, 1882-10-25

ca when completed. 1t is a jamaica black
who S%uperintendS the operation. He be-
gan it and he will finish it. This viaduct
has four spans of 80 feet each, and from
the ground to the level of the rails, the
height is IS feet. 1t is built of concrete
blocks, which have the appearance of
stone blocks, and the structure, which is
now almost completed, has a very com
manding and elegant appearance. Seve-
raj of the concrete blocks have been test
ed by Mr.. Bell, the Chief Engineer, and
they bear a pressure Of 1900 lbs to the
square inch. The entertainments formed
by the limestone taken from the cuttings
are as firm as adamant rocks and stand
at a grade Of one to one. The cuttings
and embankmentS are of various depths
and heights, some of the cuttings being as
deep as so feet, and the embellishments as
high as so feet. There are several small
tunnels on this line besides the one which
pierceS the Gibraltar rock.
Where blasting operations are necessary,
the work is performed under the direction
of English miners presently there are u
English miners employed, but an extra lot
is coming by the next Packet. The work
men are provided with all the latest and
best appliances to lessen labour and to
perform the work speedily. The holes for
OltSLlll2 pun JOSGS dlC DOICl UN I)dUCIll
drills, which are worked by compressed air.
This machine is capable Of piercing a hole
6 feet deep in the hardest rock, III about
10 minutes. The workmen are engaged at
each end Of the Gibraltar Tunnel and will
shortly meet in the centre with the top
heading. at the Kingston end of this
tunnel the full width and height is cleared
for a considerable distance and a double
line of rails is laid in to the operators,
where tipWaggOns are being constantly
filled, and drawn out by a mule to the
large e~mbankment which is being formed
by the earth and limestone taken from the
tunnel. Just now the top heading is
being cut at the rate of one yard per day.
The drills are worked by jamaican labor-
ers and the English miners superintend
the more dangerous operation of blasting.
The heaviest part Of the machinery and OpC-
TatiOnS are TO be seen at the Gibraltar tun-
mel. These are, the engine which supplies
the compressed air to both ends of the
tunnel for boring operations, and also
smiths FORCES sc. &c. Chain bri dyes are
erected across the Rio CObre for the con
venience Of the w0rkmen, and the cement
barrels are swung over by pullieS which
run on chains erected over the river at
places where the cement is most required.
The compressed air engine stops itself
when the air has been forced to a sufficient
pressure, which IS a pressure five times
over and above the pressure of the atmOS-
phere. Along the south side of the Rio
Cobre a concrete wall of so feet in height
is being built, along the top Of which the
railway viii run.
This line when opened will reveal beau
ties in jamaica scenery which have up
til now passed unnoticed. The railway,
for a good distance is run along the side
ofa steep mountain, and the line is at a
sufficient altitude to enable those who may
pass over it to have a birds eye view of Il
large extent of country. The works will
be completed before the time stipulated
in the contract, and when jamaica is i'll
full possession of that which she so long
desired and needed, she will not alone be
improved in what is practical and neceSSa-
ry, but she will be in possession Of a luXu-
ry which will add another tie to the en-
dearments which bind her to her people,
and another inducement to the travellers
who long for change.
The friends and admirers of Sir
Anthony Musgrave had forwarded
a petition to the British Colonial
Office asking that the Governors
term might be extended. The fol-
lowing was Lord Kimberley's re-
ply
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Jamaica, 23rd Sept, 1882
Sri am desired by the Governor to