Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-27
BIG TUNNEL FINISHED
important Link in Railway Ter
minaI Facilities.
NEW GATEWAY TO SOUTH
Chased by Experts as Most Success
fully Conducted Enterprise.
FEATURES OF CONSTRUCTION
Total of S6,74O Cubic Yards of
Masonry; $4,000 Barrels
of Cement.
FEATURES OF CONSTRUCTION

The big tunnel under Capitol Hill has
been completed.
When the railroad plans for the elimna
ton of grade crossings in Washington and
the improvement of the terminal facilities
for the nations capital were adopted, ana
the congressional legislation necessary for
their construction secured, the citizens
were amazed at the magnitude of the work,
meaning, as 1t did. the building of hill
nearly as big as Capitol Hill in the low
ground at Massachusetts and Delaware
avenues, and the erection thereon of a
granite building wider than the Capitol is
long, the cutting of a right of way
through the semi mountain on the Patter-
son tract north of Florida avenue; the con-
struction of two immense steel bridges
over the Potomac river the construction of
miles of solid masonry walls, with the
necessary steel bridges over the streets,
and the boring of a hole big enough for two
railroad tracks eighty feet below the
face on LIST street between the Congress
sional Library and the Capitol grounds.
Washingtontans had long looked forward
to a betterment of the local railroad stua-
ton, and had earnestly urged relief from
the nearly intolerable conditions to which
they had been subjected for a generation
They had watched the march of improve
ment in other cities with a feeling OF
jealousy. When the announcement
llidl lllt IdlITOdu companies
had adopted terminal scheme for the
capital city they were prepared for the
stupendous project that was unfolded.
was not until work was actually COM
menced in 1909 that they realized that at
last Washington was to have modern rail-
road terminal facilities that would be equal
to the best in the world
Most Difficult Task.
or all the tremendous undertakings in
volved in the plans, the one that seemed
to be the most difficult and dangerous was
the one to run the southern trains from the
new station to the southern part of the
city under the Capitol grounds, and doubts
were freely expressed that this would ever
be accomplished. Congressional commit
tees met and summoned eminent engineers
with whom they consulted as to the adj
visibility Of the scheme. Citizens asso-
Citations met and debated; letters were writ
ten and questions submitted and answered.
When the Pennsylvania railroad had at last
satisfied all parties concerned that their
scheme was feasible they proceeded to let
the contract. and public interest subsidized,
that for a year or more the tunnel has
been almost forgotten in the contemplation
of the other work that being carried
forward OF the surface.
In the meantime, day after day, night
after night, slowly but surely, like so many
ants have the workers been boring away
pushing ahead under the ground. until now
after two and half years of patient and
persistent work the great tubes are COM
plete and new gateway to the south exists
beneath the beautiful grounds that sur
round the Capitol building.
Marked by No Ceremony.
The completion of this important link in
the chain of local railroad improvements
was marked by ceremony. The last brick
was empaced. the last trowel of mortar
was spread. and the large force of work
men that had been numbered by the hun
dreds in the beginning, but had gradually
dwindled to few toward the last, Withdrew
from the scene of their labors and the
Pennsylvania railroad officials took charge
for the purpose of laying the rails.
1t was the intention to have President
Cassatt and other Pennsylvania railroad
officials run through the tunnel in spe-
cial train the guests of the contractors
but his illness has prevented this.
The tunnel complete is about four-fifths
of a mile long g. 1888 feet by actual meas
uremenD, and has cost 81 DO0, 600 in round
numbers. The southern portal is located
just west of New Jersey avenue southeast,
south of street. and trains will emerge
in the station building on the line of what
was + street at LIST street east.
In planning the Washington work the
Pennsylvania railroad engineers used only
the most modern ideas, and the 1st street
tunnel is exception. 1t is what is known
a twin tunnel, called because it
consists of two parallel tubes separated by
a masonry wall. making each tube a tunnel
in itself and containing a single track.
This will eliminate the danger of collision
in the tunnel. as trains will run in only one
direction. going south in the west tube and
northward in the east one. These tunnels,
while separated and entirely independent of
each other. have openings through the
middle wall at intervals so that commune
cation between the two is possible in case
of necessity. The feature of the twin
construction that will appeal most strongly
to the travelling public will be the fact that
by reason of trains going only one way
through the tubes the smoke and gases
generated will he pulled through with the
train and the tunnel be practically clear
after the train leaves it. To facilitate this
ventilation. fans will be installed to insure
current of air at all times.
The Contracting Company.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company gave
the contract for this piece of work to the
New York Continental-Jewell Filtration
Company and Mr.. f.. G.. Williams of that
company has superintendent the construction
from the beginning. The railroads interests
have been looked after by Mr.. Robert Farm
ham, jr.. assistant to the chief engineer
and to these two gentlemen, it is declared
the credit is due for the complete success
of the undertaking and its completion in
record breaking time.
Work was commenced the 9Th day of De-
cember. 1903 at New Jersey avenue and
u street southeast, from which point to
the south building line of street the
work was done in open cut. At this point
the actual tunneling commenced. Four
drifts. two upper and two lower levels,
Just large enough for two men to work.
were pushed forward and the timbering
emplaced As the timber arch was formed
giant shovels. operated by compressed air,