The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-12
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people at the North Adams depot, who
cheer us as we come in to fnd, as happy
augury that our train has made close CON
nection with the four o'clock cars for Pitts
field.
The Republican has SO carefully and
faithfully traced the progress Of this tunnel
work that there are few additional details
fer me to pick up here, to-day. Perfect
drainage is secured from the central shaft
westward by a stone drain, two feet square,
and covered with tagging; eastward from
the shaft an iron pipe is laid, about the en-
tire efficiency of which, we believe, there is
some question The brick archng already
completed extends from the western portal
to the west shaft and beyond this limit por-
tons Of the tunnel, where the rock Is not
self-sustaining, must be arched, the experts
who have been looking up this question I'M
der the direction of the board of state cor
porators differing widely In their estimates
Of the arching required. 1t seems to be the
general judgment, however, that some 49,
900 feet, or about half OF the tunnel, must
be bricked; a noticeable feature ofthe roof
ofthe tunnel, to-day, being the daubs of
white paint indicating where the arching is
required, A hollow "center,' semicircu-
lar in shape, and of enormous weight, is
used in the process Of arching. Rising
| from the sides of the tunnel nearly to the
roof, 1t leaves space enough for the passage
OF trains, and is moved backward and for
ward on rollers. A little in advance of the
center is ponderoas carriage, on which
the miners stand while excavating or trim
ming the tunnel before the brick are laid;
it is so constructed that n train may pass
under it, so that the arching need not in
terfere with the running ofthe trains.
The real work of moment upon the tun-
mel just now, however. is the clearing ofthe
central shaft. This work is one of consid
cradle difficulty as well as hazard and is
conducted by f. A. Bond, long the asss-
tant of Carl o. Wederkinch upon the cen
trail shaft work 1t will be remembered
that the shaft is 1880 feet deep, and that
while it was being sunk floors were put ia
once in every Is feet. 1t is these floors
and the heavy thinkers supporting them
that are now being taken out. Having
been there so long, and exposed to the wa.
ter, they are covered with kind of slime,
which renders them dangerous to stand up
on. Before beginning the work, Mr.. BoRG
decided that movable PLATFORM which
should fill the shaft, would be the right
kind of thing for the miners to stand on
while cutting away timbers and dislodging
the loose rock frequently met with. Ac-
cordingly one was constructed and suspen-
ded from the top of the shaft by a wire-rop
cable one and a fourth inches in diameter.
and secured by several fastenings, each
capable of supporting it, and wholly indie
pendent of each other, thus rendering its
safety almost a certainty.
All the dslodged rock and debris is
hauled up the shaft in bucket, which has
taken the place of the cages. Thus far.
the work has been rapidly carried on with
out serious accident; it is believed that it
may be fnishe without loss of life, yet, as
the work approached completion, the dan
ger increases, the timbers being older and
more or less decayed. But the greatest
/, precautions have been taken not only i'll ar
, ranging the details and methods, but in the
selection of workmen, none being employed
except those known to be steady and reli-
: able. After the shaft has been closed, the
brick arching will be carried past it, leaving
t openings on either side for ventilation, while
above it a curb of masonry about 90 feet
high will probably be built to proven. any
: thing falling into the tunnel. The buildings
i around the shaft will soon be pulled dowi
the machinery belonging to the state taker
away, and the place left much the same al
J. before the great undertaking was begun
II Work was abandoned at the west shaft
/ some months ago, and the shaft will soor
i, be filled up.
" 1t is now settled that freight trains will
be running through the tunnel at no dis.
!, tant date. Consulting Engineer Doane
announces that the tunnel can be made
h ready for operation in this way by the first
of March; and the Fitchburg and Troy
and Boston roads will then unite TO trans
j port their freight through the mountain.
+ The Troy and Boston people have been
unwilling to expend money in increasing
their rolling-stock to an extent sufficient to
: move the expected westward freight until
e it is known what disposition will be made
OF the tunnel, and what conditions the route
y is to be consolidated. But, as the Fitch.
v burg road is mutually interested, and will
# ing, for the present, to clasp hands with
It the Troy line, the two roads have united
K for mutual action and protection in the
= present operation and final disposition OF
r the tunnel. 1t is hardly probable, how
i ever, that passenger trains will be sent
II through the tunnel very soon.
n The work of enlarging the little tunnel,
west of North Adams, will soon be begun,
i the proposals for doing the work having
II already been made. The present height
d of this tunnel is 10 feet, and its width ~ IL
l. feet. The heavy grades entering it may
e be avoided by making an eight-feet cut in
n its bottom, giving level grade through il
d from the Troy and Albany depot. Owing
J to the six-degree curve, its eastern portal
!. will have to be about 80 feet wide, which
Vt is dangerous width for tunnel, in the
y opinion of engineers, and unless the rock
81 proves very firm and sound, may make ar
C open cut necessary. The estimated cost
n of enlarging this tunnel and laying the
e track to the Massachusetts, and Vermont
h line, including graduation, masonry and
,. bridges, is $254,0s4.