The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-11

Inspection and Opening OF the New Work
An Important Liverpool Improvement.

An Important Liverpool Improvement.
London STANDARD.
large number Of shareholders and directors was
matter of great interest yesterday at Liverpool
and Birkenhead. The first act for such an I'M
dertaking was obtained in 1860, and several ad-
ditional powers were subsequently applied for
and obtained, but it was not until 1880 that the
real operations for making the tunnel were I'M
dertaken. Since then the work has progressed
with energy, the solid new red sandstone
rock forming an admirable material to
work upon. Perfectly able to sup
port itself and to endure the operations of
blasting, the tunnel has only required to be lined
with brick for the purpose of stopping out the
percolation of water from the bed of the Mersey,
at distance OF about thirty feet, beneath which
the tunneA has been perforated For the like
reasons the physical character of the stone has
enabled the portions Of the tunnel under the
streets of the two towns to be carried on without
the purchase Of buildings and land which would
have been needful to cover the effects of subsi-
dences in the case of ordinary excavations. The
tunnel is now entirely bricked and completed
from one side of the river to the other, a dis
lance Of !, 250 yards It's form is that of de-
pressed oval, and it is twenty-six feet in width
and twenty-one feet in height, the invert being
ton overhead. The brickwork of blue
Stafordshire bricks is three feet in thickness at
the invert Below the tunnel there is drainage
heading running continuously with the tunnel it
self, seven feet in diameter; into this at frequent
intervals, the water entering the tunnel is
pumped, and the tunnel is, in this way kept dry
and efficient
A party numbering about 200 descended in
cages, the shaft of the Liverpool works, and
walked forward, the tunnel being lighted
throughout its entire length by powerful electric
arc lights; another party entered the tunnel at
the Birkenhead end, and these two parties met
in the middle of the tunnel, where a platform
was erected on the line dividing Cheshire and
II
the mayors Of Liverpool and Birkenhead
head shook hands and proclaimed
the barrier between the two counties abolished.
The parties then pursued their courses, the one
going on to Birkenhead the other to Liverpool.
On the Liverpool side there is large suhterra-
mean station, with platforms and provisions for
lifts which will be capable eff elevating 240 pas
sengers to the level of James street in forty sec
onds. This station is 400 feet long, so in width
and 80 in height The further extremity as yet
attained on the Liverpool side is under the cen
ter of Church street, close to the cathedral
When the traffic is worked the tunnel will be
ventilated by two fans, forty feet and one
thirty feet in diameter Alongside the tunnel
1000 yards long and seven feet four inches in
diameter. On the Birkenhead side there
will be a similar station under Hamilton street
and thence the tunnel continues under the Lon
don q Northwestern railway to the Haymarket
Both ends of the tunnel railway will ultimately
be brought to the surface, and connected with
the main lines proceeding from Liverpool in all
directions. The direct communication which
the tunnel will afford between those two impor-
tant towns will add to the prosperity of both.
The ferry traffic is now a most important one,
but it is liable to be blocked by foggy and stormy
weather. The railways will be always available
On the Liverpool side communication will
DO made with the Cheshire lines, and at
Birkenhead junction will be formed with the
London & Northwestern railway and direct
for the first time opened up with
the Great Western line. The docks on both
sides of tho Mersey will be linked, and North
Wales and its beautiful scenery will be brought
within three-quarters of an hours journey of the
busy city When the approaches are completed
the length of the tunnel railway will extend four
and half miles. So far the authorized capital
has not been expended, nor will it be by the fur
Their sums which have still to be expended upon
rolling stock, stations and equipments