The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-26
BALTIMORE'S WATER SUPPLY.
TUNNEL SEVEN AND HALF MILES LoNG-A
GREAT DAM ON THE GUNPOwDER RIVER
nEscpIpTIoN OF THE WORK

A
GREAT DAM ON THE GUNFowDER RIVER
DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK.
From the Baltimore Gazette, Nov. %
Tho great engineering now in progress beyoue
Clifton and the unpowder River will give Baltimore
when completed, the finest water supply in tho coun
try tunnel seven ana half mlcs IN length and
twelve feet IN diameter will convey tho pure watcri
Of the Gunpowder to Clifton, the Hartford road and
from there il will be distributed throughout the city
Such stupendous work can OF course, only be carried
through by means OF large expenditure, and when the
work is complete, tie tunnels burrowed, the large
reservoir beyond Clifton, with CAPACITY OF 100000
gallons made ready for receiving It's immense body Of
water, and the great dam the Gunpow der, winch
will back tho water for i've miles, forming an i'm
mense storage lake, constructed aud the beautiful
drive around It, forty eet wide, finished the city will
probably expended tho OOO 900 which nave been
appropriated for that purpose. TINS WORK was yes.er
the Water Board and tho Joint Council Committee on
the Gunpowder
II is OF circular section twelve feet In diameter
In CONSTRUCTION scmicrcular arch is nrst built oil
BRICK, forming tue lower half Of the tunnel A. The
work of excavation proceeds timber framework Is
put in, then the brick arcn constructed. These
arches are from i've 10 SIX bricks thick very
slve. After the inspection Of this end OF The tunnel
the party took carriages aud proceeded over the line
OF the by the winding road that has becn con
structed by tho contractors The views along this road
exceedingly picturesque. AS the ascent Is made
the line of the tuAnel comes plainly into view,
or woodland, and pulls OF steam from the engines
that coaseessly move up aud down the clc.
vators carrying miners and materials Al every
shalt immense piles OF finely broken rock
to be SEEN and scattered around small
! poycd the works, built oil rough boards Al the
reservoir tho party again alghted aud examined with
great interest the progress Of the work. The main
tunnel from the Gunpowder onters the reservoir ut
the northwestern portion, the wafer flowing into
gate from which 1t is taken by short tunnel, at o
little higher elevation, into the main reservoir An
other short tunnel conveys IT back into the gate, and
IL is then discharged through the tunnel connecting
| with the maius, A small drain tunnel, at lower
depth than all the others constructed to carry on
all the from the reservoir If IL should become
necessary to empty II Tor repairs other PURPOSES
! The discharge the water arranged that
| IL be drawn either from tho surface or bot
tom of the reservoir. to always secure purity
| tho reservoir IS being cxcavated, and portions
OF tho banks fairly gsten IN bright sun
with the deposits OF silicate OF magnesia The tun.
mel! from the the mans, through clay
most oil the way, though sand has greatly troubled
mains Is being constructed by John +. Eschbacn,
| OF the few contractors who has carried his work
| through from tho beginning.
sUBTERRANEAN BLAST.
/ From the next section 10 the reservoir, tho road
sharply winding over MIL and through gully, passes
| the portion OF the work being built by Mr. McCabo
the point where the shalt runs down $50 feet, the
party algnted, and, DOMINIC rubber coats and hats
dcscended into the tunnel The descent is through
solid rock, from which water is constantly oozing
and u the bottom is reached II falls in a perfect
shower. The tunnel IS excavated each way from tho
shalt aud, only by the small o-amps the caps
OF the miners, presents word and gloomy
/ spectacle. The visitors made their way TO
one end OF the excavation, whore four
groes wero engaged drilling tho solid rock. wnilo
| watching their operations blast was fred There
was first terrific noise, then each OF the spectators
was shaken II with chs by the strong pusat IONS
in the air, while unpleasant odor pervaded the
mel and tho visitors glad TO escape from the
NAL scene The miners, Notwithstanding the hardship
OF the c, learn 10 like IT, and even prefer u 10 other
occupations. several mics farther the Gunpowdcr
was reached, and the grc cat dam view. solid
wall OF mas0nry Is nrst TO DO constructed across the
river, and then in trout OF that the down stream
side incline surface OF heavy blocks OF stone Is
being built. Tho space between these two Is to be
! led with rock Tho water in coming over this dam
| Will not TALL in the usual manner, but will DO cush.
toned About tIirty ieet oil the con-
sructed, and tho work Is being Rapidly carried Tor
i Yard