New-York tribune., 1875-02-09
TIE HOOSAO TUNNEL.


LINEs-cLEARING THE CENTRAL sHAFT-ARcH
ING TO BE DoNE-PREsENT CONDITION OF THE
GREAT WORK.
lFRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE Tribune
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Eel 3.-The laying
of a single track through the Hoosac Tunnel has
been completed to-day. and though for score OF
years the Of sending the first train through mas
been anticipated redeter day In the history ot the
great work. yet will be celebrated by no public de-
monstraticn The first train will bo construction
train Owing the danger feared from the falling Oh
loose rock IL has deemed safe 10 run the ex
pected excursion train through at presents In TACT the
tunnel will probably be open for passenger trano
for least months 10 come or until the cOmpeon
OF OF archirg yet to be DONE In answer
to the demands OF eager transportation companies the
engineers having tunnel In charge nre considering
the expedieney Of admitting freight trains ana the
tunnel may possibly. though not probably be opened
for freight traffic within few weeks The connecting
lnes-the Troy and Boston Railroad from the west ana
the Troy and Greenfield from the easare not prepared
at present. equipment and condition OF track, 10 Trans
port the large amount OF freight which Will naturally
como 10 them with the opening of the tunnel route; so
tho more distant transportation companies ana tho
shippers arc the most eager for The compeuon vi
this connecting link in the great through line 70 'ne
West.
TIE Troy and Boston Road, with its single track phu
small equipment OF rolling Is waiting to see what
disposition ~ TO be made OF the tunnel ana what conso
idaon Of roads to be formed before laying another
track and completing It's equipment An arrangements
has made for the temporary consolidation OF the
Fitcbburg the Vermont and Massachusetts,, ana the
Troy aud Greenfield Roads for facilitating business
until permanent consolidation is effected The ine
thus formed will be called tho Boston. Hoosac Tunnel
aud Western Railway. The tunnel Is now owned py tne
State, and the working management Is in the hands OF
ngneer Benz ID. Frost the Board OF Tunnel Com
missioners appointed last Summer having recently re-
tired. One Of the most important questions 10 oe
brought before the Massachusetts, Legislature this ses
sion will be the State ownership OF tho tunnel A Dill
embodyng the important points OF the report OF the
late Board of Tunnel Commissioners will probably oe
presented early In February. new road running from
Albany directly to the tunnel is now favored and the
charter recently granted for the building OF bridge
across tho Hudson, the South Ferry Albany was
probably obtained for this purpose.
HOW TO VISIT TIE TUNNEL.
The curious must satisfy themselves with the descnp-
tions OF the present appearance OF the tunnel when
correspondents may be able to give them but II they
willing to come In small parties, visitors may De
able to something Of the work for themselves
though excursion parties cautioned against entering
the tunnel in It's present dangerous condition. The
visitor leaving NewYOrk at IL p M, will arrive at
North Adams or Tunnel City," on the following morn
ing at 10 O'clock via the NewYoik Central and TROY
and Boston Railroads II he risks the danger aud can
secure guide, he may walk through the tunnel ana
reach the east to take the afternoon stage
for the return trip connecting with tho train winch
leaves North Adams at p. W.. and arriving IN New
York about M, making the round trip in 81 hours
From the Troy and Boston depot 10 the western
Dol tai OF the tunnel distance OF two miles. the visitor
will find a recently completed road, built aud owned oy
the State The Pittshed and North Adams Road,
branchof the Boston and Albany, terminates within
few rods OF the Troy and Boston depot. The tunnel
road parallel to 1t In southeastery direction Tor
mile or more until tho roads the Pttshed and
North Adams Road running SOUTH and the tunnel roaa
aue the mountain. Between the depos and THIS
crossing tho Union depot Will he built and bill VIII
soon be- brought into the Legislature asking for an
appropriation OF 100000 for filling up meadow land In
the vlciuty preparatory to the erection OF the Dudngs
Before reaching the Hoosac the road passes through
cut made through the old Haupt tunnel The western
portal OF tunnel presents fine appearance, win its
magnificent facade completed An arch OF native stone
was projected the mouth OF tho tunnel 80 feet and
this was faced with large blocks Of finished granite
over the keystone Of the FACADE arch Is granite tablet
ls feet long, about four feet wde and two feet hck on
which is the Inscription, "Hoosac, 1874" cut In large
block letters
Entering the portal and passing under the first aroh
the visitor Is in the tunnel proper For 1850 feet or
to the west shaft now abandoned and partly filed with
fragments of rock, the entire tunnel Is covered with
brick archng made necessary by the loose mica rock
through which the excavation was made This arching
consists OF from Six TO eight courses OF Driek, lald IN
Rosendae cement and 1t is claimed that IL will not be
injured by age Prior TO the construction OF the arcb
AN excavation was made and the tunnel tmbered nsec
,ons of from 80 feet the bricks being laid under
meath the tlubers which now remain incosed. The
arch IA "a feet high and &c feet wlde allowing foot
above the regulation OF the tunnel for additional
masonry needed The tunnel is constructed OF course
for two track- and between the tracks 10 drain two
feet square, built OF stone masonry and to be covered
with aggug. The tunnel grade is 20 feet to the ile
the highest point being at tho central shaftsand down
this grade the water brought through the drain 10 the
western portal the rate OF 400 gallons per minute AZ
fording sufficient power for driving the machinery OF
Brown Brothers exploder factory near the portal
From the central shaft the eastern portal the water
IL carried OFF in much smaller quantities through u
inch pipe cisterns being sunk every 90 feet Leaving
the brick kwork the visitor passes through the long,
dark vault Of the tunnel which Is cut through gneiss
mos, of the way and which will have to be arched in
many plaees When half through the tunnel the visitor
reaches Its most interesting feature the central shaft
the only place where work of special importance 10
being pushed at present.
THE CENTRAL SHAFT.
The central shaft situated about midway between the
western and eastern portals was constructed for the
urinary purpose of expedug the tunnel work, by
aGord,pe an opportunity for working two additional
headings In the tunnel by giving central opening for
the removal Of material and by securing good vents.
use for the I Gf%e Ss no% sepSe
ar it will in the future, only as ventiator. The
sbaf "a 02s deep, having diameter OF 27 feet
1ongtadOay with the tunnel and laterally of Is feet
haing bnit in eiptical shape To secure proper base
for the alignment OF the central sections Of
~ unnel before opening OF the headings The work
" the shaft begun Nov l2 1862 and after
disasters causing aiearnl lose OF NE and
nei has been the scene OF terrible accdens, narrow
escapes aud thrilling adventures the narrative OF which
fruitful field for development Of engineering skill
and mauly perseverance, and daIlns. On Vet ~ 1891,
gaft thirteen miners working at the bottom. then