The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-07-29

has been prepared and bids are being
asked FOR the construction Of such build
ings as viii be required for the accom-
mediation and care OF The rolling stock
of all roads enterink Washington These
will consist Of two half-circle 25-stall en-
CINE houses IS feet between walls. ma
chine and blacksmith shop sos by las
feet, oil house 30s by 90 feet; stOreroom,
6j by lis feet: coaliEg station and sand
house. "a ieet by 256 feet; two double
track depressed a5hpits. go feet long
casting platforms. 1s5 by $50 feet engine
mems building, 60 by ZIG feet; cleaners
building 80 by 800 feet; powerhouses.
etc.
Uniform and saJ.s1sJ5t5:s' progress
has been made in the construction Of
the south approach, large percentage
OF which is tunnel and EirdeT covered
work There sre 525 feet OF girder Gov
cred work which was built in open cut
OF this tunnel work. ESQ feet is beina
drifted: the balance eco feet at the
north end AL .5J feet at the south
end was lC-5.r4CIei in open cut As
no shafts TtIs allowed, the drift tun-
neling was done 1rC4o the south end. At
this point al sZ.avation was loaded on
standa,l geuga cars 10 be removed by
the iailroa5 Here was located the
plant for n;ixing concrete and handling
the other materials entering into the
permanent construction. This plant. in
GLIDING the motive power for convey
ing the concrete 10 the work. was
operated by electricity.
By Compressed Air.
The shovel used in excavating the
IL 4 r..-Ens 4
ing the tunnel was operated by com
pressed air. BY the use OF these appli-
ances all smoke and gases were avoided.
allowing the workmen 10 perform their
labOrs under the most favorable condi-
tions without adding materially 10 the
cost Of construction. The remainder OF
this work consists of cut and embank-
ment. with bridges over the intersecting
streets. At the present rate Of progress
this work will be completed ready for
use by the end of the year. though
il has not been definitely decided when
IL viii be PIT in service.
The quantity Of material entering into
such a piece Of construction and the ex.
cavated material moved from one por.
ton OF the work 10 another can scarcely
be conceived. Tie filling, for example
patton amounts to about 800, 900 cubic
yards-enOugh 10 cover an acre lot Of
ground to a depth OF over $50 feet. To
I'LL the plaza and raise adjacent streets
10 the new grade about 1000, OO00 cubic
yards of material will be required. When
it is considered that an ordinary cart
has a capcIty Of less than a cubic yard.
some conception Of this volume may per-
haps be had. II this material were de-
posted on an average size city block
the sides being kept vertical. 1t would
form a shaft about $50 feet in height.
If all the material which VIII be NOV
ed 10 prepare The site for the coach
engine. and shop yards about 900. 600
cubic yards. were similarly deposited. il
would cover a city block TO a depth
equal to the height OF the Washington
Monument
Vast Excavation.
To excavate this vast volume of ma,
terial would require the services of a
steam shovel moving an average OF Is
600 cubic yards per month, from nine
TO ten years. due allowance being made
for natural DELAYS IN starting and com
pleting the work. To move this mater
!al TO the place of deposit would require
about 1900 trains OF twelve cars each.
or 600 trains per month, or an average
Of twenty-five trains per working day
If this materia, were 10 be moved on
ordinary STANDARD gauge, commercial
cars, such as ere used for hauling coal
II would require about 5000 cars to
haul g. Should these cars be coupled
togethe r in r single line they would
cover a distance of over 600 miles, nearly
twice the distance between Washington
and Pittsburg.
Largs figures are applicable not only
10 the materials moved or used in this
work. but to the finished product a.