The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-05-13
Tunnels.

From the earliest ages, the practice Of tun-
nelling, or boring into the earth in caves has
had wide prevalence. Making tunnels has a
modern look, but was just as much in use in
ancient as in modern times, although the tun-
nels were by no means so capacious then as
now, nor were they for the same purpose. The
first habitations, as we'll as the first temples OF
men, were in caves in the ground. The ar
cient Etrurians were famed for their skill in
tunnelling under craggy places, and the 10
mans learned from them the same art. The
catacombs of Egypt were homes not only for
the dead, but also of the living-large numbers
of the poorest classes passing their lives there
and being laid away in their own chambers to
sleep forever.
The Etruscans were celebrated tunnelers, and
a remnant of their work still remains. 1t is an
almost closed up tunnel at the lake of CASTILLO,
and was dug 800 years B. G. In later age,
Claudius Cesar had passage dug from the
river Casigliano and the lake Fucnus, a dis
tance of three miles. This tunnel has been
lately repaired by the Neapolitan government,
and is still in excellent working order.
In the middle ages, tunneling was almost en-
tirely disused. Acknowledging no necessity
for tunnels, of course none we're constructed.
1t has been reserved for strictly modern times
to revive and bring nearer to perfection this
branch Of engineering
There are at present about 80 miles of tun-
mel in England, the longest being $500 yards.
The longest in France is $4,000 yards. The
English distanced all competition in this when
they built the Thames tunnel. The idea of
this first originated in 1898. In 1904 a passage
five feet high and three feet wide was carried
nearly across when the river broke in and
spoiled the experiment.. In 1926, Mr.. Brunnell
again attempted the underground passage, but
in 1927 the water broke in, and again in 1928,
the last time drowning six men, and stopping
the work for seven years. In 1885, it was re-
sumed and continued until completion. 1t is
quarter of mile long, sixteen feet below the
bed of the river, has two arched ways, each six
teen feet high by fourteen wide, and cost 350O,-
900. In 1869, another tunnel under the
Thames was finished at Tower Hill at cost of
100000 Together with these, London has
some four miles of tunneling for her subterra-
mean railroad tracks, and will probably, ere
long, have many more.
One of the greatest tunnel projects OF mod
ern times is the Mont Gems tunnel. This was
projected in 1841, and was finished in 1871, af-
ter IA years of arduous labor. 1t is eight miles
long and cost untold millions. In our own
country the necessities of travel and trafc have
demanded great many tunnels. We remem-
Der on the B. & o. R. r., passing through thir-
ty-three tunnels in one day. On the way from
Chattanooga to Nashville there are some very
long and profoundly dark tunnels.
The mammoth project of modern times is
now being vigorously discussed in English and
French reviews-no less feat, indeed, than
the tunneing of the strait between Dover and
Calais. For many years some plan OF intimate
ly connecting Flancc and England, has been
much talked of by both nations. Bridges were
proposed, moles we're projected, tubes of cast
iron were thought of, but the principal idea
now is the tunnel under the sea. bill has
been presented and passed the Assembly for the
construction of this tunnel. Two large COM
paries, one English and the other French, have
been formed for the prosecution of the work.
Each company is composed of two sections
one of capitalists, the other of practical engin-
eers Each company is to work on its own
capital, the French having 2,OCO, 900 francs, the
English sS0,00O.
Shafts will have to be sunk to the depth of
more than 400 feet since the bed of the strait is
of dangerous, chalky material not to be trust.
ed in great work like this. 1t is expected
that the work could be finished in three years
at cost of 95,OOO,OOO sterling. The French
are highly interested in the scheme, since their
country lies in the tract of the great railway
which is yet to connect England and India.