The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-31
THE GREAT HoOsIC TUNNEN.

In the year 1853 Peter Clark, " C. Smith and others
with them associated, presented petition 70 the Massa
chusettS legislature which they set forth that they hid
obtained charter for railway from Greenfield, Mass,
passing up the valley Of the Deerfeld river 10 Hoosc
Mountain in the town Of Florida and from thence 10
North Adams and wlliamstown, 10 the dividing line
between Vermont and Massachusetts,. To construct
this railway, would be necessary 10 tunnel
the Hoosc mountain, which is situated in the town
Of Florida in the northwestern of Massachu-
sets and adjacent the lines between that State, Yer
mont and New York. The State OF Massachusetts, had
previously aided the Western Railway Company with
Loan and the corporation alluded to above asked
similar help the Of two million dollars, the est-
mated cost Of the tunnel.
The petition was referred to q joint special
committee Of the Legislature, and admirable reports
were made by said committee. The report before
US, bearing date February, 1854, states that
fse committee 10 satisfied that the railway viii open
new avenue by which the products Of the West may nd
an outlet Boston considerable reduction the freight
tariffs That the nnnclling Of the mountain entirely
prac,cablc that could be easily lighted and ventilated
both during is progress and after completion: that
the tunnel would greatly reduce distance, gradients
curves and SUBMITS that would diminish friction and
speed despatch, and safety reduce the cost OF
travelling and transportation and reduce the
cost II rrovs ons stimulate manufactures and greatly
crease the exports and imports of the State II should be
noticed tha, cghtng business has heretofore been
transacted by the Western railway from Albany Boston
Tbs road passes for lfty miles through
country and has necessarily steep gradients aud
sharp curves The freight tara high and the trains
slow also matter II The road has bu,
obs,aole,hc mountain already alluded The entire
b-gth o. The proposed tunncl is 24,lco lincal
feet the amount % earth TO be cxcayaicd, 36l 500
cubic yards: tbs estimated cost. 81 9ls 557: and u
was calculated that 500 days would be required
psc the work The state geoovst, Professor Edward
Hitchcock, President Of Amherst College. made survey
the Of the railway lie confident, from the
geological formation Of the mountain that composed
III tacoe or mica slate, with little limestone the
side extending TO great depth regular yerti
cal ayers. lie nstanced a which the range
had been cut down by stream fourteen hundred feet aud
exhibited the same formation He traced 10 their orr
gn Northsn New York few granite boulders found on
the mountain and ascrihed their removal TO ccbergs at
some remote period q time lie expressed confidence,
aso that the from Us position would be self sustain
lng and require masonry: that would be In great
free from water, while would be drilled much
faster than granite The committee found In New York a
bore which cut IT, way into granite Mt the
rate II -four inches per hour opening space Of seventeen
since been asccraincd g. been practically correct
adopted The legislature passed an act pedgng the
state credit Tor company 70 the amount of two millions
taking as security mortgage on the property 81 the
| road. valued at millions.
The following the Of the act Of 1854 under
4 whlCh cthte nia M NfdHNu-
y That the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company, nj
on annual special meeting duly notified for that pur
rose, shah assent Ia the provisions q the same.
. That the company shall execute bond IN such form
tho Attorney General prescribed IN tho issuing Of state
bond 70 The Western Railroad Company, With conditions
| az named IN the act
q The company shall execute mortgage 70 the state Of
the entire railroad Is said corporation, with ts income
and a the FRANCHISE and property TO them belonging the
whole De held by tho commonwealth 70 secure the per.
| Torrance Of the conditions Of tho bond.
The company shall 10 the state al the interest
now has or may obtain ~ the Southern Vermont Rail.
road Company.
g. That the company shall have obtained subscription
70 the capital stock the OF 600 (sx hundred
thousand dollarsl
q Tha, twenty pr cco,um on each and every share
| shall bave been actually paid in
Z They shall have completed seven miles Of their rail
| road two sections.
s. Tbat they shall have completed ono thousand lncal
feet their sad tunnel under the Hoosac mountain, In
one or more sections sze sufficient for one or more
railroad tracks.
Tho railway and tunnel duly commenced under the
provisions Of and early during the present year
the company notified the State authorities that tic work
50 far as had been completed ready for inspection
Thereupon his Excellcncy the Governor Mr. Banks ap
pu,cd committee ~ his councillors To inspect the cpc
a,ons ii the company This official visit was made on
The 81 SIscmbcr The committee entered tho eastern
end q the tunnel towards eton, then passed over the
mountain or hc purpose Of examining The west end and