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<br />449 feet of heading advance
<br />was driven in one month.!1J
<br />The enlargement of the un-
<br />dercut drift to full tunnel
<br />section was accomplished
<br />by two gangs at an average
<br />rate of 1,665 feet per month,
<br />During the course of exca-
<br />vation. more than five mil-
<br />lion two-horse wagon-loads
<br />of debris were removed.H~
<br />Soon after construction
<br />of the tunnel had begun, it
<br />became evident that the
<br />timbering would not long
<br />hold up under the influence
<br />of the heat and moisture,
<br />Consequently, it became
<br />necessary immediately to line the tunnel sections \vith con-
<br />crete. Fortunately, a suitable SOurce of sand and gravel \vas
<br />found on a steep hill overlooking the main shaft. The cement
<br />was mixed, dumped into special cars. and transported to the
<br />point within the tunnel where it could be shoveled into pre-
<br />pared forms, By June 30, 1910, all timbered sections and some
<br />unlimbered sections of the Gunnison Tunnel had been lined."3
<br />
<br />In late June of 1909, the excavation of the tunnel was al-
<br />most complete, and the two gangs of men working in headings
<br />one and two began to hear each others' drilling. Within two
<br />weeks, at 6: 45 on the afternoon of July 6, at a point 10,812 feet
<br />from River Portal. the 1\\"0 crews came together. and the rough
<br />bore of one of the longest tunnels in the United States was
<br />completed.!ll
<br />
<br />As the tunnel completion became imminent, a Montrose
<br />citizens' group called the "Gunnison Tunnel Opening Com-
<br />mittee" laid plans for a grandiose celebration. Tll€ Gunnison
<br />Repl/blica1! for August 26, 1909, announced the "Gunnison
<br />Tunnel Opening Day" in misprint as September 23, 1609, an]
<br />in several issues included the exciting program:
<br />
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<br />HI\'EH I'()HTAL
<br />U'nr/rl'.'I U'"rk
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<br />.: Holk..r an.l \\'lIl...y. 01' <'it" 516.
<br />"" C. :-:::. I:..damatlon ~t'r\-iet'. !Hh .-Itllllull Nqwrt, f}11, '"it" ~'9.
<br />"GlItHdsf}n NqH(/llicnn. .-\lI~U,.t ~ti. I!&O!;l Tlw tllllt' i~ gln'n Ii" 5:Hi In :"hli\\'.
<br />"p. "It.. 11 ~!\. an.l Fanny E. t.o.., J[,-r..q of f:",'ryliOll [,if.. (R')~lon. 1~'11 J. 60.
<br />Th.. ]<I'n:e"l 111nn.'1 at thi.. tlnll'. lnddl'ntally, \\"8" r"IIl'rt...,J w I... the lIoo:;ae
<br />rallrqll.J (unrw\ n,'ar ('harJo'Ill"nt. )Ias...;adlu"..n". t'''ITl]'\l'"t..d In IS,5 a(ll'"r t\n'nt)..
<br />four ~ear" of \Iurk. th.. ""I,..n.1illlrt' "f ~:!O.OOo.O'pO and llH- ]ns" of 195 Il\'\:',.. In
<br />al"lllality. tilt" 11"""11,' Tunn..] ilJ,panmt]r \\8=-: al10UI a mill' I<hort..r than tlH'
<br />(,"llljJ\o:l",\ Gunni",.n TUIlIlt"I~J/'I.\.'UrlIU."'lt8 f no"t,,". 1!13, \. ~57: t'harlt''' \\-.
<br />,'om"tud.;. "TIlt" nrt'at Tunn,'b of th.. \Y"rld'" J'ro,.. Co/v. ....ei. -""('.. \.01. ~ 11!H171.
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