Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-01-18
HUiiro0H I'WH ELL.

The contract between Walter and
Francis STANLEY and the Commonwealth
Of Massa chusetts, to complete the Hoosac
tunnel was signed on Thursday, the
oath of December. Hdaper's Weekly
says:
The contractors agree to complete the
tunnel and four and three-quarter miles
of track (the latter rated at 1000 per
mile) for 81 ,592 900. BY the first of May
1859, they are to have the work under
such progress as to carry down the CEN
trail shaft IA inches daily, and to form
from two faces $50 feet of tunnel per
month. BY the first of May, 1870, the
central shaft will have been carried down
to the base of the tunnel, which will fur
nish two additional faces, after which
the tunnel is to advance at the rate of
1900 feet per year. This will permit its
completion in less than four years, but
year more has been granted, although it
is expected that the work will be in rum
ming order in anvance OF that time.
This great enterprise, considered a
marvel engineering boldness and skill
at the time of its origin, and over which
the state has at times wavered, fearful
of the issue, must now be considered as
amply provided for. 1t is not at all i'm
probable that the Mount Cents tunnel
owes its origin to this scheme, and that
the vigor shown in piercing the Alps
has in turn had its effect in the renewed
energy of Massachusetts. The length of
the Hoosac tunnel is about 4 500 miles,
while that of Mount Gents is miles,
1044 yards. The latter was Undertaken
in the first instanca by Sardinia, within
whose territorial limits the mountain
was situated, but by the cession of Savoy
to France, and the subsequent adjust
ment of the boundary line, France ac-
quired nearly one-half of the tunnel, and
stipulated to pay that proportion of the
cost, the work to remain throughout UNI
der the charge of the Italian engineers.
The Mount Gents tunnel is construc-
ted without the advantage of central
shaft, as the mountain attains an eleva-
ton above the tunnel of about mile,
while the length of the Hoosac shaft.
located between the two spurs of the
When this shaft is completed four faces
will be exposed to workmen, with the
advantage of partial ventilation during
the progress of the work, and subse-
quently in operating the road. In order
to afford ventilation to the Mount Cents
wOrkmen, compressed air must be in
jected into the tunnel through iron
tubes. The air is highly compressed
near each portal by means ola mountain
stream. This air, when emitted at the
Roadway, furnishes not only cool at
mcsphere sufficient for the lungs, but
also constitutes force or power for
moving drills and removing the vitiated
atmosphere. Compressed air for pur-
poses of ventilation and for use as a mo-
tive power have been employed en- the
HOOsac tunnel and will doubtless, be
adopted by the new contractors. The act
for incorporating the Troy d Greenfield
road, on the line ofwhich the tunnel oc-
ours, was passed in May, 1913. The act
authorizing a loan of the credit of the
State for its construction was passed in
April, 1854. The Mount Gents tunnel
was commenced in November 1857.
Massachusetts, stands alone in her OK
penditure, while the Mount Cents tun-
mel is constructed with the funds of two
great empires.