Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-08

The hardest and best OF the rock blasted out f
used In the construction OF the four-foot lining
| wall hitherto mentioned. In constructing the
lining this four-foot wall of masonry Is built on
| each side OF the tunnel, OF the very best rock
scribed height what Is termed packing" is laid
between It and the natural yah OF rock. That Is,
solid masonry Is built up behind the lining wall
| inSteruceS
BUILDING THE ARCH.
Then upon these two walls one on each SIDE OF
| feet high, what are known among mechanics as
''forms" are placed. They are the wooden frames
OF arch-work. On the outside OF these forms the
work and between II and the natural rock wall is
laid the packing" or solid stone masonry. The
Inter Keeps pace with the lining. The masons lay
lew courses OF brick-work, and then behind that
and between II and the wall Of natural stone Is
laid the packing" in the regular form of arch.
for the section in hand, SLOT" as Il might be
called, Is left open in the middle OF the top
about about . feet wide: The wooden form or
and slightly convex pieces Of wood are
formed 70 Mt in this .'slot" upon a narrow groove
asr IUs tne purpos the masons lay upon
Drick, which I'LL out the arch back OF that Before
proceeding further they lay their stone packing.
any cavtng Of the earth, but between the brick,
and up 10 the rock, there is solid masonry, con-
structed In arch form, thus Offering double pro-
oection against any caving OF the earth.
DIFFICULT WALKING.
1t required no little padding through water and
stumbling over stones for THE STAR man to OBJ
serve all that Is here recorded. The inspector goes
through the entire length Of the tunnel every day
ana makes the round trip every other day. Hence
IL was no easy matter for THR STAR explorer to
keep up with him. Now and then a section OF the
tunnel was encountered from which the stone had
not Deen removed. sometimes 1t reached almost
70 the ROOF, and, as the stones Of all dimensions
from small marble up to the weight Of a ton,
were made slippery with a green slime that accu-
muiated In the dampneSs, and as the SOleS Of the
ruober boots were very smooth it was extremely
dlfncult at times to navigate.
WHAT HAS BEEN LINED.
The entire length OF the tunnel is 2O696 feet,
and the sections lined aggregate H. 734 feet leav-
Ing less than 1000 feet to be completed, The in
side area OF the tunnel as lined is 8 feet 10Y
inches by feet IL u inches The side walls of the
lining composed or stOne-work are required to be
not less than Is inches thick: The completed
work progresses from the different shafts. The
work OF lining was begun from the Howard
University shalt and from there west there is a
completed section OF 1858 nneal feet There
remain only "a feet to line TO entirely
complete that heading. This viii be
nue. shaft, east, one stretch OF sos feet and
other OF 1913 feet have been lined. Westward from
thit shalt the lining is In for distance Of 1,9SS
feet, and there remain ,235 feet OF the heading
yet 10 be lined. The trmmerS are now at work in
the latter portion, and masons Will begin work by
From Rock Creek shaft, east, three sections Of
lining have been complications or 267, one OF
lao, ana one OF 2,370 Ieet In length. Westward
from ROCK Creek the sections lined aggregate
1880 feet. From Foundry Branch east, In That
heading TAG feet OF lining have been put In, and
westward from that shat there are ,045 feet OF
completed lining. In the heading or the west
ShalI the work or lining Is entirely completed.
THE NUMBER OF MEN EMPLOYED
varies somewhat in accordance with the require
ments OF the work. On one day recently the num-
Der on the roll was 2S6, and on the corresponding
day OF the next week IL was 34O Col. Kirlin said
tnat the average daily number OF employees Is
about 300. In May last, when the work OF putting
In lining was TeSuuled, only 236 feet were COM
pletei t0o In June lSs feet were put in; in July
l,SoO ieet, and 40 August 1,167 feet. The work Is
pushed ao rapidly as the capacity Of the shafts
VIII allow.
TO EXTEND THE TINE.
