Clann Mhór
Little Rock Tunnel
Location: 119 miles W. of Richmond
Dates of Construction: Completed in Jan. 1854
Length: 100 ft.
Grade: 70 ft. per mile
Width in clear: 15 ft.
Height: 21 ft.
Length of Arching: None
Single Track: yes
Materials encountered: Solid rock
Remarks: C. Crozet, Chief Engineer; A. M. Dupuy, T. J. Randolph, and D. Shanahan, Assistant Engineers; a succession of contractors, completed by Gallaher & McElroy, Contractor. Price of labor, previous to 1856: Common labor=$1.12 ½ to $1.25 per day; miners=$1.50; foreman=$3.
Primary Source References:
The Short Tunnel, 100 feet long, through the same kind of hard rock, (but requiring neither pumping, ventilation, arching, portal, nor lights) has cost $12, 390, which is $123.90 per running foot and $11.30 per cubic yard.
Claudius Crozet letter to the Board of Public Works, Oct 22, 1856
View from the top of Little Rock Tunnel
This tunnel is the only one still in use today.
Little Rock Tunnel
Photos by Dan Burke
