The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1872-06-15
THE sUTHO TUNNEL.

on Thursday morning for Virginia
city. Arriving at the passenger depot
at that elevated town, we found j. d.
Bethel, Superintendent OF the Sutro
Tunnel, waiting for us with a fine
buggy team, and We're driven over the
new road to shaft No. 4, which is go
feet deep; from thence to shaft No. },
2S3 feet deep; from thence by a very
circuitous route to shaft No. ,, which
We descended, ut being SOB feet deep,
in a full suit of rubber clothes, with a
sou-wester to match; got into the
bucket and started; it is very wet, and
is the longest shower bath we ever
went into. Arriving at the bottom we
we're surrounded by five men, i'll gum
clothing, and bv two of them assisted
out of the bucket on to terra l-ina-
said terra being covered with water 4
foot deep. We had not much business
to ranSact there, and not wishing To
| detain Mr.. Bethel, gave the signal to
rl>e-and riz. No. | shaft Is us feet
deep. An extra shaft has been COM
menced near the tunnel, both above
ground, and by raising from the in
side, which will, when completed, Oh
viate the necessity of using the blower
| for the ventilation of the tunnel, ami
enable the superintendent to nave
everything cleared AVA for the pur-
pose of brea>ting it out to lis full size.
Al each shaft is a commOdlOu> board
ing house, blacksmith shop, and all
other needed out buildings: each en-
EIne house has a steam fire pump.
small, out beautifully compact. n
buildings are only temporary, having
been erected during the past Winter
months, and When lumber was scarce.
Grading is going On with a view to the
building of substantial shalt ana me-
chanic> houses. Each shaft has a fore
man. engineer, carpenter ana blach-
smith, and all goes on like clock
work. The new road from Virginia
% the mouth of the uniel was built
in the Winter months, and speaks
more for the energy of the >uperln-
tendent than anything connected
with the undertaking. Arriving at
the summit OF Mount Emma, the most
beautiful view Imaginable opens out.
Carson river, bOrdered with willows,
like a huge green sided snake, winds
its circuItouS way on tothe great sandy
desert, while in the distance can De
seen clearIvthe Humboldt Mountains.
1t is a magnificent landscape, n the
whole Journey, with the exception OF
going down shaft No. >, was a rich
treat. Atthe mouth of the tunnel is
quite a w There is a large machine
sh0p. where everything Is manu-
featured necessary to the work; car
penter shop, engine house. a fine
office, to which we were kindly wei
coined by the clerk of the works, Mr..
Cheminant. \ magnificent building
i in course of erection nearthe tunnel,
for the officers of the com panV. IL
stands on the side hill and can be seen
for miles around. 1t will be fitted up
with a view TO comfort, economy and
beauty of proportions; a mansard o O
and cupoia Will the build
ing. Near the tunnel Is a boarding
house 20X10 feet, several commudlou>
lodging houses, and a fine stable.
Evcrythiny wears an air of neatne>S
and good management. There are 80
men on the pay roll of the company
and not a single ChInanan. Mr..
Bethel is lust the man for the position
of superintendent. He commenced
the work, Is acquainted with all It's
ramificatiOnS. i essentially a miner
and a man OF the people. He visits
and s~uperviseS every department, and
seems to have the good Will of every
man on the works. The project is a
gigantic one, and through all the bur
lesque and mean p~ettifosging of its
enemies is steadily rising in wondrous
strength, and stands out to the people
of the state as the peoples work and
the workingInan's friend. We shall
have more particulars to morrow.