Year: 1870

A ride over the Hoosac mountain will
convince any one that the plan adopted "a,
Mont Gems of building railroad over the
hill while the tunnel Was still in process OF
constructions, would be an possibility.
Very near the middle. near the two ends OF
the Hoosic tunnel is located the GENITAL
shaft. Here in a valley, aud far from any
village, are the works OF one OF the deepest
openings ever made in the earth. An en-
baukment OF rock built out from the shaft
house tells the story Of what has been done.
TIE works are essentially different from
either Ct those at the west shaft, or at the
east end. With that practical wisdom
which charac,erizes every part Of the
Messrs. Shanley's works, the use of COM
nressed ali has been discarded here, because
it would be both a more expensive and a
slower process with that motor. When
blast is made, the machinery must all be
Withdrawn for considerable distance, and
when the weight OF all the machine used
tor drilling is considered, it is not difficult
to believe that the time consumed in this
repeated elevation of tools and men must
be costly, and must consume more time
than III getting the work done by quick and
active miners working with hand aud arm
power only. The shaft is OF the size OF
large oblong room, but the actual opening
is very small 1t is filled in with an intri-
cate arrangement of platforms, ladders and
pipes, with here and there slant roof to
catch the water that fills the mountain, and
carry it to tanks, from which it is frequent
ly raised 10 the surface. We stand il the
shaft house short time and watch opera
tons.


The work here is dooe, as has been said
by d-power. 1t is, Of course, not SO
rapid as horizontal piercing, but the rate of
progress is, nevertheless, CONNIE ndable.
The shaft has now been penetrated to the
depth of about $50 feet, and the whole dis
lance to the bottom is but ,030 feet, so that
at the present rate of about thirty to thirty
five ieet month, the ground level will be
reached next month. From that time for
ward the work will be more rapidly done.
A considerable space must be cleared for
the men to work, and then it will be practi
cable to proceed with the tunnel in both d.
reclions toward the two ends. 1t will be
an exceedingly difficult feat to carry down
more than a thousand feet the two points
from which to work. 1t is unnecessary to
say that the slightest variation from the true
direction will result in q deal of useless la
Dor, since the variation firm the direct line
will cause a greater divergsnce the further
the work is prosecuted. The compass is
utterly useless here. and other instruments
must be used. The task is extraordinary
delicate, and must be repeated and verified
AGAIN and again.


1t is not vet fully decided by the Messrs.
Shany what course will be adopted when
the level of the tunnel is reached. They
will certainly work toward the west end ,
but whether much drilling will be done in
an easterly direction depends upon the
quality Of the rock formation at the bottom
The shaft is still piercing mica slate that is
easily mined, and Il that formation hollis
ont to the bottom scarcely anything will lie
done eastward. TIE tunnel at that end is
progressing so rapidly that if mica slate is
the prevailing formation through TO the east
heading that part ( the tunnel can be done
with ease a at much less expense, long
before the west half can be completed. But
at the west heading the quartz is trouble
some, and the contractors look apxiously
1pT lnt tltlc Nutu turN VIII uaNS
and struck the mica slate. 1t is therefore
necessary TO work as soon may be from the
central shaft toward the west end, in order
that the drills may be speedily battering
away at the quartz from both sides. Of
course as soon as space at the bottom
sufficient for work has been cleared by
hand power, the compressors and the ma
chine drills will be called into requisition as
at other points. Even now there are many
of them in position, and as soon as the
power can be proftably applied it will be
used. A difficulty with the works at this
point is that of procuring water. Even the
water to supply the boilers is pumped from
the bottom Of the shaft. With an eye to the
safety of their men. the contractors have
conceived the plan of providing fire proof
doors at a considerable distance below the
surface, which could be closed down tightly
in case of fire breaking out. Below this
point there will be a rassage-way out TO the
air beyond the works. The system of lad.
ders and platforms will enable miners left
below 10 env such event ~ e-e-ce e TIE
ou'sr air withou, danger.