Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-01-06

ftoh tno OhiCdbo JOuIudis Dtct Hucf ZS.J
Two years and half have elapsed
since the completion of the lake tunnel,
and it has never, during this time, been
explored till yesterday. The Board of
Public Works thought best to have sn
exploration made, thnt the exact condi.
ton of the tunnel and the water therein
might be ascertained. Accordingly they
procured the services of Captain William
e Falcon, an experienced and skillful
diver, who yesterday, with City Engineer
Chesbrougb, and others, pro ceeded to the
shore shaft, which is located close to The
lake, and a few rods from the Water.
works. Arriving at the spot, Captain
Falcon donned his cumbrous dress, hel.
met, and twenty-pound lead-soled shoes,
the hose was attached to small steam
air pump in the neighboriDg machine
shop, and he proceeded to make his sub
marine visits. Three descents we're made,
and the results of these explorations were
as follows: I
At the mouth of the tn mel proper,
some seventy feet frem the surface, the
diver found deposit of sand about one
foot in depth, extending lakeward for
about fifteen feet, whence it gradually
decreased to nothing Bey ond that dis
tance eastward, for distance of two hun
dred and fifty feet, the diver found the
bottom coated, to the breadth of two or
three feet, with a sort of slime abou
one-quarter of an inch in thickness. Th g
vegetable growth is several inches long,
but lies fat to the brick, owing TO the
current setting in toward the shaft. The
top and sides of the tunnel are perfectly
pure and clear. The tunnel drift is six
feet above the bottom of the shaft, or
well, as it is called. This was. found
about half full of soft, muddy or clsyey
deposit, slopiDg from the bottom of the
tunnel to within foot of the bottom of
the we'll. The shaft above the tunnel is
quite clean, the diver being able to dis
tnguish every seam between the bricks.
A bucketfnl of the tunnel deposit being
brought up appeared to be nolhiDg more
than clean sand. A bucketful of the
soft, muddy deposit in the we'll was also
sent to the Rurfece. From the position
aud shape assumed by this latter deposit,
it has evidently been carried over tb
heavier deposit of sand by the upwsr I'd
current of the pump, and dropped aga in
at the bottom of the well by the counte r.
current produced by the first strikI ng
the slack water in another drift opp o.
site the tunnel. 1t must be borne in
mind that the channel through which I, he
water passes from the shaft to the puml ,s
is located at hight of thirty feet sboI e
the tunnel.
These results were quite satisfactory
more so than had been anticipated. A
section of iron pipe and railroad Ian
tern were also fshed up, and found to b
in good state of preservation. ltis thi,
intention of the Board of Public Works
to have similar examination of the
other end of the tunnel, at the crib, made
sooH.
OF couise Captain Falcon was obliged
to make his examination entirely by the
sense of feeling, Rs the darkness was so 4
dense as to almost produce pain, Some |
twenty-odd years of experience, however,
aided his researches. As a curious fact,
he states that every stroke of the great
pump of the works could be felt as well
as heard quite distinctly. The current
in the tunnel, on account of its smaller
dimensions, was much stronger than in
the shaft. This, too, was increase by his
body in the bulky costume, par tly OBJ
structiug its flow. So strong wa it, in-
deed, that it was impossible for him to
walk, and the progress he made was eff
fected by pressing his hands on tne WI lis
on either side Of him, and pushing h IN
self along, retaining his place when m ov.
inga hand forward by pressing his h, cad
or helmet against tho top ofthe tuDne !.