=Method of Checking Alinement.=--The direction of heading No. 1 is
checked by experts from the Government Survey Department at Lausanne
about three times a year, and for this purpose a transit instrument is
set up in the observatory. A number of three-legged iron tables are
placed at intervals of 1 mile or 2 miles along the axis of tunnel No. 1,
and upon each of these is placed a horizontal plane, movable by means of
an adjusting screw, in a direction at right angles to the axis, along a
graduated scale. On this plane are small sockets, into which the legs of
an acetylene lamp and screen, or of the transit instrument, can be
quickly and accurately placed. The screen has a vertical slit, 3 ins. in
height, and variable between ¹³⁄₁₆ in. and ³⁄₁₆ in. in breadth,
according to the state of the atmosphere, and at a distance shows a fine
thread of light. The instrument, having first been sighted on to the
illuminated scratch of the sighting-point, is directed up the tunnel,
where a thread of light is shown from the first table. With the aid of a
telephone this light is adjusted so that its image is exactly coincident
with the cross hairs, and the reading on the graduated scale is noted.
This is done four or five times, the average of these readings being
taken as correct, and the plane is clamped to that average. The
instrument is then taken to the first table and is placed quickly and
accurately over the point just found (by means of the sockets), and the
lamp is carried to the observatory. After first sighting back, a second
point is given on the second table, and so on. These points are marked
either temporarily in the roof of the heading by a short piece of cord
hanging down, or permanently by a brass point held by a small steel
cylinder, 8 ins. long and 3 ins. in diameter, embedded in concrete in
the rock floor, and protected by a circular casting, also sunk in cement
concrete, holding an iron cover resembling that of a small manhole. From
time to time the alinement is checked from these points by the
engineers, and after each blast the general direction is given by the
hand from the temporary points. To check the results of the
triangulation survey, astronomical observations have been taken
simultaneously at each end. With regard to the levels, those given on
the excellent Government surveys have been taken as correct, but they
have also been checked over the pass.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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