The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-02-25

y
1t is generally known in this country.
aud 10 scientific circles in Europe, that
the gigantic undertaking of bridging
the Mississippi river ut this point has
been already begun, and that for more
than year, when the stage Of the river
would permit, the sound of ponderous
machinery has ceased mol day nor night.
but the work of excavation has been
going on until the solid rock has been
reached for the foundation of til. piers
upon the western shore.
One of the piers is already above low
water mark-a triumph OF mechanical
skill. The blocks OF stone Of which it
is built are huge as those of the pyra.
mids, and yet by the application Of
original principles of mechanical aud
engineering skIil, these gigantic blocks
are moved as easily as tho common
foundation stones Of our dwellings. The
outer pier is not yet begun, the excava
tons therefor not being quite completed.
AT this point the wonders begin, the
end Of which is not yet. What effect
the discovery Of this tunnel under the
river may have upon the location of the
bridge the board Of engineers will soou
determine.
About half past four p NJ, yesterday,
the workm men engaged in blasting the
rocks in the bottom of the excavation,
for the foundation OF this pier, discharg
ed 40 extraordinary large blast Of pow
der when, immediately after the r port.
a strange phenomenon presented itself
Iustead OF having to wait the usual time
for the smoke to clear away, they saw
IL ascend rapidly 10 column as though
issuing from the smekestack Of one of
our steamers. This soon cleared, and
1t was found that steady amount of
air with strange, damp odor was issu
ing from the cayernous exc walton,
showing that an opening had been made
Into some unknown subterrauean pas
sage. Upon descending TO the bottom,
the usual mud and water had disappear.
cd through dark, deep opening in the
rock about ten feetin diamater, made by
the last discharge oil powder. Ropes.
ladders andtorches were Immediately
procured and careful explorations begun.
We cannot now catcr in.o detailed dc
serptiou, but having been invited to
accompany the board OF engineers with
a delegation from the Academy OF
Science and Historical Society We must
reserve iuil exposition OF this wonder
fui discovery until We shall have made
more careful survey. Suffice 1t for
the present to say 1t Is certain that it
passes entirely upder the river to the
Illinois shore, aud whether 1t Is wholly
the WORK oil some ancient race who once
Inhibited tins hind, whose intSrestin
remains are strown SO thlckly up and
down tins great valley, or whether it is
partly natural aud partly artificial re-
mains to be seen. In any case il is
'noue the less stnpendous. The main
passage We should judge to be about
twenty feet high by fifteen broad, and
Systematically arehed overhead; part OF
the way by cutting through solid rock
ana part ny substantial masonory. The
bottom seemed to be much worn a if
oy carriage wheels oil some sort. There
are many lateral passages which OF
course We had no time to enter, These
are about eight ieet high and six feet
wide. In the main passage We saw no
tools or implements OF Workmanship, but
on entering one Of the lateral passages
We soon emerged into a large chamber
supported by leaning pillars OF solid
rock when the chamber was excavated. |
Around the walls Of this chamber there
were what seemed TO be inches closed
with closely lifting slabs, each slab COW
cred with inscriptions IN Runic uniform
characters which 20 our eyes bore
marvellous resemblance to those upon
the slab IN tho Mercantile Library,
which was brought from the mines oil
Neesen. Between the niche were pro
Jec,inS pliasters, with draped Abyssinlan
OF Egyptian heads, which presented
mos. Impressive ana awe inspiring effect |
as ,hey Were Illuminated by the torch
i'snt' those sweet, sad faces looked
down upon Us from the ancient ages,
IKE inc souls otthe departed One OF
fre passages opening Oh the north side
seemed % follow the course OF the river,
anu u y believed extends to the great
a mouou VOW oeiag re- aovedby the North
~ ''soa s, i'a'i'oau, ~hich was the theme
" 1870. , ~. -. lcn,ats ~ tue last
,hasn y ,"e i's.ot'oa' .oc'e'y 10