Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-12-04
he scene mt the Opening OF the
Hoosac Tunnel.

ster pertoration, which has swallowed
SO much OF time, money and labor, is
complete from side to side of the Hoosac
Mountain, and Thursday the first pass
age through the mountain was perform |
ed by portion of the Legislative Com |
mittee on Railroads, a number of prom
inent movers in this great enterprise,
railroad men and representatives of the |
press
Three prime factors have secured the |
triumphant result The science of en-
glneering; hard, unremitting, MYRIAD |
handed toll, and nitro glycerine. Honor |
to each of the trinity. The final blast |
was fired at $50 p. M, and burst |
through the barrier of solid rock an ap. |
erature three feet by five. Before the |
smoke had cleared sufficiently to see the
way with distinctness the torrent of hui
man travel began TO pour, to continue |
thenceforth forever.
Up to Thursday morning the situation
was as follows The eastern and longer
half of the tunnel, extending from the |
central shaft to the eastern portal, dis
lance of -, 1877 feet, was complete ex-
cepting a little trimming of the sides in
places, which would occupy but few
days time. From the central shaft
some $50 feet, and from that point some
1000 feet of heading" had been driven.
making the hole full width, but only
feet high. From the western side 10, 1873
feet had been penetrated. Only thirteen
feet of rock interviewed between the two
headings, and even that was penetrated,
Wednesday, by test hole" so called
IA perforatiOu two inches in diameter,
which was started from the breast of
the central section on Tuesday after
noon, aud entered into the workings of
the west end section, thereby making q
speaking tube, go to speak, along which
the first communications through the
mountain were sent. This hole, thus
bored in advance of the regular work of
drilling, was made for the purpose of
passing through the electric wires from
The battery worked in the central sec
ton, by which TO discharge at the same
instant the blasts placed in the breasts
on the two sides of the mass of rock.
During the previous day and night,
the workmen on both sides were assiclu- !
ously driving the drilling machines, |
which bored the holes for the reception
Of the big blast of $50 pounds of nitro |
glycerine, which was to blow away the
midriff of rock and allow free passage
through the mountain. On each heading
twelve holes were drilled about ten 5et
deep on one side and about twelve on
the other The holes were entered di-
agonally, crossing each other In the rock
without interesting. These were charg-
ed with nitro-glycerine. Twelve or fif-
teen other holes were drilled but not
charged. These viii be available in ex-
panding the opening. -. ....-..-
Eastwartlly from the mass, 800 feet, /
an electric battery was placed, a wire
connection being made with each loaded
drill-hoie. About 500 feet distant each
way, barriers of timber were placed !
across the tunnel These are called ,
gates, and are tightly closed previous To !
firing. The drill machines and the
workmen are, Of course, on. the outside !
of the gates, On this occasion, ten
minutes were allowed for each gang to
close the gates and get well out of the
way. The point where the explosion !
was made is little less than two miles !!
into the mountain from the west portal,
or 10, $50 feet The height Of the moun-
tain above the grade, at the same point, |
is 1850 feet ........ ..-
At noon, the first official move was /
made toward the west shaft. Mr.. F. d. /
Fisher. the assistant engineer, to whose |
skill much of the recent progress of this |
section of the tunnel is due, took such |
representatives of the press as chose to !
go to the central shaft up the mountain, !
two and half milgs--a cherries sleigh |
ride. in a binding snoW-stOrm There /
rubber garments were furnished, and
the visitors stepped into the dripping, /
Shiny car. There was nothing terrify- /
ing in the descent, but one was wildly |
conscious of the utter helplessness of |
his situation. The car grounded easily |
as a gymnast aIights upon his toes. This /!
was cheerful beginning, and the faint /
hearted took courage. ..........
The tramway Car was next sought out. /
It had seats, which though foul and /
Shiny, like the shaft ear, were accepted |
gratefully in lieu of tedious walk along /
the shallow brook that runs between the /
rails and drains the tunnel. One work |
man propelled the car. Frequent drip /
ping showers fell as we passed along
The first impression on entering the I
tunnel here is, that it is disnally low, as I
if its roof were impending for crash. |
This is the heading made under State |
management. Little further on the /
Shanly work begins, and here the hight /
is proportional to the span. From the /
shaft the track extends INTO the noun I
tain 7.t00 feet Leaving the ear, q /
short but rough walk brought rs to the |
heading. Here the imperturbable man /
of glycerine explained how he was using /
seventy-fiye pounds of the subtle SUBJ |
stance. He was not asked to dwell on |
the subject, but all withdrew pretty |
quickly, expressing thanks. About 500 |
feet away from the drill holes was !
I,r, go Al mol
observations as might be taken in this |
dark. dripping. .interminable cavern. /
Here we Crouched against the sides of |
the tunnel or under the lee of the heavily |!
loa led tram caas to await the blast |
which would surely sweep through when !
the spark was lighted, and for ought we I
knew PROSTATE us as If it were a yOllcY /.
of grape OF. canister. Many of the old +
miners crouched here with us, and vari-
ouslv estimated what would be the effect. |
After mere than an hour waiting, in q /
distant, weird voice, the cry Of .'tire
was heard. Instantly il was caught up /
by a hundred shrilE voices successfully, !
md the solid walls and arches. sent back
the dismal sound, n0dalated into melo- |
dious music. I
Ten minutes of ghastly silence and /
then the crash. Every light was instant
ly extinguished, The ponderous note of
the explosion came like a single stroke
from the hammer of Thor, bringing the
mind to a realization Of irresistible force.
The adamantine walls took up the note,
in the same key, and re-echoed it like
rolling but not distant thunder As the
wave of sound passed off, cheers and
wells from half a thousand Threats certi-
fed the general JOY that the last grand
blast had been fired and bad been less
terrific than was feared.
Instantly the crowd rushed forward.
AS they started, the dense, suff93cating,
while held them back. at length the
welcome draft from the central shaft
was felt, and nearly all again pushed
forward, to meet at the scene of the e2-
plosion another frantic crowd, yelling.
bu0oino and shaking hands as they /