Loading your reading…

Is a Ship Canal Practicable?: Notes, Historical and Statistical, Upon the Projected Routes for an Interoceanic Ship Canal Between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, in Which is Included a Short Account of the Character and Influence of the Canal of Suez, and the Probable Effects Upon the Commerce of the World of the Two Canals, Regarded Either as Rivals, or as Parts of One System of Interoceanic Navigation — John Shaqi

History

Is a Ship Canal Practicable?: Notes, Historical and Statistical, Upon the Projected Routes for an Interoceanic Ship Canal Between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, in Which is Included a Short Account of the Character and Influence of the Canal of Suez, and the Probable Effects Upon the Commerce of the World of the Two Canals, Regarded Either as Rivals, or as Parts of One System of Interoceanic Navigation

Name: Is a Ship Canal Practicable?: Notes, Historical and Statistical, Upon the Projected Routes for an Interoceanic Ship Canal Between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, in Which is Included a Short Account of the Character and Influence of the Canal of Suez, and the Probable Effects Upon the Commerce of the World of the Two Canals, Regarded Either as Rivals, or as Parts of One System of Interoceanic Navigation
Author: Abert, S. T. (Silvanus Thayer)

Abert, S. T. (Silvanus Thayer)

Canals, Interoceanic

════════════╤═════════╤═══════╤═══════╤═════════╤═════════
      NAMES OF  │         │       │ HEIGHT│ NUMBER  │ SECTION
      TUNNELS.  │ LENGTH. │ WIDTH.│ ABOVE │  OF     │ ABOVE
                │         │       │ RAILS.│ SHAFTS. │ RAILS.
    ────────────┼─────────┼───────┼───────┼─────────┼─────────
                │  YDS.   │   FT. │  FT.  │         │ SQ. FT.
    Chezy       │   496   │ 24.27 │ 18.04 │   0     │ 365.84
    Arschwiller │  2928   │ 24.27 │ 18.04 │   6     │ 374.77
    Alouette    │  1350   │ 25.58 │ 20.00 │  21     │ 428.68
    La Motte    │  2799   │ 24.92 │ 21.98 │  ...    │ 519.71
    Nerthe      │  5072   │ 26.24 │ 24.60 │  24     │   ...
    St. Martin  │  1509   │ 25.25 │ 19.35 │  10     │ 415.34
    Blaisy      │  4483   │ 26.24 │ 24.60 │  20     │   ...
    ────────────┼─────────┼───────┴───────┼─────────┴─────────
      NAMES OF  │COST PER │   TIME IN     │
      TUNNELS.  │RUNNING  │ CONSTRUCTION. │      MATERIAL.
                │ YARD.   │               │
    ────────────┼─────────┼───────────────┼───────────────────────
                │ DOLS.   │     MO’S.     │
    Chezy       │  411    │     32        │ Sand and clay.
    Arschwiller │  176    │     95        │ Sandstone.
    Alouette    │  305    │     23        │ Clay.
    La Motte    │  180    │     30        │ Clay, marl, sandstone.
    Nerthe      │  412    │     36        │ Limestone.
    St. Martin  │  475    │     60        │ Porphyritic rock.
    Blaisy      │  ...    │     ...       │ Limestone.
    ────────────┴─────────┴───────────────┴───────────────────────

The cost of the Thames tunnel was greatly increased by a shield,
designed by Brunel, to keep out the water. Omitting this tunnel from
comparison the English works exceed the French, or Continental, in cost
of construction.

The boldest work of the kind yet undertaken is the Mt. Cenis tunnel, to
connect France and Italy by a continuous railway. In length it is seven
miles, with a width of 26′ 6″ and a height of 20′ 8″. Its completion is
anticipated in April, 1871.

The monthly advance by hand-labor was twenty-two and a-half yards. The
progress is doubled by machinery, and during the past year has averaged
330 feet per month. Air, compressed by water power, is conveyed
inside to give motion to chisels, which form cavities for blasting by
gunpowder. The average progress per day in 1865, with the machinery,
was about 9 feet.

The estimated cost was $550 per running foot, but the rate was
increased to $640; the entire cost of the tunnel being estimated at
$9,200,000. The use of machinery at Mt. Cenis was found to expedite the
work, but at an increase of expense.

No reviews yet