Geology and Non-Metallics - Geology of the Moffat Tunnel, Colorado (with Discussion)

The Moffat tunnel passes through the continental divide about 50 miles west of Denver, Colo., on the Denver & Salt Lake R. R.: It is 16 ft. wide, 24 ft. high, and 32,383 ft. long, a distance of a little more than 6 miles. The advantages accruing from its construction may be briefly summarized as follows: The tunnel eliminates 27 miles of grade averaging more than 3.5 per cent. and actually running well over 4 per cent. in many places, and changes the steepest grade from 4.5 to 2 per cent. It reduced the peak of the railroad from 11,660 to 9249 ft. which enables one engine to pull four times as much freight as it could before the tunnel was built. If the Denver & Salt Lake R. R. completes its line, this road will shorten the distance between Denver and Salt Lake City by 200 miles and will have no steeper grades than the lines now connecting the two cities. The proposal to drive the tunnel through the divide dates back about 25 years and D. H. Moffat, who was the leading spirit in the organization of the Denver & Salt Lake R. R. spent much of his time and energy in efforts to raise money for the tunnel that bears his name. He was unsuccessful and died before the work was started. In 1920 an effort was made to obtain state legislation favoring a bond issue to finance three important railroad tunnels in Colorado but the measure was defeated, largely through the efforts of the citizens of the region near Pueblo. A few years later devastating floods caused the Pueblo voters to seek relief from the state and at this time they withdrew their objection to the tunnel bond issue. As a result, a $6,720,000 bond was issued to finance the Moffat tunnel. Construction bids were so high that the work was finally allotted on a scheme analogous to a cost-plus basis. The contract was awarded to Hitchcock and Tinckler, who are paid a fee of $140,000 for driving the tunnel. All bills are paid by the Moffat Tunnel Commission. The contract was let Sept. 19, 1923, and Hitchcock and Tinckler agreed to complete the work by July 19, 1927. In the event of finishing before this date they were to be given a bonus of $1000 a day and