New-York tribune., 1873-06-30
THE BALTIMORE TUNNELS.
TWO MILES OF UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
COMPLETED.

MORE TRADE.
IRON AN OCCASIONAL cORRRsPoSDESr or THE TnfBUNEI
BALTIMORE, June 28.-The great need OF
this city has increased railroad facilities Although
OF tho first cities tho country 70 undertake tho
building and railroads, various circumstances
thrown her behind other cities this respect, and
up the present timo OF all the railroads cenong in
Baltimore only one. tho Baltimore and Ohio has been
able 20 establish a perfect communication with tide
water. It down 10 OF the best points In the
harbor covering considerable extent OF land IN every
direction and bringing direct from the Cumberland
to the steamships and sailing vessels lyin2a their
wharYes. The Northern Central and Western Maryland
roads, terminating In the northern secton Of the city
remained great disadvantage because Of their nab
i;y TO bring coal and other products 10 tde-watet.
The Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore ended
the eastern section Of the city, but connection
effected with the Baltimore and Ohio. making through
line to Washington and the West, by running
the cars through the streets o. tho city by
HORSEPOWER, % the depot Of the Latter com
pany. This clumsy method will tomorrow be
superseded by railway enterprise Of which wish 10
give YOU some account By the expenditure OF nearly
s. 100000 q system OF underground communication has
been constructed by which all tho Oads other than he
Baltimore and Ohio connected together and brought
10 tldewater. where there the most ample facilities
for handling large trade. at the smallest possible cost
for storage or shipment The disabilities under which
the Northern Central Railroad labored on account
! Of lack OF water communication were 80 evident
| that, IA early l55i. the CITY gave 70 that
company the interest held by It in the road amounting
10 s2OOOO0 In stock and sOoO0O in bonds, provided hs
! road should be completed Suubury. Penn. and eI
tended 10 Underwater These conditions wero never car
ried out and the grant was never made Indeed such
differences arose between the company and the city an
thores that the city finally advertised 7ae Of her N
trest IN the road and it purchased by the railroad
| company Ths caused an abandonment OF TIE entee-
prise although had already been eXp'oded upon
H. Subsequent enterprises 10 the same end Also iaeo'
and it was not until 1870 that the Canton Company
p,Nerfh corporation owning al extensive water 'front.',
and on whose lands tho projected extension was % tor
inmate determined % build railroad connecting Una
other railroads. and eused N common by them a.
ude-water communication. The building OF tae BaltI-
| nor and Potomac ROAD was No'eh"y oF
| posed by tho Baltimore and OHIO Company oat
| the work proceeded, and more than a year ago
il was opened FOR the running Of trains Is terminus h
the CITY has heretofore been the extreme northwes
ern section n such nconvenient locatona to limit
the amount Of its business To do away 'tn thlS dS-
advantage a magnificent railway tunnel has been punt.
extending mile and quarter upder JAe 7t'oJ'S VI
the city, connecting with the Union Railroad
| A TUNNEL SECOND ONLY 70 THE HoosAC.
Tho baltimore and Potomac tunue is with the excep.
on Of the Hoosao Tunnel the largest on this side OF the
| Atlantic It was buit 10 exceedingly short unr'
over coo feet per month being constructed for portion
q tho route, The ground VA broken upon June lsu'
and upon tho 27th of August the laying OF 'hA
masonry was begun; from that time = tne P'o5en'
the work has been prosecuted VITA mdr'e'ous
rapldity and tho tuuugt Is nov VomP'v"s
and double track laid throughout Tho 'oce employed
unon the work ranged from so 10 7o men az dhrent
periods. and the expenses amounted 70 nearly fiW""
ppr month The materials used IN building arr the oeSs
that can be procured The sprnga OF the afeh are Ok
solid masonry rocfaced, but dressed at the beds aud
Joints Tie arch IS built OF ave rings ot brcA anu
| m AT BlaCos where the
bottom was composed Of quicksinds or Fnu C@'l %
any kind an inverted arch was constructs19s9 ~ -
g1ye solid road-bed About 12j000) cubic Feet Of ma.
sonry we're used in the construction, and 5COOO brick
The track is balasted with limestone, and laid
with rails The cost OF the whole work s estimated
at g. 3OOOO The length OF the tunue IS 1879 feet but
OF this only $3.50 feet comprise the tunnel proper,
longth OF foet being taken up by open cuts From
its western portal Gilmer-st. the tunnel extends
through the city IN q north eastery direction, pi,snH
under the beds OF % streets sud avenues until emerges
at N0rthave. the northern boundary VI tie city, close
% the line OF the Northern Central Railway Or this
distance LOST feet were "drifted" worked entirely
under ground. The remainder bultby exeaVaiin<
the ground to the required depth and then constructing
the arch. filling in afterward. Many difficulties we're
in the prosecution Of the work, the greatest trouble
beng given by water Springs frequently encoun-
tered. and FIVE steam pumps we're kept constantly at
work In going through the city the cuts necessl'
|
cavatOus made many feet from tue foundations oI
the houses the underlying earth disturbed that
number of cracked aud sunken walls ara 70 be seen
along the route. The company we're obliged to pur
chase houses for this reason one alone costing
$4,000 The tunnel was built at depth OF trOm 20 10
25 eet The % feet IN hghE tho width Is Il foot
At one place on tue route there open cut 20 feet
In length, which viii be kept permanently open The
sides will be soddcd. a retaining wal built lonS from
facade 20 facade and local passenger depot erected
The rear OF building will bo carried down to the Dot
tom of the cut by square towers, aud passengers
Will descend them by sairways, emerging at the Ootsom
upon platforms extending alongside Of the railroad
Trains will directly under the tepoI coming irom
| the tunnel into the open cut
DIMENSIONS AND ROUTE Of THE USIoS TUNNEL
The Union Tunnel extends from G,eenmOunt-ayc. on
the west under thirteen streets and avenues built
entirely Of brick, i've rings being used and $40 ieos
in length %; feet high ami 25 feet wide An inverted
arch was constructed for wOthiris oi The distance tne
road-bed Of tho remaining portion resting upon sohd
rock. The cuts made in exiayating the eaitA 70 ths
proper depth varied from 60 70 - feet Only smah
portion was drfted and as part o the city through
which II was constructed yet built up. the cuts
were made with natural slope. saving the expense OF
a system OF timberng necessary an Dnldlng inc
Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel Tue Union Railroad
emerSes from the eastern portal passing over i've
! ovonues upon iron bridges. at a hight OF Is feet
| above tho stretched, curvtng toward the south'
| toward which it finally AIR lne terminating
at tidewaer In Canton. At distance OF thrce aud QUO
half miles from the western portal Of tbo tunnel
makes junction with the Philadelphia, wilmington
and Baltimore Railroad. It q dOubletiacb rssds
laid with 72pound iron rails. Both the Balmofs An"
Potomac aud the Union roads connect with the NofV
ern Central road near the northern LIMIT OF the city
Upon this side. Baltimore provided with natural ap
proach uuequaed great railway avenue JooSS
/ E,Ils Rms ufo hR q "A