The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-07-14
THE HoosAC TuNNEI.


THE woBK YET TO BE DoSE-THE DIFFscUL-
TIES TO BE ovERCoME-ITs PRoBAH.R CON-
PLETIoN IN A FEW MONTHS.
The Troy Press gives the following ac-
count OF the present condition OF the Hoosas
tunnel: When the headings of the Hoosas
tunnel met last Thanksgiving day, Mr.
Stanley promised those who were there
ride through the complete bore on the
Fourth of July. This promise was heralded
through the country. Many people rhe
were acquainted with the character Of the
work wondered that the opening was fixed
at so late date. Not so those who on shst
bitter cold day made pedestrian excursion
through the tunnel. Most of them
imagined that Mr.. Stanley was a tribe ever
enthusiastic when he made the promise.
The Fourth has come and gone, and the
tunnel is not get finished. Still the amount
of work that has been accomplished in the
last seven months is remarkable Much
account was made Of the speed OF the bor-
ings previous to the meeting OF the head
ings, yet the subsequent progress has been
fully as rapid. Last Thanksgiving day the
last obstacle that interviewed between ths
east and west ends was removed. Since
then the work of trimming off 4" has been
carried on The task of charging the
bore To the full size required by the eoa<
tract has been found by the Messrs. Shane
ley to be an undertaking second only
in magnitude to the work of making the
hole through the mountain. From the cen
trail shaft west and from the west shaft east
the hole gradually tapered from the full size
required by the contract until man could
easily touch both sides with his hands and
the top with his head Since the meeting OF
the headings the work of finishing" has
been carried on continuously, but compare
lively slowly on account of the hardness OF
the bench rock. A brief and cursoTV exam
| inRtiOn of
THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE WORK
shows that il will be idle to expect the OPEN
ing of the tunnel route before the end Of the
present year. Entering the tunnel at the
west end the visitor observes that it is brick
arched for a considerable distance. The bsd
however, has not been graded. In the CEN
ter swift and not very shallow stream of
water is running. The water drops through
the sides and roof. The intention is To
| build drain through which this under
ground creek will run the whole length of
the tunnel. Beyond the arching and to
deal of rock must be removed be-
fore the work is finished. From
the central shaft to the east end the work is
substantially completed. The contractors
are obligated after they make the tunnel Of
| lull size w lay COutlDuOuS Lrdck LOT the
whole length. At the east end they are about
ready to commence track laying. Ties are
now being laid. But a great deal must be
done after the single track is laid through
the tunnel. From the present terminus of
the Troy x Boston railroad in North Adams
to the west end, a distance of two miles, q
track must be laid, and the peculiar situation
will render the building of this track no
easy task. Work is progressing how
ever, with as much rapidity as possible.
When this is done and the tunnel track laid
there will single track line between Boston
| and Troy and thence 10 the West. But this
will not answer. The Boston & Albany rail-
road, which must ever be strong rival of
the new line, has a double tracked line.
splendidly equipped and plenty of money.
The road bed of the tunnel line is in many
places cheaply constructed. and having been
originally built to subserve local purposes,
runs out of its way to reach small villages
When it becomes through line the track
must be Strengthened, grades reduced, and
better rolling stock and more of it providefi
else the Boston Il Albany will maintain tn
supremacy.