, 1874-11-11
THE H00SAC TUNNEL.
Interview with MIR. Shnnly. Ono
of tho Contractors.
How to Utilize It.

! low TO Ot1l1ze It.
Among the prominent gontlomen now whiting
Chicago is kr. Wattor. shanly, Of Montreal,
WHO, with hia brothor, constructed tho Hoosao
Tunnel, undor tho Groom Nfounsnns, tn tho Troy
j. Boston Railroad, short distance caas OF
North Adams, Mass. Ho Ia stopping ut No. 111a
indiana avonue, tho residence Of frond, and
choerfuily accorded an interview to d TRIBUNE
reporter who called OH him last evening. Tie
conversation, which had special roforunce to tho
tunnel, in Buhtoined;
Roporter-What waa
| THE OBJECT Of CONSTRUCTING TIE ruNNEr7
blr. shanty-To got better and shorter limo
from Troy to Boston, In order to GO mpoto with
tie Boston & Albany Road.
Roportor-Whas advantages hayo boon gained
Mr.. Shanly-Tho line Ia II milos shorter, aud
tho grades 90 foot loaB to tho milo. rho grade
by waJ Of tho tunnel Ia only 90 foot to tho mile,
while on the othor route it is 90 foot. aoograph-
| ically as aatd, it Ia II miles shorter, but tue
| difference in grndoB will onnbo tho Company
operating the road to haul freight Ut cheaper
| rates than those exacted by tho Boston l. Albany
Road, since q locomotive con pull twice ~ many
| cars, and THUS reduce expenses. Tho difrercnce
in the gradea is more important element than
the saving III distance.
DIMENSIONS.
Reportcr-How long III the tunnel?
Mr.. Shnnly-A little ahnrt Of miles.
| /, Heporter-How vide and htgh2
width, but It is really 25, the height In the con-
| tire iB 90 feet.
Reporter Wide enough, then, for double
track7
| Mr.. shanly-Yes.
Reportor-When way tho work comn,enccd7
| Dir. Shauiy-We took hold Of 1t under our con-
| tract In 1863. Tho H.ate OF Massachusetts had
boon working at It ier oightoon years previous to
that time, al intervals, and sunk great doal Of
| money.
Neportor-What was your contract prico?
Mr.. shanly-Foar million six hundred thou
sand dollars.
Reporter-How much will DO tho total cost s?
Kr. Shau1y-About s10,G00,000, including oil
that was thrown away, and interest Oh tic old
expenditures.
hoporter-Whou will It bc completed?
Mr. shanly-Our contract expired Sept. l, but
VIC woro delayed by the State. Tho tunnel
proper Ia finished, but
THE TRACK IN NOT YET LAID.
Roporter-Whas time will ba required 10 lay
the track ?
Mr.. slanlg-Wo can put 1t down in week.
authorities hnve recently decided TO substitute
! stool rails. Ws havo not laid them becanso tho
6tatc has not built ito road up to tho tunnel.
About q miles Of track ara yet to be put down
month or Blx weeks yet; henco We cannot got
| our rails
noporor-What progress did you mako Ill
| tunileling,-say In mouth 7
Mr. Shunly-We worked regularly from three
different plAcey-ht cacA ond, and III the contra
and tunuele4 from 1s0 to LOO feut month at
eacll hoading.
Boportor--Did you encounter any
FORMIDABLE OBSTACLES
In cutting through the mountains ? ..
hr shanly-No; only those usually mot with
III aucl work. It WAS assnmod however, that
there would bo worry little archiug-about i,alf q
It; but thoro are portions Of the tunuol, about
H miles in all, not continuous, but hero and
there, that will hnyo to be arched With brick
Roporter-Will that prevent tue use Of tho
tunnel until tho arches arc III position
1lr. Shaily-No; it cnn 10 usod, but tho
arches aro necessary to make it absolutely safe.
There Ia no danger now of tho rock falling but
arching is essential at places to keep tho tuunol
intact TO make it complete. That docs not
lasure was in session half tho year CONSIDERING
tho matter, aud Aually appointed committee to
inyeHtigato aud report to the next Legislature.
Reportor-Haa 1t boon decidel
VINO snALL coSTuoL THE TuSSEL7
Mr. shanly-No. The poople hayo been d.
bnsing two or three years whether the Slate
Bhall lease it out to railroal companies or keep
1t IN its OWE handa aud collect tolls but no con.
cluuop haB been reached,
~
tunnel cannot he utilized?
Mr, slanly-No. The next Legislature will
probably answor the question. Tho pouple thero
have beon under the Impression that if tho
tunual wero finished that was all that was
needed. But now that it is about completed, it
seems to be Of little use. Aud either tho State
or tho corporation Which use it will have to
spend gzoat deal Of money in order 10 benefit
Boston.
noportor-What other expenditures nro re-
quitod2
Mr.. 6han1y-The line Of road that runs
through IL must be frst-class iu order to CON-
peto with tho Boston l. Mbauy noad.-an excel
lent limo in every respect.
Reportor-Wlil tho boro" ho formally
"opened this year 2
Mr.. Shanly-No. because there are no roads
leading to 1t to bring the spectators.
Reportur-Can you add anything In general
way2
Mr. Shanly-
THE GREAT QUESTION
Is, Whnt iB the tunnel for? think what iB needed
IL road through from Chicago to Bostun Tho
New York Central will not help Boston Ally, aud,
III my opinion the great route Of tho future frGm
tho West to tho Hub will DO through this uooeao
Tunnel and it must be road with men ut tho
head OF it who arc not afraid to taco responsible
ty or auxiouB to "got OF easy" Until thero il
such tirst-clnas road, tho tunnel will not he Of
any real advantage to those who expected to bo
benefited by its construction.