The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-05
WORK
MEETS MANY
DIFFICULTIES

The Consolidated railroads tunnel
though contending with innumerable diff
ficulties, is gradually forcing IL way
through the East Side hill
The Seekonk river. which is TO be span
ned. by the bridge. presents equally as
active an appearance as does any OF the
lend sections that are suffering havoc
from the workmens tools.
The mud diggers In the river have ex-
cavated great deal OF the bottom. and
this now Is being filed In with a very
coarse gravel. which has been hauled
| overland and dumped on the East Provi-
dence shore.
western abutment. has been staked of,
| and between these this heavy gravel will
be dumped, forming the foundation OF the
bridge. This will afford an exceptionally
| nrm foundation upon which 10 erect the
supports OF the structure.
Al the Gano street cut the ponderous
shovel Is having its trouble with the quick
sand. At present IL is at work where the
cut opens into Gano street IL is the in
tention of the superintendent 20 make a
cut here of about four feet and put In an
inverted concrete arch. This will meet
the problem that the quicksand has pre-
sented and lessen one of the many diff
cuties.
Another innovation here has been the
SupSulullOn OF steam morse power
Up 20 the last few weeks the earth ak
cavated was carted to the river front in
dump cars, operated by horse power. Now
a small steam locomotive is proving itself
much more advantageous.
The rise and fall of the tide does con.
siderable damage TO the abutments by
washing and carryin away the dirt
dumped there for this purpose, Saturday
soundings were made to see what could
"a fn rnf A. thn htttr q
now stands IL IL turning away from its
original course
The serenity OF the peaceful neighbor-
hood Is frequently disturbed by the loud
report OF the rock blasting, which is now
daily feature OF the work. The rock
which is OF an unusually stubborn nature.
was first struck about $50 feet west OF
Gano street II. as now seems. 1t Is a
lecge. the men will continue TO bore
otherwise they will continue with the open
cut.
Everything known TO the craft has been
applied to see IL the rock does extend any
distance. and all Indications are that Il
does.
Thus far nothing but hand drills have
been brought into Use; but the superin-
tendent SAYS that this week he will have
boiler set up on the hill and have the
drills operated by steam.
AT the BENEFIT street opening, where the
boring has extended some distance under
the Weeden estate. the work advances
slowly. 1t is all rock; and continuous
blasting is necessary 10 cut through. AL
though the men are at work here night
and day. they progress no moro than four
feet per week.
Between Canal and North Main streets.
where the abutments for the bridge are
being prepared the front wall on North
Main street Is some twenty feet high.
built OF sand, gravel and cement The
side wall along Blair street will run
straight TO Canal street, while the north
side wall on Elizabeth seteet will be more
Irregular.
These side walls will both contain con-
crete arches. so that II the railroad com
pany wishes on tho completion OF the
bridge II can knock these arches out and
Use the space beneath the bridge for
stores
The extreme wall on Canal street will
be higher by about five feet than the
North Main street one. thus giving a
gradual incline to the bridge