Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1872-11-07
sUrRo TUNNEL.

A reporter of the Virginia Enterprise
gives an interesting account Of visit to
the Sutro Tunnel, ron which We make
the following extract;
miles in length. Its direction is nearly
east and west, and on this line shafts are
being sunk at distances of about mile
apart. When these shafts are down to
the tunnel level it is intended to run
from them drifts in easterly and westerly
directions in a straight line so as to con-
meet one with the other. By this means
the work of constructing the main tunnel
is carried on by eight different tunnels,
each little over half mile in length,
consequently, when the shafts are down,
the time of constructing tunnel over
four miles in length will be reduced to
the time Of making one tunnel half
mile in length. Up to the present time
the work Of sinking shafts has been car
ried on in primative style, portable en-
cines having been used for hosting at
each one of the shafts. These are being
replS by new and improved machin.
cry, >Hsiing in the neighborhood of half
al llion OF dollars. Improvements are
being made at the mouth of the tunnel,
which, upon completion, will cost sew
eral hundred thousand more.
There being considerable grading
to be done at the mouth of the tunnel,
| to facilitate the construction Of the addi-
| tional buildings and engagements re-
quired, one of Allison Il Bananas
Diamond Drills (of which the company
have two) has been called into requisi-
ton, and has done good work, having
drilled an aggregate depth of 500 feet,
or 40 holes, averaging II feet inches
each, and ranging from 2teet in the hard
boulders to % feet in the congomera-
ton of cement, gravel, sand and rock
composing the banks to be removed.
Notwithstanding the very trying charac-
ter of the ground operated upon, the
drill has made the very creditable
average of about an inch per minute,
and occasionally, when running at full
speed, making two inches per minute in
hard rock. The base OF these holes
having been chambered with giant
powder, from one to three kegs of blast
ing powder are put in and fred in the
usual manner. when the hundreds of
tons thrown ont and loosened mp by the
charge amply repays the trobuls and
expense of drilling. The company have
also one of Burley's Percussion LriIls at
| work i. each of the shafts as well as in
the tunnel, which will doubtless
materially hasten the work. The
town Of Sutro is very pleasantly situated
in the valley, short distance east of Mr..
Sutro's residence. 1t is furnished with
water from a large reservoir situated on
sda hill, about 200 feet higher than the
principal buildings. The reservoir is
supplied with excellent water from the
springs on the 81 lie of the mountain. As
soon as the mills are constructed, it is
the intention of the company to bring in
additional water from the Carson River
by means of iume. A narrow gague
railway will be built from the river to the
town, a distance of one mile, for rhc pur-
pose of hauling wood. The track viii be
of same gauge as the one in the tunnel.
Two pony engines have been ordered
from the East for service on this road.
1t is believed that at no distance period
the company will buili railroad of
four and a helf-foot gauge to connect
with the Virginia and Iruckee or Central
Pacific