The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-01-06
A GRAND TRUNK TRACK UNDER WATER
st. Clair River Ice VIII Not Delay
Traffic Much Longer.
Port Huron Tunnel Which VIII Rival
That Beneath the Hudson.
u VIII Be over a Mile Long and Cost
Several Millions.

PORT HURON, Mich, January 5-Another
undertaking, equal in Importance, perhaps,
with the great Hudson river tunnel, will un-
doubtedly be completed within the next two
years. This is the tunnel now being con.
structed under the st. Clair river at this
point by the Grand Trunk Railway Compa-
ny. When first broached, the project seemed
almost too stupendous for realization, but
careful surveys of the river bed that were
made and experimental shafts, sunk about
three years ago, fully demonstrated the fea-
sibility of the scheme.
The need of such tunnel had long been
manifest TO the company, as the river In
winter Is frequently obstrueted by Ice, and
at all seasons the transfer by boat has been
zoo slow Tor the immense amount of traffic
carried on across the river. During the year
ending June 80, 1889, there we're 184, 900
through cars and 1880 local cars transport
ed Dy the ferries here, making total of
l97, 800 cars that passed over that year. This
IS an average of 541 cars per day, including
Sundays.
The advantages to be gained by the con-
structi0n OF a tunnel are a reduction of the
time OF transporting trains and degree of
regularity in the service not attainable by
the ferry, in consequence of the river being
oobstructed by ice in winter and by vessels
during navigation.
This particular point was chosen for the
tunnel tor the following reasons; The COM
paratively shallow depth of water at the pro-
posed crossing; the tunnel and its approach
es can be constructed on the same straight
line; the short length of new railway that
Will be required for all practical purposes !;
the tuanel approaches connect Immediately
with the main lines of both the Grand
Trunk and the Chicago & Grand Trunk rail-
ways; the favorable material in the bed of
the river, the bOrings showing that the rock
Is from 80 to 95 feet below the surface of the
river. and that it is overlaid with clay.
From General Manager Wainwright'S re-
port, furnished at Ottawa, it is ascertained
that the entire length of the tunnel will be
$500 feet, of which 2,310 feet will be under
the river, 2,160 feet under dry land, on the
Canadian side, and 1880 feet under dry land
IN Michigan. OF the portion under the river
I,500 feet will be nearly level. At each end
Of this part of the tdnnei there will be a
gradient rising one foot in fifty, or at the
rate OF l05 feet per mile, which will be con-
tinued through the open cuttings from the
approaches. The total length of the ascent
at the Canadian end will be 1870 feet, and
at the American end 4.9c0 feet. The length
of the open cutting at the east end of the
tunnel will be 3,270 feet and at the west end
$500 feet The depth Of the lowest part of
the tunnel below the SUR ace of the water
will be SS3 feet The minimum depth Of the
wiz be Is feet.
The tunnel will be for a single track only.
Ia cress sections 1t will be circular, with
clear internal diameter Of twenty feet. The
lining will consist feast iron, of which
about six thousand tons have been manu-
factured and delivered upon the ground
ready for use. The construction Of the
tunnel Is being carried on by the Company
without contractors.
The total estimated cost of the tunnel is
S2,5OO,0OO, OF which the Company has been
granted subsidy of S375,O0O by the
Dominion Government, but the entire cost
may exceed this estimate. At present 800
men are employed. and the pay roll averages
about 200 month.
Werk was first commenced on the main
tunnel July %, 1886; and at present there is
conpleted on the American side over $50 feet
while on the Canadian side it has reached a
httle over Cos feet The rate of progression
varies from twelve to fifteen feet Der day.
NO difficulty has yet been met with on the
American side, but on tie Canadian side a
vein OF liquid clay was struck some time ago
which, for thirty-six hours, kept the work.
men sh0veling without making u foot of
headway. The ground over the spot sank
several feet, but the trouble was finally over
come, and the work is going on now as
usual.
The tunnel will be used for freight only
and although the Grand Trunk and its
branches will undoubtedly have the pre-
ference over other roads, 1t is understood
that the Michigan Central, tic Canada
Southern and Canadian Pacific are ali look
ing tunnelward.