
          1040.

might visit the place.  This we did and then returned to the path.
Before long we were at the tunnel.  We entered it and thought of
going through to Ilchester.  We <s>entered and</s> proceeded a short distance
then decided to return for it was quite dark, and the path was in no good
condition.  We were almost back to the entrance when seeing a man coming
with a light we stopped to await him.  We found him quite an intelligent
man.  Learning that we thought of going through the tunnel he
kindly offered to direct us.  He told us quite a number of interesting
things.  The tunnel is 1400 ft. long, the distance along the river is three
times as long; as it is 30 ft. wide at the base.  More than $50000 worth
of timber  has been used in its construction.  The laborers got $1.50 a day
the bricklayers $8.  There are five bricklayers and each can lay 6000 bricks
a day, requiring 6 laborers each to supply them with material.  He expects 
to  have tunnel finished, ready for the laying of tracks in about 3 weeks.
As the <s>tunnel</s> earth is dug out the sides and roof of tunnel are prevented
from caving in by means of heavy timbers.  Immediately in front of the
timbers is built the thick wall of bricks.  Behind the brick wall and between
the timbers are piled large pieces of rock and cement is forced in under
pressure so as to fill up all the interstices.  The tunnel at one place 
is 172 ft. below the surface of the hill.  We learned that the man
        