The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-03-24

sunk and from that point the tunnel was
rapidly pushed out into the lake at depth
of nearly so feet below the level of the
lake.
As only a limited number Of men could
be placed at work at the same time it
would be reasonable to presume that five
years would be consumed in building the
five miles of tunnel, as the first mile was
completed only short time ago. The
city or tho contractors had no desire, how
over, to lose that much time on the con-
struotion of the tunnel and steps were at
once taken to push the matter. 1t was de-
cided to place in position two temporary
working cribs in the lake In order to ex-
pedite matters and then later begin work
where the permanent crib is to DO situated,
making in all four points from which the
work on the tunnel could be done.
Two of these cribs are already in posi-
tion and the third one viii be placed in
position within few weeks BY working
night and day it is thought that the entire
tunnel will be finished and turned over to
the city year from the coming summer
The first temporary crib was sunk in the
lake two miles or more from shore and the
second mile farther out. Tho third crib
will be exactly five miles from the shore
line of tho lake and as soon as tho tunnel
is completed the permanent crib will be
| erected. At the first crib the men are
| working in both directions, and the same
will be done at the second. As the third
| Is the greatest distance from shore work
| will only be done in one direction, and that
| toward shore. That will make three
| points at which it will bo necessary to join
| the tunnel together. The difficulty of
| the feat may be imagined when it Is stated
| that at the point where the tunnel meets
there will DO no greater variation than
| two to four inches.
The cribs are large wooden affairs con.
| structed of immense timbers somewhat
after the style and shape Of the present
permanent crib. In the center Of this Is
the steel shaft for the elevator, on which
the men and supplies are lowered to the
tunnel below.
The "ground" floor of the crib, or that
part which IL about 10 fGot above the wa
ter level, is ioored over with heavy plank
ing, and below the waves beat and surge,
excepting for that portion about the edge,
which is anchored to the bed Of the lake
by tons Of stone in a hollow framework.
In one corner of the ground" floor is the
engine room, where are located the engines
for pumping and COMPRISING air for the
| luIuCIs lbi running NAiN ~ htiAA'o' pump
and many other things Of necessity, chief
Of which is the shaft elevator. On the
same floor are stored the construction sup
plies, which 1T is found impossible to trans
port every day, owing to the bad weather
or the formation of ice on the lake
The worlimen are well fed and well tax
on care of in every way. Each man has Il
small room of his own on the second floor
of the crib, furnished with single Whit
iron bedstcad and plenty of blankets Tho
food provided is of the bcst This is not
because tho contractors are particularly
charitable, but for the reason that it Il
somewhat difficult to get skilled men tC
do the work under such circumstances Ir
the first place they must spend many
hours each day in the tunnel whore they
work under high air pressure. Then there
Is somo danger connected with 1t ALL fo)
cribs have been known to be wrecked dur
ing severe storms.
Virtually the men at work on thcs,
two cribs and the tunnels beneath then
are prisoners, but prisoners of willing