The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-13
QU|CKSANO AND
LEDGE IMPEDE
WORK ON TUNNEL

The Consolidated tunnel though meet.
ing with numerous difficulties and Oh
structions, such as quicksand, ledge and
thick clay, is nevertheless making evident
progress at both ends. The ledge at the
Benefit street terminus, together with the
moving OF the old armory is serious
hindrance
Al the Gano street opening the most Sc
rious trouble met with is quick sand and
heavy clay and gravel that balks the ef-
forts OF the huge steam shovel.
The workmen at the Benefit street end
are beneath the surface and the working
space being somewhat limited, the prog
ress there is not as a rapid as II would be
II conditions were otherwise. The blast
ing that is done at this end necessitates
n great deal of care. lest the supporting
arches being In any way loosened. The
work now Is through stubborn ledge
that yields only 10 the force OF dynamite.
After each blast the laborers, with alb
breviated tools, the regulation size being
too long for tine space they have 70 work
In. pick and break away the mass of
dirt and rock and load II on to dump
cars.
The cars are then taken 70 the abut-
ment at North Main street, where they
are dumped The steam drills are still
used, and with the aid OF the exhaust
pipe, which runs through the roof of the
tunnel, the workmen are somewhat re-
lleved The compressor for running the
compressed air drills reached here dur
ing the week. and II is expected that next
week an engine will be set up TO run IL
until the armory is moved. Then the
contractors can erect their own plant for
furnishing the drills as well as lighting
the tunnel
At the Gano street opening. where the
steam shovel is at work. the progress
layr .fernf If,n Hag Co.
possible with the present method The
heavy clay and gravel with the begin
ming OF the ledge was the occasion OF the
shovel being moved back some 100 feet
IL is now making the cut wider by taking
about ten feet off the south side OF the
embankment
When the shovel was placed in it's
present position II was seen TO settle
perceptibly. The workmen at once
knew that IL was resting on a bed OF
quicksand and set TO work to jack up
the forward trucks OF the machine In
this way planks and ties were placed
under the machine, giving IT a firm
foundation.
At the point where the shovel censcl
It's work before its removal, workmen
are engaged drilling holes preparatory
10 blasting. During the week several
feet OF the bank were taken away by
this means.
With one gang of workmen at the
shovel another working some so feet
I'm advance OF IL. and still another gang
operating the dump cars and doing the
levelling at the river front the scene at
this end is very active. The dump cars,
OF which there are several are operated
by horse power. The animals take
them from where the excavation is go
ing on out to the water front where
they are dumped. They are then re-
turned to be reloaded. Each day, of
course. the distance is made greater at
both points and where there was but
one horse there is now two and with
the work Of next week II will be neces-
harry TO have three, so that the different
gangs Of workmen can continue with
out interruption waiting for the return
OF the cars.
The filling i'm at the end OF the cut close
TO the river has now extended quite dis
tance out into the stream. This Will
make the support for the western end Of
the bridge.
The river work as viewed from the
shore is making good headway. The
greater part OF II is being done on the
East Providence shore. where the pile
drivers are sinking the foundation. The
other river work, the digging by the mud
digger still continues in direct line with
the Amy street end OF the west side and
where the pile drivers are at work on the
eastern shore.