The Washington times., 1905-04-23

Though the completed tunnel will pre-
sent the same appearance as the driven
tunnel. its actual progress may be
watched from day to day. Not a day
passes. either. that the tunnel does not
attract hundreds OF observers.
The First street tunnel is meant for
passenger trains only. The Virginia ave-
hue tunnel will be the route chosen for
all freight trains passing through the
District. 1t is true that until the Union
station Is completed both freight and
passenger trains on The Pennsylvania
ilnes VIII be sent over the Virginia ave-
nue. route but not afterward
The Virginia avenue tunnel is within
two squares of completion The most DIFF
f1cult portion of The tunnel, however, is
still untouched
Point Of Completion.
The work began at Second street
southeast, and the tunnel is now COM
pleted to a point east of Sixth street.
The work will end at Eighth street In
tervening squares have already been ex-
eavated to a certain extent and the con-
crete walls of the tunnel extend to
Seventh street
The object OF the Pennsylvania Rail-
read Company in tunneling Virginia
avenue Is TO avoid the present round
about route south of Virginia avenue
The present route runs into Virginia
avenue along K street, at tie j.1ctton
of the latter street with Eighth street
A square west of this junction the
present tracks drop out of sight into the
old tunnel which extends for only a
short distance on K street, and then
swings lnfe Virginia avenue and con-
tinues to Eleventh street east
The new route will be a straight
stretch from Delaware avenue over de-
pressed tracks running through Garfield
Park and through the new tunne; along
Virginia avenue, and then from the
new into the old at Eighth street There
will be no fash of daylight in passing
from one tunnel to the other.
The Final Step.
To merge the new tunnel into the old
at the curve is the next and final step.
The combined tunnels, not including the
Garfield Park depressed tracks, will
form straight underground route $500
feet long, and extending over nine
squares.
Az uO"u -ue Wall Ok the present
tunnel and graft upon it the walls of the
new one will require cautious, careful
work. Progress henceforth will be
slow compared with that already made.
While this is being done trains will be
sent through the present tunnel in both
directions cn single track, the second
track being torn up. Toward the last,
enc track will be placed in operation in
the new tunnel and the old tracks entire
y abandoned.
/ The new tunnel, day by day, Is draw
1Eg nearer the old one The tracks of
the latter are hidden from view. but
the excavation prepared for the bed of
the tunnel is deep and wide, and would
probably already have broken it's way
into the present tunnel were it not for
the curve in the latter.
This MS the effect of causing the I'M
initiated 20 wonder what becomes of the
trains which apparently plunge straight
ahead into the gaping mouth Of the
present tunnel. The excavation is di-
rectly in line with the direction of the
old tunnel before 1t curves into Virginia
avenue The most advanced point of the
concrete work is a short stones throw
from the end OF the present tunnel.
j. w. Craig, assistant engineer Of the
Pennsylvania road is supervising the
work. Drake & Stratton are the con-
tractors.