TUNNELS. 
129 
Comparative Table of some of the largest Tunnels. 
Name of tunnel. 
Date. 
Formation. 
Shafts. 
Maximum depth. 
Section of tunnel. 
Length, in feet. 
Time required, in days. 
Cost per lineal foot. 
Total cost. 
Locality. 
Feet. 
Dollars. 
Dollars. 
a 
P. L 
z . 
24... 
610.. 
29.5 X 26.25 
15,153 
1,298,450 
Riqueval. 
P. L. 
1803 
Chalk. 
54... 
210.. 
26.25 X 26.25 
18,'623 
2,139 
39.887 
742,817 
St. Quentin canal, France. 
Pouillv. 
P. L. 
18-24 
Chalk and clay... 
32... 
164.. 
20.34 X 20.34 
10.928 
2,504 
113.965 
1,245,412 
Bourgogne canal, France. 
Asschviller. 
Z .... 
1839 
Z. 
S. S. 
Z ... 
26.25 X 26.25 
7,384 
1,878 
68.38 
a. 504,897 
Maine and Rhine canal, 
France. 
Mauvage. 
Z.... 
1840 
Z. 
S... 
Z ... 
25.59 X 25.59 
15,752 
2,085 
94.43 
a.1,487,393 
Maine and Rhine canal, 
France. 
Rolleboise. 
Z .... 
1841 
Chalk. 
s. s. 
z... 
24.94 X 24.94 
8,670 
626 
62.98 
546,099 
Rouen railway, France. 
Roule .. 
Z .... 
1841 
z.. 
S. S. 
z... 
24.94 X 24.94 
5,645 
522 
62.98 
355,513 
Rouen railway, France. 
z .... 
1839 
z . . 
s. s. 
z ... 
21.33 X 21.33 
4,548 
2,087 
56.98 
259,178 
France. 
Kilsby, (X). 
L .... 
1834 
Clay and sand .... 
18... 
164.. 
27 X 23.50 
7,233 
1,252 
194.31 
1,405,417 
London and Birmingham 
railway, England. 
L .... 
1840 
12... 
97... 
24 X 25.05 
3,972 
626 
102.86 
423,271 
way, England. 
Thames and Med- 
P. L. 
1822 
Chalk. 
S.... 
194.. 
30 X 38.7 
11,880 
939 
45.59 
541,550 
Thames and Medway ca- 
way. 
nal. England. 
Box. 
P. L. 
1837 
Marble, freestone, 
15... 
400.. 
35 X 39 
9,680 
1,252 
148.15 
1,434,063 
Great Western railway— 
marl, Sic. 
shafts 25 feet diameter, 
one-third of tunnel in 
rock—England. 
Hare Castle. 
L .... 
1824 
Rock and sand.... 
15... 
187.. 
14 X 16 
8,778 
939 
57.05 
500,799 
Trent and Mersey canal, 
England. 
Nochistongo (D).. 
L .... 
1807 
Clay and marl.... 
s.. .. 
164.. 
13.78 X 11-48 
21,659 
287 
a Desagua. 
Blisworth. 
L.... 
1796 
Rock and clay.... 
19... 
59... 
16.5 X 18 
9,240 
2,191 
23.185 
214,229 
G. J. canal, England. 
P. L. 
1789 
s. s. 
246.. 
15 X 15 
12,900 
1,878 
12.44 
160,476 
England. 
nl.. 
1835 
Greyivacke slate.. 
fi. . 
139.. 
19 X 17.23 
1,932 
77.18 
149.120 
United States. 
Blaisy...... 
L.... 
1846 
Chalk, clay, Sic... 
22... 
646.. 
26.25 X 26.25 
13,455 
1,043 
136.06 
1,830,730 
Paris and Lyons railway, 
France. 
Edge Hill. 
P. L. 
1826 
Clay and freestone 
S.... 
Z ... 
22 X 16 
6,600 
30.15 
198,969 
Liverpool and Manchester 
railway, England. 
Littlebourg. 
L .... 
1840 
z . 
14... 
(c)177 
27.5 X 24 
8,607 
590 
129.61 
1,115,544 
wav, England. 
Woodhead. 
Z .... 
Z ... 
5.... 
600.. 
15,840 
1,800 
1,026,705 
railway, England. 
A tunnel has been projected at Mt. Cenis, on the line of the Lyons and Turin railway, of the 
length of 7.6 miles; the gradient in the tunnel to be 105 feet to the mile; the section of the 
tunnel to be 19 by 25 feet; no shafts to be used. By the aid of machinery it was expected to 
complete this work in five years, at an expense of $2,615,000. 
The inventor of the machine and the engineer of the road is the Chevalier Mause. His plans 
and estimates were submitted to, and approved by, a board of eminent engineers and geologists, 
among whom was the celebrated Mr. Robert Stevenson. 
The tunnel projected through the Hoosack mountain was to have been 4-J miles long, 23 feet 
by 22 feet; two shafts about 850 feet and 750 feet deep, 10 feet in diameter. The cost variously 
estimated at from $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. Time estimated by different engineers at from 
four to ten years. The machinery designed for boring did not succeed, and the project has not 
as yet been commenced seriously. 
At the crossing of the Blue Ridge by the Virginia Central railroad there are four tunnels. The 
main tunnel is 4,280 feet in length; has been four years under construction, and is estimated to 
require two years more to complete it. No shafts are used. It is ventilated by machinery. 
A portion of it is lined. It is for a single track, and is in the clear 21 feet high by 15 feet in width. 
Where lined, the abutments of the lining are 4 feet thick; the arches 3 feet thick. The excavation 
in these places is 26 feet high by 23 feet wide. 
A portion of one of the small tunnels is through a very difficult formation of loose rock and 
earth. In the main tunnel much trouble is experienced from the water. 
The main tunnel is 700 feet below the crest of the mountain through which it passes. The 
workmen are arranged in three reliefs, and work night and day. No machinery is used for boring 
or excavating. It is the opinion of the engineer that no machinery can be applied when the tunnel 
requires lining, for want of space. He states that no excavating machine has yet been successful. 
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