The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-09-06

The Long Tunnel nj Flushing on the
TusearaHas Valley a wheeling Rail-
road. e et.t
Bardetllls Enterprise N
In company with Mr.. Lewis B. Jackson,
we visited the tnnnel atthis place Friday
afternoon, and found the work, which Is
one Of great magnitude, progressing as
rapidly as circumstances would permit
Mr.. Jackson has charge Of the contractors
books, and Is q very accommodating gem
1eman, having an extensive knowledge OF
the system OF building railroads. To him
we are indebted for many Of the facts we
give concerning the undertaking. The
opening proper Of the tunnel is being
pushed from west to east and is l6l feet
wide by 81 high, but when the timber
are put up, made OF solid l0xl0 oak, the
width is iust fourteen feet, height nine
teen. The timbers at the top are turned a
half hexagon arch, II such an express
sion Is admissible, and put together
BY means OF lemons and mortises, not
particle OF iron being used in
the framing, and supporting the hill above
the void US securely Us II the exca.
walton was, as originally left by nature, solid
rock. The excavation is carried on by
means OF q drift way or Heading" ut the
top, in the form OF q semi-circle the width
OF the tunnel, and about eighty feet high,
which is kept several feet in advance OF
the main work, known in the phraseology
OF railroaders as the "bench." The pro-
gress made in the tunnel averaged eight
feet per day up TO themonth OF June, when,
on account OF the roof commencing to fall,
caused by the decomposition OF the ina
terial q kind OF a slate rock-all progress
ceased because OF the danger from falling
fragments. From that tine until the lst
OF August the work OF trimming up" ans
putting in timbers was pushed rapidly for
ward, the timbering afterwards keeping
pace with the advance OF the excavation,
making labor in the tunnel free from dan
ger OF falling earth or rock. They are now
about one-third way through the l,50O feet
| Of tunnel. and it will likely be another IL
months ere the beams OF fiery PhGbns,
rising in the Eastern horizon, will shine
unobstructed through its full length.
One OF the institutions OF this work is n
line OF pipe, one end reached into the far
|
with tblower," placed in the approach
near the mouth of the tunnel. AT first, a
stranger, uninitiated in the mysteries OF
underground life, fails to sec the utility OF
their whiZzing machine, driven BY an en-
CINE close by; but it is hardlytoo much TO
say that were it not to perform its daily
functions the miners would become sut-
located from the excess OF impure air
and poisonous gases generated by the
powder used in blasting. As it Is, the
fresh air forced through this tube dis
places the injurious vapors and keeps the
atmosphere pure and healthy.
The Eastern approach of the tunnel is OF
almost equal magnitude with the tunnel
proper. Winding its course up the valley,
the alignment is surmounted on each side
by high hills, which renders the wasting
OF the 10000 yards OF rock, the greater
part Of which has already been removed
somewhat difficult. The method adopted
by the contractor, Mr.. j. p. Keegan, Is
quite novel, II not wholly original. a
steam engine perched on the hillside,
draws the cars up an inclined plane, by
means OF wire rope, from the cut below,
and the material is dumped along the slop-
| ing ground OF the rising elevation. There
are about seven thousand yards of rock
vet to be displaced from their side, and in
the language Of so" several more moons
will elapse before the approach is COM
pleted.
To the indefatigable efforts and con-
slant attention OF Mr.. Edward Darragh,
the contractor. and to the energy and en-
terprise of Mr.. P. J. Kecgan, the sub.con-
tractor of the East approach, is due the
the advanced state OF the work, and when
the Company arouses from the seeming
lethargy OF the past few weeks, and re-
moves the embargo now placed upon the
working force, the work, at this point,
will be pushed forward with its wonted
yigor under the supervision OF these OK
perienced gentlemen. Then let us hope
that the people Of Flushing, as well-,ss
others along the line, may soon see the
iron horse rushing along the G. 7. Y: & w.
Ry., connecting the river and the lakes.