The tunnel enters the eastern side of the Hoosac Mountain, in the town
of Florida, a few rods from the right bank of the Deerfield River. The
eastern summit of the mountain is 2,210 feet above tide-water, 1,499
feet above the Deerfield River, 1,429 feet above the grade of the
railroad, and is distant from the East Portal of the tunnel 6,100 feet.
The western summit is 2,510 feet above tide-water 1,788 feet above the
Hoosac River, 1,718 feet above the grade of the railroad, and 6,700 feet
distant from the West Portal. Each portal of the tunnel is 766 feet
above tide-water. The summits are 2-41/100 miles distant from each
other, and the valley between them at its lowest depression is 801 feet
above the grade of the railroad.
The length of the tunnel, from the East End to the West End, as
commenced by Mr. Haupt, is 4-84/100 miles. Its base is, at the East End,
70 feet above the Deerfield River, and at the West End, 70 feet above
the Hoosac River. Its grade, from the East End to the Central Shaft, is
18 feet per mile; from the West End to West Shaft, 26-4/10 feet per
mile; and from the West Shaft towards the Central Shaft, 21-12/100 feet
per mile. These grades are calculated to allow the free passage of water
from the centre. Should the quantity of water found in the tunnel render
feasible a reduction of this grade, a change is contemplated.
[Illustration: Profile of the Hoosac Mountains]
The dimensions of the tunnel areas follows: The rock cutting is 24 feet
high and 24 feet wide. The brick-work is 26 feet high and 26 feet wide.
The bottom of the tunnel will contain a culvert three feet deep at the
centre. Through this culvert the water from the tunnel is to be
discharged. It now receives, in addition to the water accumulating in
the tunnel, a 12-inch pipe, to carry air at a low pressure for
ventilation; an 8-inch pipe to carry air for driving the drilling
machines; and a 3-inch pipe for carrying water for use in the holes
which are being drilled. Should it be found advisable to use gas in
carrying on the work, provision is made for a 4-inch pipe to carry the
gas from the place of manufacture. The track is to be placed 3-1/2 feet
above the bottom of the rock tunnel, and 4-1/2 feet above the bottom,
where lined with brick.
The distance by the highway, from the town of North Adams, or from the
West End to the East End of the tunnel, is about nine miles. From the
first named points to the Central Shaft is about five miles, and from
the Central Shaft to the East End the distance is six miles.
The time necessary to travel from the West End to the East End, is two
hours. Loaded teams from either end to the other perform the distance
and return in a day.
_Organization of the forces employed in the construction of the Hoosac
Tunnel, June, 1866._
Chief engineer Thomas Doane, salary, $4,000 00
Two assistant engineers, salary each, 1,350 00
One " " " 1,017 25
One " " " 900 00
[The assistants were assigned to different points
upon the work.]
One messenger, 469 50
One man in the stable, 626 00
Paul Hill, superintendent, salary, 2,400 00
One clerk, 1,200 00
One master mechanic, 1,800 00
One mechanical draftsman, 1,350 00
One pattern maker, 939 00
_For Materials and Supplies:_
One cashier and paymaster, $1,200 00
One purchasing agent, 1,200 00
One freight clerk and assistant paymaster, 1,000 00
One store-keeper at East End, 1,200 00
One assistant store-keeper at East End, 780 00
One store-keeper at West End, 1,000 00
One assistant store-keeper at West End, 900 00
One helper for do. at West End, 469 50
One store-keeper at Central Shaft, 720 00
The above were contained on the engineer's pay-roll.
Since the first visit of the Committee to the tunnel, many important
changes have been made in the force above mentioned, to wit: The salary
of the chief engineer was reduced to $3,600, he to provide his
transportation to various points upon the work. One of the assistant
engineers resigned and retired, and the office of two of them has been
abolished. The salary of the superintendent has been increased to
$3,000. The office of freight clerk has been abolished, and its duties
transferred to that of paymaster and cashier. The salaries of
store-keepers and their assistants were not a charge to the State, but
were paid from the profit of their respective stores.
At the commencement of the work, it was deemed necessary to provide
stores at the three points where the operations were carried on, to
supply the workmen readily with necessaries, so that no time might be
lost by them in the important duty of making provision for their
families. But in the present state of the enterprise, it is probable
that private individuals would readily establish such stores, and
relieve the State from a duty which, although it involved no pecuniary
charge, diverted to some extent the attention of officers from their
more legitimate avocations.