The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-16

LAKE Tunnel AT CLEVELAND, UHI0.-
Few Of the citizens of Cleveland have any
definite idea of the lake tunnel-that gi-
gantic. enterprise to supply our city with
pure water-and still less of the progress
that has been made. They only know that,
goaded to desperation sitter long quafing
liquid called, for convenience sake, water,
redolent of petroleum and favored by the
sewerage Of the city, they voted by o large
majority the issueof bonds to the comforta-
BILE amount of $500, 600 for the construction
of the lake tunnel, similar to that which
has been the boast and pride of the Chica-
goose. During the year past the plans of
the work have been perfected, in their
minutest details, by the water-works engi-
neer, and approved by the commissioners !;
the shore shaft has been entirely completed,
and the tunnel itself has advanced under
the lake o distance of one hundred and
twenty feet.
The general plan is after the Chicago
lake tunnel, which has been Several years
in successful operation-a shore shaft sunk
to the necessary depth, q tunnel extending
under the lake, and an outer shaft and crib,
with inlets for the supply of water. The
result of careful soundings taken last sum-
mer along the entire line proposed was
satisfactory in the highest degree, and such
as to dispel every doubt of perfect success.
Immediately under the water is q layer Of
sand afew feet in thickness, and below this
a great bed of hard, blue clay, extending
to depth of fifty or sixty feet. Had this
been "made to order" it could not have
been more favorable for the prosecution of
such an enterprise, and the commissioners
felt amply justified in undertaking the work
at once.
The tunnel will extend under the lake
distance of six thousand six hundred feet
o mile and. q quarter-in a direct line,
bearing trife west of north, at right
angle from the shore line. 1t is nearly cir
cular in form, the horizontal diameter in
side the brick work being four feet, and
the vertical five feet two inches.
The mining is tedious process, as there
is only space for one man to work. The
instrument used is pick with bitt nearly
as broad as an adze. The clay is so strong
and adhesive that. by the most vigorous
blows of the sturdy miner only little frag-
ments are Clipped out as large as mans
fist. The work progresses night and day,
the miners working by reliefs the entire
twenty-four hours. Not particle of natural
light penetrates that dark cavern, and night
and day are the same, the watch being the
only means by which to note the flight Of
time.
The highest skill of the engineer is called
into requisition to direct the tunnel in its
proper course. The exact mathematical
precision necessary may be better appre-
ciated when we state that in the coming
spring the crib will be placed in position,
the outer shaft sunk, md the work of ex-
cayating the tunnel will be carried on from
both ends, meeting midway. .-. ~,
The engineer estimates that two years
from the lst of January, 1870, will be
necessary to complete this stupendous work
Two hundred and twenty thousand cubic
feet of clay must be taken out, and nearly
two million brick laid Cleveland Herald