The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-30
GETTING READY TO
DIG HUGE TUNNEL
SOUTHERN RAILWAY WILL ALSO
HAVE TO BRIDGE THE TENNES-
SEE RIVER FOR ITS NEW Elk.
TENSION TO STEVENSON.

Chattanooga, April 29.-(SpeciaL)-W j.
Oliver of Knoxville and w. H. Wells,
chief engineer of the Southern railway,
spent several days here together during
the past week in consultation concerning
the arrangement for the work on the tun-
mel which is to be bored through Lookout
mountain. The contract for this work
has already been let to w. j. Oliver e
Co. of Knoxville, and work will be start
ed on the job in the next few days.
The tunnel through Lookout mountain
is one of the two big jobs on the extern
sion of the Southern railway, which will
be constructed from this city to Steven
son. Ala. a distance of forty-two miles
The other big piece of work is the cree
tion of a large modern steel draw bridge
over the Tennessee river 1876 miles south
west of this city.
The announcement that the contract for
the tunnel had been awarded was made
several days ago. 1t is understood that
the price involved Is between two and
, three millions of dollars, while the prob
abilities are that it Is nearer the latter
sum. The contract for the erection of the
| bridge and the construction of the grade
from this city to Stevenson will be an
nounced later. 1t is understood that the
contract for the bridge has already been
promised to a certain we'll known southern
bridge builder.
The project to extend the Southern
tracks from this city to Stevenson has
been under consideration for ten or twelve
years. From Chattanooga to Stevenson
the Southern railway uses the tracks of
the Nashville. Chattanooga and St. Louis
| railway, while In return the big bridge
over the Tennessee river at Decatur be-
longing to the Southern. Is used by the
Louisville and Nashville, which road con-
trolls the Nashville Chattanooga and st.
Louis railway Some time ago it was re-
ported that the Louisville and Nashville
would build bridge for its exclusive
use at Decatur and the Southern, 1t is
said, fearing that the Louisville and Nash
| Vile would fail to renew the contracts
for the use of the Nashville. Chattanooga
and st. Louis railway tracks when the
present lease expired, began the con-
| struction of it's own tracks from this city
| to Stevenson. When the road is finished
the Southern will have a complete line
of its own tracks from Memphis to Wash
| ington.
| 1t is estimated that the entire work
| can be completed within two years. Eigh-
| teen months is given for the work on the
! tunnel which is to be $500 feet in length.
Early estimates place the number of
| square yards of dirt and rock to be re-
moved at $50 900. The tunnel will go di-
rectly into the side of the mountain at
point 100 feet south of the end of the
Nashville. Chattanooga and st. Louis
railway bridge over Chattanooga creek
and will pass directly underneath the
| famous old Point hotel 1t is said that
there is a large body of water under the
mountain but the engineers hope to avoid
| this. The opening will be started at both
| ends at once. About GOO men will be on
! the job which is to be under the charge
/ of T. II. Thrasher of the Oliver company
The first outfit for the work is expected
! here this week.