The New York herald., 1871-11-17
Graphic Description Of a TwO-Mile Ride
Into the Bowels Of the Earth.
Stage Journey Over the Sierra Nevada Of
New England in the Midst OF a Thu4.
der Shower and Snow Storm.
Banquets on the Rail, at North Adams
and Fitchburg.

the Seven-tnlry traln ana JOIN party OF rallrOad
superintendenls IN an excursion to the Hoosac Tun-
nel.o This was the brief and significant telegram
received by the HERALD correspondent. few days
since, from MIR. Raggles, the veteran manager OF
the Vermont and Massachusetts and Troy and
Greenfield Railroads. accepted the invitation,
and together with thirty or forty OF the prin-
cipal railroad mon OF Ii country, witnessed the
progress and work In wha ~ill In couple of years
hence be the longest, lare ST and most complete
tunnel on the American Continent and only second
to any In the whole world. u generally admitted,
] believe, that this country can boast OF no
modern enterprise whatever in connection with
the building OF railroads which begins TO approach
in magnitude and dinfculties surmounted that OF
this very HoOsac Tunnel. 1t Is one OF those great
works which, when once viewed and fully compre.
hended. seems as If 1t was wrought by nature
rather than by the ingenuity and perseverance Of
man. Apart from the commercial advantages
which Will be derived from 1t By an increase OF IA
cilities tor transportation between the East and
West the work will be an important one as showing
the progress. In spite Of ali apparent natural OBJ
etructlons. which the Americans are making in the
matter OF railroads. twenty years, yes, even ten
years ago some OF the best engneers in the country
declared that five mile tunnel through the solid
rock OF IIoosac Mountains was an impossibility,
and that none but. the insane would seriously
were others who had faith in the undertaking. and
80 clearly was the feasibility Of the enterprise ex-
planed to various legislatures tn it sufficient funds
were appropriated from time to time 10 carry for
ward the great work, anu It's completion within q
couple Of summers now almost an absolute GER
tainty.
THE PARTY OF VISITORS
who participated In the inspection OF the great en-
terprise the other day was, as before intimated
0T maj NJ m ctto
railroad men in this section OF the country and
their examination Of the tunnel was undoubtedly as
entertaining ana interesting TO them as were the
various banquets furnished by Coone! Ruggles, the
host. during the two or three days. tour, and the
various demonstrations OF the people along the line
Of the Vermont and Massachusetts and Troy and
Greenfield Railroads. Among the prominent super
ln;endents forming the Board OF Visitors and Tx
animation were Dir. Blood, OF the Boston, Clinton
and Ftchburg; M Folsom, OF the Boston and Provi.
dence; Mr. Tucker, Of the Flushing tLOng Island)
and North Side; Mr.. Ladd, OF the New Bedford and
Taunton; Mr.. Stone OF the Connecticut Valley; Mr..
waterbury of the NaugatucK; Mr.. Muligan, OF the
Connecticut River; Mr. Todd OF the Northern New
Hampshire; Mr. Chamberlain, OF the Concord; Mr.
Kendrick OF the New Orleans and Jackson; Mr..
Brown, OF the AndrOscoggn tMane); Mr.. Stone, OF
the Providence, Warren and Bristol; Mr.. Haywood,
OF the Fitchburg and Boston, and Mr.. Cushing, OF
the 'Joe Cushing" Railroad (between Fitch.
burg and Punchbrookl Others, prominent in
railroad life. but pot strictly railroad super.
iniendents, were also present In limited mum.
bers, including such as Mr. Walter Rugges
OF the Lake Snore and Michigan Southern; George
NJ. TOwne, director in the road penetrating the
tunnel tand the man who has, probably, done more
than all others combined to secure the completion
OF the great work. and Mr.. Elbers or the firm Of
Tn, 4 il,o~o o1nlr
facturcrs IN Prussia.
