Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-21
eKsar TUNNEL OPENED.
Gala Ceremonies Under the Bed of II
St. Clair River.

Gala Ceremonies Under the Bed of the
St. Clair River.
PORT Huron, Mich, Sept. 21.-Tht
greatest submarine tunnel on the NORTH
American continent was formally
opened to traffic Saturday afternoon,
with simple but impressive ceremonies
According to the original program it had
been intended to make the event bril-.
liant one by the presence of President
Harrison, the governor general of Can
ada, and the governors of many of the
American states.
Owing to the fact that nearly
every one of these distinguished peopl,
had previous engagements a change in
the program became necessary.
The day was observed as q general
holiday both in this city and at Sarnia,
ON the Canadian side. Each city was
gaily decorated and thousands OF
strangers added themselves to the regu-
lar population to take part in the festivi-
ties.
Shortly after noon Sir Henry Tyler,
president of the Grand Trunk railway,
accompanied by the board of directors
and large number of invited guests,
left Sarnia and passed through the tun.
mel on special trains Upon their arrival
in Port Huron, an address of welcome
was delivered by Hon. William McIll-
vain, mayor of the city, to which re.
sponses were made by Sir Henry Tyler
and others.
Shortly after 2 o'clock the party,
reinforced by the American guests, re-
turned to Sarnia where luncheon wa
served. The tables were laid across the
boundary line. There were six toasts
having special reference to the tunnel
and the international interests 1t repre-
sents. During the banquet the Thir-
teenth Battalion hand, of Hamilton,
rendered "God Save the Queen" on tho
Canadian side, while the band on the
American side filled the air with the
strains of the "Star Spangled Banner -
After the banquet the tunnel was
thrown open to the public.
Description of the Tunnel.
The tunnel passes under the St.
Clair river at the foot of Lake Huron,
and is intended for the purpose of super.
seding the ferryboats, which have here
tofore conveyed the trains of the Grand
Trunk route across that river.
1t will afford immense advantages to
passengers and for freight traffic in
avoiding the Inconvenience of ferry;
it saves two hours of time and shorteng
the distance over six miles. 1t extends
from Port Huron, in the state of Michi-
gan, to Sarnia, in the Canadian province
of Ontario, and the company by which
it has been constructed was organized
under special act of the Canadian par
Lament.
The length of the tunnel from portal
to portal is 6,025, and the length under
the river bed 1920 feet. 1t is lined
throughout with solid cast iron plates
bolted together i'll segments, the whole
line weighing $4,000 tons. The bolts
and nuts for connecting the segments
together way 100000 pounds. Tho
permanent weigh through the tunnel il
laid with steel rails weighing 100pounds
to the lineal yard.
The interior diameter of the tunnel is
twenty feet. and ample means have been
provided for thorough ventilation and
for lighting it throughout with cleo
tricity. The total cost of the tunnel
has been 81, roo, 900, toward which tho
Dominion government granted sub
sldy of $375000. The work on the
PRELIMINARY drift was commenced in
October 1886.