THE CLEVELAND WATER TUNNEL.

THE CLEVELAND WATER TUNNEL.

The completion of the big waterworks tunnel under lake Erie for furnishing Cleveland, Ohio, with a pure and abundant water supply has been already announced in these columns. The work was begun more than six years ago—the crib being located five miles out in lake Erie. A big crib was towed in sections from the shore and sunk in the lake to a depth of 144 feet. Then it was pumped empty of water, and a force of men began digging a tunnel to connect it with the waterworks station on the shore. At the same time another force of men started to dig at the shore end of the proposed tunnel. For about six years the diggers have kept at work, breathing compressed air and working by the aid of electric lights. A week or two ago the two sets of workers met far out and deep below the surface of the lake. So exactly had the calculations of the engineers been made that (as the superintendent of the construction is quoted as saying) “there is apparently not an inch difference between the sides of the shore section and those of the new section. Nor is there any perceptible difference in the level of the two floors.” The tunnel is nine feet in diameter and 26,000 feet in length, and its construction has cost the city of Cleveland $1,250,000. During its construction there have been several serious explosions, which have resulted in fifty deaths. An army of men has been engaged in the work during the six years, and, because of the strain and pressure under which they have been engaged, they have labored only a few hours at a time. The construction of the tunnel is one of the scientific achievements of the age, as well as one of the most conspicuous efforts made by any American citv to get a pure and inexhaustible water supply. So far all seemed rosy in hue. A later account, however, says 400 feet of the brickwork may have to be torn out and rebuilt as soon as the two sections are connected. This section of the tunnel is part of the last work done by the contractors beyond crib 2. It is described by Superintendent Bemis as having sagged badly in many places, being contracted less than the specified size and lacking in symmetry for the greater part of the distance. At several other places there are cracks in the walls. At these points the walls will be rebuilt. Consulting Engineer Benzenberg and Assistant Superintendent Schultz inspected the tunnel between crib 2 and the point where the connection is about to be made. Mr. Benzenberg at once announced the necessity of the rebuilding of the greater portion of the contracted stretch.

The completion of the big waterworks tunnel under lake Erie for furnishing Cleveland, Ohio, with a pure and abundant water supply has been already announced in these columns. The work was begun more than six years ago—the crib being located five miles out in lake Erie. A big crib was towed in sections from the shore and sunk in the lake to a depth of 144 feet. Then it was pumped empty of water, and a force of men began digging a tunnel to connect it with the waterworks station on the shore. At the same time another force of men started to dig at the shore end of the proposed tunnel. For about six years the diggers have kept at work, breathing compressed air and working by the aid of electric lights. A week or two ago the two sets of workers met far out and deep below the surface of the lake. So exactly had the calculations of the engineers been made that (as the superintendent of the construction is quoted as saying) “there is apparently not an inch difference between the sides of the shore section and those of the new section. Nor is there any perceptible difference in the level of the two floors.” The tunnel is nine feet in diameter and 26,000 feet in length, and its construction has cost the city of Cleveland $1,250,000. During its construction there have been several serious explosions, which have resulted in fifty deaths. An army of men has been engaged in the work during the six years, and, because of the strain and pressure under which they have been engaged, they have labored only a few hours at a time. The construction of the tunnel is one of the scientific achievements of the age, as well as one of the most conspicuous efforts made by any American citv to get a pure and inexhaustible water supply. So far all seemed rosy in hue. A later account, however, says 400 feet of the brickwork may have to be torn out and rebuilt as soon as the two sections are connected. This section of the tunnel is part of the last work done by the contractors beyond crib 2. It is described by Superintendent Bemis as having sagged badly in many places, being contracted less than the specified size and lacking in symmetry for the greater part of the distance. At several other places there are cracks in the walls. At these points the walls will be rebuilt. Consulting Engineer Benzenberg and Assistant Superintendent Schultz inspected the tunnel between crib 2 and the point where the connection is about to be made. Mr. Benzenberg at once announced the necessity of the rebuilding of the greater portion of the contracted stretch.