Page:Walker (1888) The Severn Tunnel.djvu/196



first nine months of the year 1883 were comparatively uneventful months. The progress of the works was constantly increasing, and they were now in full swing throughout.

The rate of progress rose from £23,000 per month at the end of 1882, to £31,000 by mid-summer, and continued at the rate of about £30,000 per month through the remainder of the year.

The most rapid progress was made on the Gloucestershire side of the river. More shafts were sunk at intervals of 60 or 80 yards from the existing heading to the new gradient, and the whole of the bottom heading was completed down to the ‘Shoots.’

The heading through the gravel which had run in, in November, 1882, was secured and safely driven to the extreme eastern end of the tunnel, where a junction was made with a small shaft sunk by the Company in 1879.

The bridges over the open cutting were commenced, and the cutting itself lowered to the right