The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1864-11-05
THE HoosAC TUNNEL.

THE HOOSAC TUNNEL.
A correspondent Of the Brattleboro' PLaai1
having visited the the HQosac Tunnel, with its
sur findings, furnishes the following interest
ing description Of that remarkable engineering
feat:
tor some miles before reaching the tunnel, we
notice We follow up the Deerfield River, a
huge rock on the bed of the river worked into
natural bridge, from tae action Of the water
upon the rolling pebbles which have cut entirely
through its center, leaving this a beautiful arch
ca bridge then, az We 60 on, Nature. IN a most
superb style, seems TO have put on her most
gorgeous attire in her most lavish manner-the
bold, rounded picturesque mountains on either
side seeming 90 throw themselves directly IN
your face, leaving only point for the river and
the railroad ana scarcely that without cutting
into lie mountain. Then On again, and again
we ind ourselves hemmed IL from every GUAR
ter but winding around these mountains we
set see daylight ahead. This scenery cannot
possibly be surpassed "a this continent, and if
we would see us equal we must 90 10 Switzer-
land, TO the Alps, aud gaze on the Jungtrau,
Mont Blanc, tlnsterhorn. t. the Strukhorn, and
"a the Peak of Terror which places we have Wis
tied, with others famous for reaching far
beyond the clouds also the noted Sion Tunnel,
Tow being worked through the Alps, and when
But let us return TO our subject, and et beauti-
ful Italy 20 for the present.
in going On we soon came to open way and
AZ once see a village OF houses large and small
The above diagram VIII Illustrate and enable
the reader more fully 70 understand this great
and wonderful undertaking. This tunnel, when
finished, will b. four and twc-thIrds miles il
length. But one may ask, How long IL viii he
before the cars viii 60 through We answer
perhaps some six pr eight years, the differ
ent sets Of hand, 0rk day and night. At the
west end, by the drawing it may be seen, the
best portion OF "a mile has been cut, and is now
being brought to its proper grade. Also notice
on the drawing the upgrade Of - feet TO the
halfway ur central shaft, now in process OF be-
iugwOrked down. This upgrade is Just enough
TO drain Oh any water that may chance TO ooze
out from overhead. This central shaft swhen
brought down 10 the grade of the tunnel, viii
be LOIS feet IN depth then on going wes- We
come 10 the highest portion OF the mOunt'in
under which the tunnel viii be cut. which
heghth above The tunnel win be 1875 feet
going on westerly, we next come TO the other
only shaft as may be seen by the drawing,
worked down and finished to the grade q the
tunnel, which is BIT feet IN depth. Also see by
the engraving that the tunnel Is being worked
from this shaft both east and west also see, BY
the drawing, q cutting in at the west end, 80
that when the central shaft is finished there viii
be six faces to work atone at the east end,
two at the central shaft, two at the shaft,
and one az the western terminus.
The tunnel and The shafts we examined, and
find it solid rock. The size Of the tunnel is
p feet in height, and "a feet wide. The rock
at each OF thWopenings is about the same thing
mica slate, with some small veins Of quart. The
caliber Of the shafts are some or . feet by IA,
And now, Mr. Editor, should We stop here, the
proper and extended view could not be seen
then let us 60 back 20 the eastern terminus and
see a gigantic work, that when finished viii be
worth over half million Of dollars 70 any com
pany for manufacturing purposes
When the tunnel Is finished in connection
with the railroad, direct as it VIII be from Troy
to Boston, with grade Of about half that in the
Western Railroad. This water-power being Gre
ated is to bring wafer from the Deerfeid River,
raised by a most beautiful dam, and drawn BY
the canal some half mile to near the eastern
terminus Of the tunnel, where most grand fall
will be obtained. This water is TO be used on
wheels for the purpose of drilling by compressed
air, for blasting Of the rock in the tunnel, the
same as that now being used in cutting through
the Alps in Italy.
The number Of men now empioved on all these
works u some zoo, and is soon to be brought
up to loo. Steam engines are used on these
works At the different openings the at the
east end is used for the purpose of drawing out
Of the tunnel and bad or smoky air by a suction
process. The perfect system there adopted is
most admirable-every in his place, and
energy marks each working spot, and each blow
given makes a mark for good.
We are much indebted TO the Hon. Hiram +.
Mills, and the Hon. Mr.. Brown, engineers on
these works, for their very kind attentions to
enable us to obtain reliable statistics relating
to this gigantic and most noble enterprise