tunnel, and by the legislation of 1862 and 1863 undertaken their construction with the free consent of the corporation, the directors by an appropriate vote, expressed their concurrence with the proceeding, and their reliance upon the "good faith of the legislature" to complete the enterprise which had exhausted the resources of its immediate projectors. The last act of the corporation, as appears by the records, was the choice of officers in August, 1865, when Alvah Crocker was chosen president and Wendell T. Davis, clerk and treasurer.

Description of the Tunnel.

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 2⁴¹/₁₀₀ 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 4⁸⁴/₁₀₀ 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, 26⁴/₁₀ feet per mile; and from the West Shaft towards the Central Shaft, 21¹²/₁₀₀ 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.

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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 3¹/₂ feet above the bottom of the rock tunnel, and 4¹/₂ 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.

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.

Foremen and Others under the Superintendent.