The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-09

from the superintendent stream. A large
leak continued here for long time and
presented one Of those problems with
which is the delight Of the ingenious en-
gineer to grapple. Mr.. Smead solved 1t in
the following manner: a force pump of
great power was attached to the aperture,
and stream of grort sand and cemenO
pumped upward into the soft earth until
the leak stopped
A trip through the tunnel is not, even
at the present stage Of the work. one which
presents many attractions TO the visitor
ulversed in the techncaIities of tun-
ncling. One who ventured into the depths
was told before setting out that the clothes
he wore would on the conclusion of the
trip be worthless, and acting upon\this
hint. an old suit and miners hat were
donned. The entrance 10 the tunnel was
made AT the Foundry branch shaft. west Of
Georgetown. and the exit tsomething Of
relief at Champlain Avenue. A hand
lamp. such as used by coal miners. is
Indispensable. and thus equipped. the ex-
piorer steps into a kind of wooden cage,
and is promptly lowered into the depths,
an excursion unpleasantly suggestive of
that hopeless post norton journey, cur
rently denominated going down the eleva-
tor"
Concerning this part of the experience.
the adventurer was RECALLED with the fol-
lowing anecdote related by Mr.. Smead:
1t appears that at an early age of the
work these shafts lS0 feet deem were
entered in buckets lowered by means of
crane. Just about half way down these
buckets would not only swing to and fro
unpleasantly. but would revolve with
alarming velocity and on reaching the bot
tom would be spinning around like live
ly pes-top. Now. it happened that re-
porter journeyed from one of the larger
cities for the purpose of writing up the
tunnel. hut, as matter of fact. going
down the shaft proved quite sufficient for
him. Upon reaching the bottom he was,
says MIR. Smead. lin such an involved and
tangled-up condition, mentally and phys
ically, that he literally seemed not TO
know whether he was standing on his
head or his heels. He was. moreover, SO
intensely nervous as to produce the ap-
pea>ance of distracted ghost. and he
started with terror at the slightest sound.
In this state he continued until his egress
at the next shaft. 1t happens, quite I'M
fortunately, the one is unable TO ascertain
this gentleman's personal impressions Of
his journey, for, up to the present time,
he has not chroncled anything whatever
in regard to the tunnel
A rush of cold. damp air greets one as
the tunnel is entered. 1t is impossible
TO see more than two feet ahead by the
light of the lantern. and out of the IN
canny darkness comes the drip, drip of
falling water, or the reverberaticns caused
by the workmen. The handcar. travelling
along the track in the centre of the tun-
mel, furnishes a convenient mode of lOcomo-
ton. The car makes a rumbling sound
as it starts off into the darkness. Groups
of workmen are passed. reminding one
very much of miners. 1t is interesting
to hear Mr.. Smead's description of the
labor of filling up the caverns found back
Of the old lining. The men had often TO
lie PROSTATE as they pursued their dan
gerous and trying task.
II was not possible to go through the
Rock Creek section, the work of putting
in the cement lining not suffering the
slightest interruption. The car goes up
and down grade and sometimes in
rather zigzag direction. The brick work
is very clean and smooth in appearance,
and the work of finishing the lining is
going on from opposite ends of the tunnel.
The fetid atmosphere. and the greasy
clammy sweat upon everything. make one
glad to reach The open air again, tust as
one is proud to say then that he has
been down into the tunnel"