In few days bill will be Introduced in Con-
gress to extend the time for the completion of the
aqueduct extension until the first OF next AprIl
COL Kirlin says the entire work can be conpleted
all the connections made and Tie water turned on
by that time. Unless the time shall be extended
6y congress, the work must stop on the first Of
November, as under the restriction imposed by
existing law, the secretary OF War will not have
authority TO pay out dollar OF the appropriation
The STARS explorer closely examined every Dor
ton OF the interior OF the tunnel The lining as it
Is put IN gives assurance or permanent security.
win the arch OF stone wGk, as already described,
and the inner arch of brick 1t would be next to
Impossible for break TO occur.
UNDERGROUND RAPID TRANSIT.
AS The STAR reporter splashed through the mud
and water following Col Kirlin he heard a roaring
noise, then saw flash OF light and heard some
body cry, "LOok out for yourself" IL was q car
load OF "muck" coming down the shaft. At Rock
Greek the grade Is Very steep the tunnel dips TO
pass beneath the stream, and the cars return
ing To the shaft go with a dash with
out any aid OF niue power. man sits In front OF
the Two cars coupled together with his and ON the
brake wheel anu until within several hundred
= a he laf hare
IL was one OF these rapid-tranSt concerns that
bore down on THE STAR man, who followed the
Inspectors example and quickly got out or the
way.
Way up at the west end Of the Rock-C Creek head
Ing the machines were busy drilling, preparatory
to blasting. Shortly after noon the blasts were
set and all hands retired 10 a safe distance At
given word the electric spark, by means OF a bat
terry, was applied and In an instant there was
nose as II the whole tunnel had been blown up,
and then the smoke filled every inch OF space and
made the air almost unDearable TO a man accus-
toned TO pure atmospheric. IL Is interesting down
In the tunnel, though It's not very nice.
THE HISTORY OF THE ENTERPRISE
The first appropriation for the work on the
aqueduct extension, the new reservoir and the
dam at Great Falls was made over six years ago
The project resulting In these improvements,
which have required so many years and sucn a
large expenditure, first appeared on paper ON
ciaiiy, February %, 1879 when the District Com
uSoioucIo duuceocu d .eIteT 10 Ine House District
committee setting forth in general way a plan
for increasing the water supply OF the District
This plan, which was devised by CAPT. K L. HOxie
then assistant TO the Eng, neer Commissioner Of
the District, was also embodied In the annual re.
port OF the District Commissioners for 1879 This
plan provided for an extension Of the aqueduct
from The distributing reservoir TO a new reservoir
near Howard University by means OF a 9-fOOt con-
duit TO be carried In a tunnel under Rock Creek
The estimates for the entire work then Submit
ted, including the necessary awards OF damages
to property, amounted TO 81 ,395, 1851. The act
July Is, 1882. Meanwhile, the estimates had
been somewhat Increased, owing to an advance
in the cost OF material and labor The act
after making provision for condemnation OF land
directed the Secretary OF War ITO extend the
Washington aqueduct from its present eastern
terminus 10 the high ground north OF Washington
near 9th street extended; and that he construct
at that point reservoir OF the capacity OF not less
than three hundred million gallons; erect the
necessary gate-house and lay such main conpec-
tons as may be necessary TO furnish TO Washing
ton and Georgetown an ample supply OF water,
and that he complete the dam at Great Falls to
the level OF 14S feet above tide, and extend the
at that level across C0nnS Island TO the Viz
ginia shore; and that he raise the embankment
between the Potomac River and the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal above the dam, so as to protect
the canal from the increased flooding which the
completion OF the dam Will cause In times OF high
water, or pay to the canal company, in full salts
faction for all such flooding the amount hereinaf-
ter appropriated for that purpose"
This act made appropriations for the work as
follows: To pay for land to extend aQueduct
$5l ,37O extension OF aQueduct, $3.50, 55; main
connections, $685. 400; land for reservoir SIS $50:
reservoir and gatehouse, S431 273 20; water rights
and land at Great Falls, $45, 900; raising dam
S145, Isl; TO project Chesapeake and Ohio Canal,
ST., 800.
III was provided also that one half NJ tho cos,