rue INEVITABLE SPECIAL TRAIN
was provided to convey the party, and very ele-
giant one 1t was, too. Assistant superintendent
Cornee was the master Of ceremonies SO far as the
train was concerned, ana, under mis- direction, IL
was very elaborately decorated Doth outside and In
1t consisted Of one drawing room car, sleeping
coach, one hotel or dining room car and one bag.
gage car. The locomotive was most generously or
namcnted win Gags, bunting and choice flowers
and on the tender tender on either s,ae were various
mottoes or Inscriptions applicable to local events
in some OF the principal towns through wnlcn, tne
forty or ni,y miles an hour. Gilm6re's band, 10 the
number OF dozen pieces, was along, and furnished
the nsnay s'a and "n,et reilroaI manaGers u qnund
II impossible TO resist the temptation 10 indulge In
monentary breakdown, and their EFFORTS In shaking
the light iantasticn were rendered somewhat lud-
crous 10y the rapid motion Of the train. Between
Greenfield and the tunnel the inner man was re-
frcshed with very. clever repast one which, con-
siderng the probable dficuties OF a culinary de-
partmeDt moving through the country at lightning
speed was indeed as remarkable as it was elegant
and complete Ill every detail. A table, extending
the full length Of the dining car, afforded
the whole party, aud the various courses served
embraced all The dehCacies Of the season.
JOURNEY INTO THE TUNNEL.
TO penetrate the bowels OF the earth distance OF
couple OF miles requires no small degree OF nerve
and courage and when the party arrived oil the
eastern portal there were not few who rather
rnl,,p nVAnr Ia a.
particularly about II" said one and II am afraid |
viii spoil my hat" said another. and go IL was with
excuse Of some Sind and The few brave ones such %
as your correspondent, had 10 actually shame the
more tmid into witnessing the interior OF the
great WORK which they had come so lar 10 inspect.
Finally all but half dozen or so gathered sufficent
courage 10 enter, and those who were left bennd
tas was found out aIterwardsl occupied the time by
becoming accessories 10 crime in encouraging q viO
laiion oil that well known Massachusetts, law which
forbids the sale OF sweet cider.
THE MEANS or CONVEYANCE INTO THE TUNNEL
was by no means luxurious and hardly CON-
Portable one. lalf dozen rude, muddy cars ordl-
narIly used for bringing out the debris Of rocks
The nnnel progresses, were all that were furnished,
aud these were drawn by miniature doubleendcr
locomotive. The contrast between this and the pa
atal trains which had just been left was painfully
ielt bat very properly there were no complaints.
e Sd g' a o nt The rS
ness. For moment we had dismal, lonesome
sort Of twilight, ana then all was darkness, ana
terrible darkness too The head.li.nts OF the ILL
putian engine which pulled us IN from the cheerful
world without were the only signs OF lie, and
these were obscuTed more than tw0tHrus OF the time
by the volumes OF smoke which came from the loco
motive. At first the company eigned TO be de-
lighted, but as the rickey Old dumpy cars began 10
IN .rease In speed, and as the track became appal-
lngly rougn, even those VINO mad followed railroad.
ing all their lives began to snudder and wish them
selves once more surrounded by the pure light OF
heaven. One OF the number-a man whose voice
sounded like that OF The superintendent OF a railroad
connecting Rhode Island and Massacnusetts--at-
tempted 10 manifest an ENJOYMENT OF his ride, but
his eJacula aIons Of admiration were In such husky
ftnt altnn I'd IN
moved very rapidly and as the speed increased the
tears OF the nervous were c0rresponalngy null
tiped. There were halt dozen or so In
each OF the dumpes, and all cluDg 10 each 0tner
with grasp not unlike that OF the terrible death
grip itself. The light from the entrance OF the tun
mel had disappeared long, long since, Tor We were
now upwards OF mile inside The great vault or
channe. OCCASIONALLY the dim lantern OF work
man was observed, but these and the now and then
visible light OF The engine were all 10 anord relief 10
The pro 0.ound and Indescrlbabe darxneas which we
were now becoming somewhat accus omed to- AT