The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-10-12
Centennial Notes.
Correspondence CT the Journal.

| feverish interest 1t would have been the same
had the experiment been tried in Russia, for il
| was one Of those rare occurrences proving the
| whole world kin by the thrill of sympathy we
all felt when the appointed hour and moment
came. 1t ran with electric speed from the Pa
cifc to the Atlantic, and when we read of the
successful accomplishment, achieved by the
touch of a baby finger, somehow our ewes grew
dim, as they are apt to do when any strong
emotion strs US. We read Of all the ''tunnel-
ling the "drilling'' and ''charging,' without
understanding it, and tried to fancy il, yet all
| the while there stood in the Government build
| ing on the Centennial Grounds. a model of
| these mysteries so accurately made that any
child might see how the wonderful work was
wrought. 1t has received little attention. for it
occupies an nconspicuous position in the sec
| ton devoted to the United States Civil En-
| gineers; and by the time one reaches it, brain
and nerves are SO weary that visitors eycam
"Ah. another military model or a cluster of
| Government machine shops.' and on they 60
| confess never knew Of its presence till yes
| terday. Let me tell you how to find it most
| eosiiy. Instead Of entering by the great main
portal, turn to the right, passing round its pro-
lection, aud you will find Il small doorway.
Close by this, so near YOU would be very likely
to walk by without noting it, stands Il miniature
edition Of Gen. Newton's latest work. 1t was
made by one Of bis corps Of assistants Baron
Won Ecglotsein who faithfully copied all the
details Of the famous spot. The tiny trees seem
to have actual foliage, only they must have
grown in Liliput and the little houses and
| machine shops are al! perfect. Railways lead
| ing oil to some distant base of supplies are
clearly defined, and the green grass grew to the
| rivers edge before the tramps of the countless
employees and eager sghtseers spoiled its Ner-
dure. How familiar every bit of it must have
grown to Gen. Newton. anyously noting with
his critical glance every point that could be
made available.
Far below the level of the shore lay the river
bed with its sullen rocks, making dangerous ed
dies and defyins for ages AL daring suggestions
for lis removal Mr.. Brown, who politely and
clearly explains the model, assured me that the
mock reef exactly rcsembIed the CONFORMATION
OF the real rock. Nirt~eA th0uS0nd s0undiRDs
We're taken, til the features of the whole sub
merged surface were known rs well as if they
|
| surveyed and the eofcrdam strongly built the
first shaft was sunk. You will see this mpor-
tant enclosure in the model, with its staircase
leading down to the rivci-bed, and the derrick
at its top reaching out lis powerful arm. Mr..
| Brown will tell yol that from this main shaft
| tunnels were cut III radial lines through three
acres Of solid rock; bat while he tells you, he
Will turn Il crank, and the river bed slow y
| rises, disclosing view ot those same tunnels
Tie top rock was left about ten feet thick. A
rapidly dis progress WAS made tramways were
, laid in these curious streets, the debris was
easily carried to the mouth of the shaft ID.
swung away uoou the bank above by thosC
same derricks. The channels or streets cross
) at regular intervals, leaving pillars from eight
to twelve feet thick, ana as you look there
comes TO Your memory all you have read of the
I catacombs, or all You have seen in those strange
regions Of Colorado where Nature seems tt
J have tried her hand at sculpture, and becom
, ing disguised, removed her work. though leav
ing all the pedestalS standing. Could SOM
mammoth roofing shut in the Garden of thu
Gods III Colorado, it would look very like tn
gacried cavern which Gen. Ncwton's geniu
designed and created.
: Fifty thousand cubic yards OF fragments wcr
/ slowly removed before the great result coul,
| be approached with any certainty; then cam
| the final drilling of each pillar, the boring o
i vertical holes in the roof. and the charging 0
> four thousand spaces With those terrific agent
the various compounds OF nitro glyccrine
When l read how slight an accident Nigh
I,,,-a Il.
| II >.s..~- ''t''' 'NN'
4 | very brave or very desperate To engage in ~uc
! | work. Life could not have been VERY valuable
! | Whch they Willingly exposed it to such dread
, tul risk; and looking at the model, my fame,
peopled it With laborcrs who troI softly AM
spoke with bated breath, feeling the pressure O
an awe that was real AS the reef above th"i
, heads. More OF the same dangerous tasks mus
be accomplished before the channel will be free
but this was first selected because ii was d sor
of promontory round which the rushing waite
made especially troublesome etdies and whirl
; pools. With how much more of cheer ano
courage those engineers will attack the mex
: | obstruction, snre of victory which one tri;l
has already so fully demonstrated. Gen New
tons name is the one concerning which W.
have heard the most, but those who so faithful
~ assisted and carried out his designs Snrci,
deserve an equal remembrance. Gen. A. \
humphrey was the head Of the corps Of engi
neers. In this little corner Of the Government
building, under the charge Of Capt. u. u. Heep
one may find many illustrations of engineering
science concerning which most people know
! even less than they do about the transit of We
| nus. 1t seems so strange that anv human
method could avail to read the secrets which
| ocean and river have kept for 50 many AGES
with such jealous care and we wish we might
find some elixir vitae, so our own ewes might
| behold what coming generations may achieve.
! Surely, il a council of war were held in heaven
| when the tower of Babel Slowly rose. il then
Jehovah himself declared that human skill and
daring, unrestrained, might seriously threaten
Ills Kingdom, we might conclude that now the
eternal problem so long battling by their inscru-
table mystery, should some day yield, and men
become las gods, kMOlring good and evil
How dimly now do they discern the wide dis
tinction This exhibition is working miracl, 5
in an educational way. The most careless
sight seer, wandering aimlcssly about. will
have his curiosity excited. and Yankee curos-
ty once awakened will never rest ill it j. sat
| lsiied. Men will think over these things awhile,
| then seek for books that may assist them in
one POM. and gaining that, read on; while
| women, whose hopes and wishes and imagn-
| ations have clustered round some exceedingly
| narrow point, seeing how wide the world is
| and in how many places woman's hand NAV
be wisely employed, will find their energies
| VII tl,ot,
| larged that life will always be richer and bet
ter worth the living. | think we may all echo
| the declaration young southern girl made YES
terday-"O! l know trlsoie heops more than
| ever learned before.'
THE WOMAN'S CONGRESS-
| has held sessions OF unusual interest during the
| week. The ladies whose names figure most
| conspicuousy are some of them warm advo-
| Gates for female suffrage, and unable to speak
without introducing the topic lying nearest