The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-25
MRonGHr-IRoN ruNNELs.

We have examined with considerable care and we may
truthully add with the veest satisfaction diagram OF
tunnel to be constructed of wrought iron, invented by
John W. Cochran esq, at present residing in the city OF
New York. With but an imperfect knowledge OF such
matters have still hesitation in expressing the belief
that this tunnel is destined supersede the OF every
other system of river tunneng known to the world The
wroughtron tunnel invented by Mr.. O. is made without
rys bolts seams and be placed in its bed in the
river without resortng TO BY this enor
expense is avoided in the construction of tunnels
and the great drawback of rearding navigation which
necessarily encountered in the resort cosrdams
cessfully overcome.
Under the conviction OF the superior advantages of
Cochrans tunnel the president and directors Ct the Chi
cago Tunnel Company have examined and adopted Mr..
Cochrsns plan for the construction of Of his tunnels
The distractions which have been occasoned to naviga-
ton in Chicago by the of the swinging bridges have
rendered it necessary for them to resort to tunneng to en-
able the traffic pass under the river The principal
why this remedy has been adopted heretofore
the great expense and the rearding Of navigation which
would incur and occasion. Cochrans tunnel from lis
comparative economy the first objection, and in
its dispensing with the of the cocIdams overcomes
tae second obstacle.
As everything connected with an Improvement which
promises 10 revoluonize the old mode of river tunneng
we give below the official correspondence accepting Mr.
Cochran's plan and proposals:
CHICAGO, October IL, 1856.
DEAR sIp Your plan for welded wrought-iron tunnel
under the Chicago river submitted to the Chicago Tunnel
Company has examined by the directors of said com
pany fully meets their appreciation so far as they can
Judge from the examination made as the best iron tunnel
ever proposed to them.
If further examination by the engineers shall confirm their
present opinions If iron tunnel is adopted think it
will be yours and present impressions that iron
tunnel may be preferred
AS soon as full decision be arrived at by shall
be ready your plans approved to entertain PROPOSE
tions for construction from you
Yours, very truly,
VIM b. OGDEN
5st President Chicago Tunnel Co.
J. W. COCHRAN, New York.
CHIoA AGO, October Is, 1856.
At meeting the directors of the Chicago Tunnel Com
pany held this day, Mr. Cochrans plans for wroughtron
tunnel submitted and approved by us.
JAMES REFS,
HENRY FARNUM, c. Il.
DErnoIr, October IA, 1856.
have examined Mr. Cochans plans for welding boiler
plates and for making tunnel under the Chicago river
feel confident in the of BOTH The plan for tunnel
think the best / have ever heard or read OF.
EB. WARD.
In addition to the engagements under way with the
Chicago Tunnel Company, Mr. Cochran has been applied
make estimates for tunnel under the river at Bua-
10 and the ST. Clair river at Detroit also where it
proposed to constructs bridge across the Mississippi at ST.
Louis He has also received propositions from Albany
When constructed railroad pass through this tun-
mel under the river securely land and much more
safely than over bridge When consider the
GUS and terrible disasters that attend railroads from the
falling and other accidents attending insecure bridges and
the negligence to draws readily realize the meal
cuabe ad vanages of Cochrans tunHel in this respect
The tunnel is constructed upon the principle Of
king boilers ard ships, without riveis bol
screws Thus built upon dry land tits launched like ship
into the water the ends closed up float it, while chan
mel has been previously prepared receive When placed
in its bed 1t is covered up and protected securely from
any obstacle that may be floating about The which
has been previously introduced sink it, is pumped out
Its construction entirely the effect Of expansion
aud contraction when the ends connected with the
SON work at TIE various approaches This novel tunnel
thus iugenousy built land when launched into the
channel Of the river secure buried in its native ee
mcu as the ship built npon the shore is safe floating
the sea-
We have dwet upon this subject the more from the fact
that report has already been made IN reference 10 the
construction of bridge the Potomac at this point
and that speedy action the part of Congress is anxousy
looked for. Mr.. Cochran's invention is now undergoing
the of experiment lie expects TO have his tunnel made
and laid under the bed of the Chicago river within the
next SIX months He claims that by his system at least
fifty per cent in money and IN lime be saved any
system of communication between shore and shore or in
other words that he tunnel the Potomac in half the
time and for half the money that would be required TO
construct bridge across the river II his claims should
be fully sustained by the experiment at Chicago pre-
sumo Mr. Cochran will experience difficulty in making
contract with our for the construction Of this
important work.
DEATH OF DIR. KANE.
1t is with feelings of painful regret that