Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-11
SOURCE OF TROUBLE
COMPLAINT OF DEPRESSION
CAUSED BY B. r. TUNNEL.

The LIST street tunnel being built under
Capitol Hill in connection with the railroad
terminal is again in evidence as a source
of trouble both for the contractors con-
structing it and for the District officials. 1t
was ascertained by Star reporter today
that owing to the digging of the tunnel on
LIST street in front of the Congressional Lii
brary a depression of about six inches in
depth has been caused in the pavement
covering area of about 100 feet in
length by thirty feet wide. In consequence
the District officials. it is understood, are
apprehensve lest great damage be done to
the pavement on the public streets. and it
is also understood that the officials of the
Congressional Library fear that the founda-
tons of the beautiful and valuable fountain
of Neptune in front of the Library NAV
be weakened materially.
1t is believed that the pavement has been
settling for several days. but, so far as
can be learned the depression was NOT no.
ticed until yesterday. The contractor for
the building of the tunnel for the Pennsyi-
vania Railroad Company is the Continental
Jewell Filtration Company of New York
and in the past few months considera BILE
trouble has been experienced in digging the
tunnel. During the latter part of last year
the company made application for permits
sion to construct the tunnel by the OPEN
cut method through the southeast portion
by the District authorities. Recently the
pennsylvania Railroad Company requested
permission to build that portion be tween b
and c streets northeast by the open-cut
method. but this request has also been de-
MED.
By the Old Method.
At present it is stated. the construction
company is building the tunnel by the old,
familiar method of excavating drift at
ha ton, NCt he
Der and then ma king drifts at each of the
bottom corners and bracing from those
points. 1t is stated that innumerable hid
den springs have been encountered in dig
glng the tunnel through Capitol HILL and
That large quantity of water is constant
~ interfering with the work, notwithStand-
ing that several large pumps are kept at
work in the effort to keep the hole free
from water. The earth. it is stated is soft
and crumbles before the bracing can be in
stalled. and it is thought that the condi-
ton of the earth in the tunnel is RESPONSE
BILE for the depression in the pavement
1t Is stated that the construction COM
paEy at first attempted to build the tunnel
by the use of large shield driven into The
earth by powerful engines, but this met nod
was abandoned, so It is stated and the old
time method was substituted. 1t has been
suggested that it may he found necessary
to construct the tunnel by means of an i'm
mense steel tube driven into the earth in
sections, device used. SO it is stated. III
the construction of the tunnel under the
Hudson river in New York.
The District officials had but little infor-
nation this afternoon with reference to the
trouble experienced in the tunnel. The COLI
tractors have not been ordered to stop
work yet. but it is believed that il the
conditions are found to be sufficiently SER
ious that halt will be called in the opera
ticns.
When the construction company several
months ago requested permission TO OPEN
cut through the Capitol grounds, Superin-
tendent Green of the Congressional Library
gave it as his opinion that the building of
the tunnel would not affect the foundations
of the Library building the founda ton of
Neptune on the western edge OF the Library
site.
1t is understood that at a conference late
TINS afternoon between Capt. Jay J. Nor
row and Superintendent Green the opinion
was expressed that no material damage
VIII result to the Library building and
grounds from any operation in the tunnel