. after riding distance
OF twenty miles, reached Pittsfeld, which, with
some portions Of Washington. This is place of
considerable importance, with a population of
about ZOO Inhabitants, possessing all that is
requisite to make II Il large and beautiful city.
| ON THE WESTERN ROAD
| After steaming il for about four miles we
| reached Dalton, and soon after Hinsdae, where
| a train going west rushed past us on the other
track. The grade here, in ascending the noun
quence, the friction, wear and tear OF the ma
cinery, is great, adding largely TO the expense of
Keeping the road ia proper order
On the summit of the mountain we noticed a
| small lake, which proved to be the source Of the
| Agawan river, which, in it's serpentine course
down the eastern side of the mountain, is crossed
ticenty-sight times ere reaching Worcester. In
| our descent, view from the rear Of the train
presented grand scene, such an one ss the eve
| delights to look upon-overhangng trees, pro-
lecting rocks, &c. Beckett, Chester Factories,
Huntington, Russell and Westneld were passed
lnquick succession, as well a number of feig bit
trains bound west, the latter evidencng thai
large amount OF produce, freight, &c, is daily
carried over this road
| as a rvuie' when seen winding its way down the
| mountains side) somew hat in character and size
| lesembled river Here, also, il the crossing
OF tue view maven and Northampton rail,oad.
| Near Springfield another bridge over the Aga
wan was crossed, which was of Considerable
] length, viewing which u friend at my elbow