The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-12
MORGANs TUNNEL REPORT.
The Expert Testimony Which Was No
Wanted.


The Expert Testimony Which Was Not
Wanted.
At the request of Mayor Ronald, an in
vestigation Of the Lake Union sewer tun-
mel was made by Ed T. Morgan, coal mine
inspector of the Second district Of WASH
ington. He paid visit and gave the re-
suit of his observations, but the report
was not offered in testimony. 1t gives
some valuable information, and is as fol-
lows:
I have the honor of submitting to your con-
sideration personal report upon the condition
of work performed in the Lake Union sewer
tunnel.
Invent down the shaft at 10 o'clock yesterday
morning in company with the city engineer,
the other members of the committee not having
put in an appearance FIRST visited the tunnel
west OF the shaft; remained there some time,
expecting the other members to overtaks me.
Not meeting them proceeded 10 the east side
of the shaft. Here found that they had pro.
crossed with their work as far Rollin street.
all in very good condition. Returning to the
foot of the shaft l met Messrs. Van Brocklin,
Owens, Warner and Chalk, and went to the
west side. A general conversation ensued, but
no consultation as TO the methods that had been
adopted, any Improvements for the future
Each one seemed to take his own way OF think
ing for himself. After ascending to the top OF
the shaft asked Mr.. Van Brocklin whether he
was there q member OF the committee which
met at your Office Monday, or as a member of
the committee of experts appointed later by the
board of aldermen and house of delegates. His
answer was he did not know. then asked him
and Mr. Owens ii they would visit the tunnel
running east from the end of Depot street. and
their answer was no. proceeded there alone,
and, before entered the tunnel Messrs. Van
Brocklin and Warner arrived. We went into
= a g. of ha fup al
of things and returned TO daylight. / pro-
cured from Mr.. Stevens some data OF measure
ments etc, and found myself alone
The general condition OF tunnel running east
from end of Depot street I found as follows:
Distance driven. 400 feet The last seventy
five or probably 100 feet has been through
ground containing innumerabie springs. which
has seriously interfered with the progress Of
work The timbers, by the excessive weight Of
the superincumcent strata OF 100 feet vertically,
has been pressed down or sank through the
mud sills from to 20 inches at the face. The
difficulties attending the work is attested by the
fact that only eight feet linesi was driven DUR
ing the last week of operation.
The face OF tunnel has been planked to pre-
vent the sand and mud being washed out At
the right hand side a small crevice was filled
with hay. upon the hay being withdrawn water
and sand gusbed out though the opening was
no more than one and one-half inches In width.
thing proves the work TO be done IN q substan-
tial manner. From experience / would state
that no set of men could be expected 10 work
more than four hours per shift. and then the job
would be unenviable one, for the water
gushes out st the top, sides and face OF work
ings.
The other di ficulty is met on the west side of
the shaft While remained an eyewitness at
the boring OF two holes at the top of the tunnel,
eight or nine feet back from the face, l found
bored only seven feet at an angle OF thirty-nine
degrees, and IL liberated a continuous stream OF
water for two hours (when l Lefty nearly half
filling the two-tnch auger hole. The other hole.
on the south side, was bored seven and a-han 10
ei9ht fee; and struck bed Of quickssnd which
discharged two OF sand before il was
plugged
The aforementioned hole wss at al angle of
with In the two holes is partly accounted for by
ping to the northwest Another reason is the
layers. as seen N almost every cut where streets
are graded.
Where the tunnel deviates from its true
course. TO the face OF the present workings, the
,iIabers show unmistas able evidences OF great
pressure from above.
From inquiries l made regarding the devil
stion aforementioned. / learned that the object
in view was TO avoid a:-epesiiion OF the difficult
ties experienced heretoiors. and that by leaning
to the south they would get the benefit OF the
dipping strata.
Between the face of the tunnel now working