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Show A MONSTER TUNNEL. Time Has Wrought Changes in the Cave of the Winds. (Philadelphia Recard.) Ever since it was discovered; in the summer of 1S34, the Cave of the Winds at Niagara Falls has been a strange and remarkable re-markable attraction for the many visitors to that scenic point. It has enjoyed a rare patronage, and since 1SS6 has been under the management of George W. Wright. As a scenic point it has excited the envy of Canadians, who, some years ago. excavated exca-vated a hole through the rock extending just back of the stream that poured over the precipice of the famous Horseshoe fall. The recent diversion of water on the Canadian side by the piles of excavated rock from the tunnel and wheel-pit, as well as the changes wrought- by dams, has so transformed the Canadian side, at the Horseshoe, that the old tunnel, as a scenic point, is no longer useful, and it is proposed to dig another longer and bigger tunnel that will extend througti the rock to a point back of the heaviest water of the Canadian fall. In doing this a shaft 120 feet deep will be sunk south of the old Table Rock house, and from the bottom of this shaft a tunnel seven by nine feet will be run out and back of the Horseshoe fall. As the fall is 165 feet high the point of view at the face of the precipice behind the sheet of water will.be about forty-five feet above the water of the lower river. The tunnel will follow the contour of the fall at a distance of fifty feet back. P'rom the end of the main tunnel two laterals of the same size will be run out to the face of the cliff, where people will be given a view of the greatest waterfall on earth. Jt may be found impossible im-possible to carry out this plan because of the spray cloud that may be found there. Under these conditions all the work would be useless. Then, again, it has been contended that there is a terrific force of compressed air. back of the Horseshoe. Should this force be tapped it would drive back through any tunnel that might be driven with awful force, carrying death to all caught there. As it is well known that the Horseshoe fall is constantly wearing away, this contemplated contem-plated feat of tunneling back of the Horeshoe must of necessity assist in the future destruction of the cataract. The scenic tunnel will be lighted, with electricity, elec-tricity, and it may be that the new tunnel will make it possible to develop wonderful electric effects back of the sheet of water. Powerful searchlights operated there may yet form a feature of the night beauty of Niagara, but this remains to be demonstrated. The view that will be opened by the tunnel will be what might be termed an interior one, and the human eve may long to linger and follow the curve of the ocean of water that pours down from Lake Erie. |
