The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-12-10
The Union Railroad.

The following account of the Union
Railroad and the immense tunnel
througll the northern portion of Balti-
more we take from the San of Thurs
day last: go
The Union railroad enterprise, started some
time since, with view OF giving an outlet at
Underwater to the various railroads, built and
contemplated, entering the city on its north
side, is assuming shape and proportions which
induces those having its management in hand
to believe it will be fully completed during the
ensuing two years. The line of the Union road
branches off from the Western Maryland rail-
road (and is practically an extension of the lat
ter about half mile east of 0wings's Mills,
in Baltimore county, and approaches and en-
tiers the citysby amore direct route than is Sc
cured for the Western Maryland by its present
connection with the Northern Central railway.
With view to its being built, in addition to
limited amount ofstoek subscribed by individ-
uals, the Western Maryland railroad subscribed
$50, 600, the Canton Company lthiough whose
the Northern Central Railway Company, which
some years since commenced building CON,
nection with their road from Canton, but sus-
pended it by injunctions, &C., comedies the
portion Of work done on that line which is to
be used By the Union Company, and which is
agreed to endorse the bonds of the company to
the amount of $1,000 This is the basis ON
which the work proceeds, but 1t IS contempla-,
ted that considerable revenue will be derived.
from the Potomac railroad when built, as that
corporation also will use the track, in conjunc-
ton with the Northern Central and Western
Maryland, to reach tide-water. There has al
ready been considerable amount of work exc
cuted on the Union road, and the contractors
are, it is said, pushing it forward as rapidly as
prudence will allow. f tlai'1fS.92 ,
An official, visit was yesterday paid to that
portion of the line of the Union railroad living
within the city limits, between Charles street
avenue and Belair avenue. The party consist
ed of Mayor Banks, II. L.. Brooke, president of
the Union railroad, City Commissioner Teg-
meyer, Thomas Seabrook, contractor Potomac
railroad, C. s. Emack, chief engineer of the
same road, Georges. Slothower, James Nc
Dougal and John T.. Ford, directors of the
Union Railroad Company, w. w. Taylor, en-
gineer of the same, and others. On leaving
Charles street avenue the line of the Union
railroad runs along the bed of the fails, direct
ly through the old Mount Royal reservoir, to
the Belvidere bridge, thence through the ra-
vino to the York turnpike, which it is designed
to pass under, the small stream running into
the falls through the ravine being already
brdged over by permanent stone structure
After passing under the York turnpike, the
railroad strikes the bed of Hoffman street, run
ming along the line of Greenmount avenue sew
eraf hundred feet, and until the hill is reached
approaching the Hartford turnpike. Here
large tunnel commences, reaching to within
short distance of the Belair road, the tunnel to
be from $500 to 1900 feet in length. The first
shaft has been sunk near the rear wall of the
cemetery, to the depth of 48 feet below the sur
face and about $50 feet cxcavated; but much
difficulty is experienced by the quantity OF wa
ter, it being necessaryto work day and night in
order to keep the shaft clear of water. The
L.. /, h
excavations now being made are through Dlue
and yellow clay and sand. The second shaft
has been sunk near the Hartford road, but so
far but little work has been done in conse
quence of the amount of water accumulating at
the base of the shaft. The contractors are about
placing steam engine at the shaft, in the hope
of so relieving it of water as to enable the
workmen to pursue their operations. The third
shaft is between the heads of Caroline and Eden
streets, and although there is also considera-
BILE amount of water here, large force OF
werkmen are making considerable progress.
The object of the visit yesterday was to de- |
termine whether, instead OF tunneiing. as at
present, it would not be more economical to
dig away the earth from the surface down, then |
arch over the track, and afterwards ell in, Mr. |
Tegmeyer, the city commissioner, being deter |
mined that the line of the road shall in no way |
interfere with the grades of streets already |
opened or to be opened.
The Northern Central Railway Company, it
nay be proper to state in this connection, has
purchased all the ground on Charles street av-
nue. running from the falls several hundred
Get north, and Including all that portion of the
Id Mount Royal reservoir not used for track
purposes, by the Union Railroad Company
The object of the Northern Central Railroad
company is to use this large property for depot
purposes, machine shops, &C., the same as is
low carried on at Bolton. The road in its ap-
roach to the city is also to be, considerably
hortened and Strengthened by the building of
bridge over the falls for the use of the road,
bout midway between the Belvidere and
;barles street bridges, and thus avoid the cir
uitous route now used by the way of the Boil
On depot, abandoning the latter as depot al
ogatber. The entire face of this section of
he city WILL in a year or two, assume great
nd important change.