The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-24
THE HOOSAC TUNNEL.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE WORK.
IL VIII Be Completed In
Three Years.

unnel appreciate It's Importance either q great
undertaking In engineering In relation 10 its value
when Completed. with all the modern appliances
that have been brought to bear In It's construction
the work mas dragged along through many years,
fully demonstrating that mountains cannot be
''bored" with lmpuny. Its construction has already
cost millions OF dollars and hundreds OF lives. It's
length, when completed, VIII be four ana three
quarter miles the entire distance, excepting afew
hundred feet at the western end being cut through
solid rock.
PRESENT CONDITION.
A measurement OF the excavation had lust been
made. II showed that 7,o43 feet had been accom-
pished at the eastern end, and 49e2 at the western
end. This leaves about two and one-half miles yet
to accomplish. The Messrs shanley, who now have
the work under contract. are pushing 1t forward
with much greater rapidly than ever before. About
nifty feet per week IA the average progress, and
when the central shar shall have been sunk TO the
grade OF the tunnel lof which IL now lacks ninety
four feet headings Will be started both ways from IT,
when more rapid advance will DO made. The con-
tractors are confident that trains will be running
through the tunnel WITHIN three years. Their time
for finishing the contract expires March ], 1874
TO THE TUNNEL.
Up through the valley OF the Hudson for one hum
dred and nifty miles Troy and from thence
through the lesser valley OF the Hoosac for about
thirty more brings you to North Adams. which is
located at the western base OF the oosac mountains.
pretty BUSTING VILLAGE Il u.s. with good hotel Two
interests. We reached North Adams at night, and
early the Following morning prepared for the trip TO
the purpose and mounting him We started OIL A
ride OF half mile brought us to
WEST END
OF the tunnel. Twenty-Five hundred feet further M
the mountain we came 70 the "west shaft, )" which
that visitors well received by the superintendent
and employees, and are furnished with every facility for
IS made in sort OF box elevator omen on one side
TO admit such a. the rock and debris are taken
upon. One of these elevators Il coming up while
the other Is going down. The depth OF the shaft Is
3lS feet nearly 100 feet more than the height or
Trinity church spire. DOMINIC rubber suit, which
was provided for the purpose. and with feet encased
In rubber boots, we made the descent In company
with the foreman OF the gang OF men then at work.
From the bottom OF the shat TO the west terminus
the tunnel Is completed. For portion Of the dis
lance, consequence OF the shattered condition OF
the rock, II is encased with brick. The tunnel Is
completed for about 500 feet beyond the shaft the
entire distance at this end being 1902 feet. With
our ''lanterns aimly burning" We marched through
the darkness, occasionally tumblng piece OF
rock or a timber Some five hundred feet from the
end we were forced TO Chamber up over the rocks
several feet for the heading Is carried forward at
the top instead OF on the regular grade There was
a noise OF half dozen cotton mills and as many
journey, and, after jumping aside several
times to. avoid imaginary cars, we gathered
very top OF his voice. that the drilling machines were
In operation. These drills are driven by compressed
rock now being worked through is quite hard Nitro
| glycerne Is being used at present. The workmen
here as at other points, are divided INTO three gangs
working eight hours each per day. 30 that there 10
never any cessation OF hostilities. The drilling
machines seem to do their work rapidly and eIectu:
ally, and they create shower OF dust and Babel or
sounds that makes the rock bound compartment
| perfect Pandemonium. There were drills
! us, with the miners candles. IKE mutt
| tude OF nrenles throwing ntful glare
| over the scene. 1t q place that no one would
care 10 remain In long, and how the workEen stand
1t IA mystery. To be immured In such gloomy dun
geon any way bad enough, but to be smut up with
l an
After being hauled up again into daylight, ana
| laying aside our rubber garments, we mounted our
OVER THE MOUNTAIN,
distance by the zgzag road OF nearly eight miles
| to the eastern end or the tunnel. And a delightful
ride 1t was, good road. well shaded ana an album
enjoyable. up and still up the mountain SIDE with
the beautiful Hoosac valley stretching out far below
again on the other SIDE with the picturesque Deer
| field river and valley at your feet. There are some
tain but the nigh Country n the MAN, - not very
inviting Midway Of the termini OF the tunnel ana
in sort OF miniature valley on the top OF the noun
| THE CENTRAL SHAFT
It's mouth Is surrounded by large wooden struo-
| ture, containing the engines for working the ar
pumps, hoisting the buckets, &c. Being DESTROYS OF
| seeing every portion OF the work, We asked and
buckets. The sensation Of being lowered rapidly
| into the earth, with the horrible possibility OF
breakage somewhere and consequent terrible
shaft s about $50 feet and the bucket Is attached
an elevator which runs in grooved tmbers TO within
about fifty feet Of the bottom. Two minutes Is the
| average time occupied in lowering hosting O
bucket. Soon after leaving the surface were
shower Of that nuid The pumps are kept constantly
at work TO pump out the water, which collects rap
e W se os their aaa
| OF the burning OF the buildings over the SHAFT by
which all means Of escape were Gus on. the SHAFT
rapidly flied with water. and the bodies not re-
| covered for nearly year, when the buildings and
pumps were replaced. Many other aocidenis in
volving the loss OF about sixty lives altogether have
occurred at this shaft There Is now series or lad
ders extending TO the bottom by means OF which the
HOSTING s As We left the surface nothing
could be seen OF the miners lights below, could
gn be es1.s f we aad
the roof over the mouth OF the shalt Before reach
ing the bottom, however. the lights could be seen
including the cinklng Of hand drills, came
up. Near the bottom the bucket was detached
rest OF the way, quickly descending to the moor
| OF the pit, among the w0rkmen. The drilling here
name the Ssg 0 81
reaches the grade Of the tunnel. Then headings Will
be started In both directions. We did not alight
| from the bucket, as we should have slapped into
foot or so OF water or else got In the way OF the
workmen. Besides, the numerous candles Afforded
| abundant means OF examining the premises The
engineer above being signalled we were soon on
upward way, the bucket being raised slowly In order
| That we might examine the work. From The central
shaft we rode down the eastern side OF the noun
| tain to
THE EAST END
| OF the tunnel. Here 7,04s feet, or nearly mile and
half, had been accomplished. The trip into the
mountain at this point was made moro rapidly and
| pleasantly than at the others. Mounting an empty
| car, drawn by mule and driven by boy, we were
conveyed TO the heading at spanking pace. These
cars little trucks or carriages six feet by four
and about two feet high and are used to carry out
the blasted rock. The peroolaton Of the water
through the rock overhead, short distance from
| the entrance gave promise OF discomfort. but the
drippings ceased as more solid rocK was reached.
The darkness became intense, and seemingly blacker
from the feeble lantern carried on the car. The
murkfness enveloped us ike q mantle, and the light
scarcely penetrated It, A look back disclosed only a
slckly, blush light at the entrance. and
| even that soon faded away Our driver suddenly
screeohed out Down with yer head ., ana we huE
rledly followed his Injunction just in time TO AVOID
| collision with a sort OF timber work erected where
soft rock was encountered. Finally, group OF Are
bugs dancing before US with the sound OF the drills
gives US warning that we are approaching the spot
| where the nnishers are at work. They are on a
platform above our heads, and we barely caught
glinpse OF them as we bobbed our heads to avoid
| the timber work We might ho going IN or we