The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-02-04
in The AIR CHAMBER.
I Ohm BLATCHFORD, civil engine
By STEPHEN HALLETT.

John BLATCHFORD, civil engineer,
u sat out in the open, with his eye
resting reflectively on a round instru-
ment, with figures encircling it, and
needle 1t resembled an aneroid ba-
rometer, but 1t was not. 1t was pc
culiar air gauge, Scottish invention,
the kind since he had helped build
the great bridge at Chepultepec, in
Mexico. Then he was subordinate
assistant; now, at eight-and-twenty,
he was engineer of the Marbury tun-
mel, under the river of that name, just
outside the important manufacturing
town of Belchester.
Blatchford's recollections of tropical
Chepultepec, although doubtless ex-
citing, were, however, suddenly inter-
rupted by the advent Of young girl,
whose footsteps he had not heard. and
who now stood timidly before him.
The young engineer was on his feet
in an instant He had very gallant
bearing with women-irrespective of
class-but he was particularly atten-
tive II they happened to be pretty
women.
did you wish to see me?" he asked,
smiling.
"Oh, no, sir!" faltered the girl; Il
thought-that isl came with a mes
sage to
.one of the men, perhaps?"
Yes"
in the air chamber"
The girl blushed mot a brother
a friend"
"Ah. Well, the men will be up
shortly for dinner. You had better
wait. You see, we are rather short
handed at present, and am obliged
to tend the gauge myself. Sit here
and wait"
She seated herself, looking very pref
ty. Blatchford thought, with her neat,
simple attire and thick auburn tress-
es; and the very first thing that caught
which Blatchford had called the
gauge" He saw her glance. rivited
upon it, and good-naturedly undertook
to explain that it registered the amount
and pressure of air in the working
chamber far below the river, where,
at that moment, seven stalwart men
toiled at the tunnel.
rs it very dangerous?" she asked.
''What-the work? Well, that de-
ponds. You see, air seems innocent
enough, but 1t Is a power not to be
trifled with. Every man down. at the
bottom of this shaft is working at a
pressure Of IS pounds to every square
inch of him. 1t is almost like being
Rugged by bear. When / press this
lever-this way-more air is forced
down." He touched one of the lev
ers just below the gauge and pointed
to the needle. There, you see, it is
now SO. 81, 3s, 80 pounds to the square
inch; and by mere touch of my fin
ger 1t could be forced higher-even up
TO IS. That is almost strong enough
to crush a man"
How wonderful that mere air should
what is the use of it--this air?"
Use? Why we harness it and make
1t work. 1t helps us dig our tunnel
under the river, by forcing out the
water and mud. Then, besides, it is
for the workmen to breathe. But
hello! why are you SO pale?"
Kate Maxwell smiled nervously
displaying twin rows of perfect teeth
"Oh, nothing. Only l was thinking
it must be very terrible to work down
there. Suppose something were to &c
wrong with the air-pipes, and they
Blatchford. who, young as he was
was familiar with death and danger
shrugged his shoulders.
I'VE must take risks in every trade
II the men got too little air, the river
--or part of it-would pour in and
drown them; il they got too much ant
there was no way for it to escape, il
would crush them. But, after all. II
is little likely that either of these ter.
rible things could happen, because, YOU
see, 1t Is so carefully regulated and
the gauge is SO accurate and reliable
Anyone of intelligence could keep the
supply at 80 pounds, which is as mucl
as man ought to stand"
He pulled out his watch and looket
at the tine.
"Hello!" he calculated. in surprise
the men are late in coming up to
day."
The girl shuddered at his words ant
cast an ominous glance at the grea
iron door which barred the entrance
to the air lock and led to the working
chamber, as it was called. under thu
river
Robert" formed itself voluntaril,
en- her iipA