The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-30
THE EIGHTH-SYREET TUNNEL.
4 Largs Force Of Men Ire at Work Putting
In Braces.
THg CONDITIONS GRANTED BY TIE CITY.
6he Timber Used 70 Ali of the Beat materiai
and Good workmen Are Employed
Forfeit Money Not Yet Up

n was stated yesterday at the Office OF the
Richmond and Chesapeake Railroad Coh-
pany that a large force Of men was constantly
amnloved in and about tho Eigbth-street
tunnel. and that the directions of the City
Engineer we're carried out to the letter, Inc
services of an English engineer had been So
cured under whose direction the tunnel was
being braced 90 strongly that the whole city
of Richmond could be piled on top OF 1t.
There were about dozen men at WORK
Yesterday in the tunnel when representa-
tive 81 THx TINS visited the same. They
were kent busy in putting IN suoslahta,
lracas Of eohd timber 10 make the tuunel
perfectlv safe. The braces are put IN "a Vne
shane of arches. and each arch consists OF SIX
sections. These sections are prepared out
side Of the tunnel by a dozen carpenters.
zach section is formed Of three thicknesses
Of hard nine. 8xl2 inches. which are held To-
gether bv strong bolts. Each end OF the arch'
where Il touches tho ground, Is shod WIN
heavy iron plates.
THE OLD BRACES.
The original braces consisted OF timber
twelve inches wide and thick but the Quaity
was unfit for use, and in many instances we
timbers have rotted away 20 thickness VI
The old braces were set two feet apart, WINE
the new ones will be only one foot distant
from each other. ..,
81 nresent the whole length of the tunnel,
distance OF about go feet has been supplied
with new braces mp to the point where the
tunnel cayed in several weeks ago ms pQi-
ton will now DO lined with brick under tns
supervision of the City Engineer, and the
bricks will be laid on the inside OF the new
braces and as close 10 the latter as possible
When the digging Of the tunnel IS continued
Il will be done in sections. and each sscIioh
will at once DO properly bracedand lined with
brick as soon Is possible.
THE PRIVILEGE.
The Inst section of the ordinance which
grants the Richmond and Chesapeake rail-
road the privilege TO construct the tunnel,
provides that the company shall, upon the
acceptance of the ordinance. at once prepare
for and put in the permanent lining OF BRICK
work provided for in the plans and specihca-
tons, and the company shall not begin the
removal OF fresh earth from the headihg OF
the tunnel until the permanent Inning or
brick Is put in and approaches within eight
feet of said healing, and the same continued
until the tunnel has been completed.
The ordinance also provides that within
sixty days from its approval by the Mayor the
construction OF the tunnel shall be continued
and the company shall continue TO prosecute
satisfactory to the Committee on Streets by
and with the advice OF the City Engineer:
The tunnel and the approaches thereto shall
be completed within one year from the ap-
prOval Of the ordinance, and II this Is not
done within the specified time the privileget to
build the tunnel shall cease and all work done
thereon. together with the materials used,
shall become the property Of the city.
The permission for the completion Of the
tunnel. and its approaches within one year is
given upon the condition that the railroad
company shall, within sixty days Fl IN the APP
prOval of the ordinance, deposit with the City
Treasurer per cent. bonds Of the city of Rich
mond, OF bonds of the United States of the
tace value of $100,0 900 The bonds which are
10 be made payable TO the company, shall be
held for the purpose of securing or guaran-
teeing the payment OF any judgments or de-
crees which may be recovered or entered IN
the circuit or chancery courts against the
company 10y persons owning real estate which
may be injured or damaged by reason Of the
construction or use OF the tunnel or by
persons who may receive or suffer any injury
80 their persons or personal property
by reason of any negligence suffered or done
by said company in the construction or use
of the tunnel, and also for the purpose OF
securing or guaranteeing the payment 70 the
city of any amount that the city may expend
by reason Of any failure on the part Of tho
company to perform 70 the satisfaction of the
committee every llIONlhlOu Ol lut OIQluNuce,
or that the city may be required TO pay on
account of any one having been injured III
any manner by the building or use of the
tunnel, OF that the city or Committee on
Streets may expend in restoring Eighth street
10 its former condition or in rendering the
same safe and secure.
FORFEIT MONEY
The permission is granted under the further
conditions that the company shall within
thirty days after the approval Of the ordi-
nance deposit with the City Treasurer a
yer cent. bond of the city of Rich
mond of the face value of $1,000, payable
to the City Treasurer and Mayor as forfeit
money. which is to become the property of
the city il the company should fail to begin
the construction of the tunnel and TO carry
out the work in accordance with the pro-
visions Of the ordinance.
On August 18th the ordinance was approved
by Mayor Ellyson, and the $1,000 forfeit
money will have TO be deposited in the city
treasury by September 18TH while the $780,
600 in city bonds or United States bonds will
have 70 be deposited by October 18th.
City Treasurer Childrey. when seen by a
representative of THE TINES yesterday, stated
that he had not yet heard anything from the
management of the Richmond and Chesa-
peake Railroad Company in regard to the
matter.