. The American railway; its construction, development, management, and appliances . Truss over Ravine, and Tunnel, Oroya Railroad, Peru. Natures wildest scenery, the deep ravine, the mountain diffs,and the graceful truss carrying the locomotive and train safely overwhat would seem an impossible pass, here combine to give a vividillustration of an eneineerine feat. The location of a part of the Mexican Central Railway throughthe cut of Nochistongo is peculiarly interesting. Far underneaththe level of this line of railway there was skilfully constructed, in1608, a tunnel which at that period was
. The American railway; its construction, development, management, and appliances . Truss over Ravine, and Tunnel, Oroya Railroad, Peru. Natures wildest scenery, the deep ravine, the mountain diffs,and the graceful truss carrying the locomotive and train safely overwhat would seem an impossible pass, here combine to give a vividillustration of an eneineerine feat. The location of a part of the Mexican Central Railway throughthe cut of Nochistongo is peculiarly interesting. Far underneaththe level of this line of railway there was skilfully constructed, in1608, a tunnel which at that period was a very bold piece of engin- THE LARGEST CUT EVER MADE. 57 eering. It was designed to drain the Valley of Mexico, which hasno natural outlet. This tunnel was more than six miles lono- andten feet wide. It was driven through the formation called tepetaie,. The Nochistongo Cut, Mexican Central Railway. a peculiar earth with strata of sand and marl. It was finished ineleven months. At first excavated without a lining, it was after-ward faced with masonry. It was not entirely protected when agreat flood came, the dikes above gave way, and the tunnel becameobstructed. The City of Mexico was flooded, and it was decidedthat, instead of repairing the tunnel an open cut should be engineer who had constructed the tunnel, Enrico Martinez,was put in charge of this enormous undertaking, and others tookhis place after his death. The cut is believed to be the largest evermade in the world. For more than a century the work was con-tinued. Its greatest depth is now 200 feet. It was cut deeper, buthas partially filled with the washings from the slopes. The costwas enormous, more than 6,000,000 dollars in silver having beenactually disbursed ! Wages for workmen were then from 9 to 12cents a day. All convicts sentenced to hard labor were put at w
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