A farm, containing 250 acres of land, with a dwelling-house and barn, has been purchased, adjoining the Central Shaft, for the sum of $3,000. The land was well covered with timber, about one-half of which has been cut for the purposes of the shaft and tunnel. There is estimated to be one million feet of hemlock timber still standing, which will be wanted in the progress of the work. This purchase was an advantageous one for the State, there having been already realized from it an amount equal to its cost.
The working force at the Central Shaft in July, 1860, was comprised of—
| Engine-men and firemen, | 5 |
| Mechanics in iron, | 4 |
| Carpenters, | 5 |
| Blacksmiths and helpers, | 4 |
| Pump men, | 1 |
| Manual laborers, | 39 |
| Total in July, | 58 |
On the first day of November there were employed at this point, in all, 81. Of this number, 40 were engaged out of the shaft, and 41 in the shaft.
The above enumeration does not include the resident engineer and time-keeper, stationed here in November.
The depth of Central Shaft, when completed, will be 1,037 feet from the surface; its form is an ellipse, whose axes are 27 and 15 feet. On the fifth day of May it had reached the depth of 300.5 feet. At this time the hoisting apparatus was removed from the shaft, and the work of excavation ceased. The new hoisting apparatus was fitted on the first day of August, and the drilling commenced at midnight on that day.
Previous to the change in the hoisting apparatus, the monthly progress had averaged about 181/2 feet per month. The advance in October and November was 46 feet; the gain over the previous rate of progress is attributable to the practice of simultaneous blasting.
On the first day of January, 1867, the shaft had been sunk 393 feet, leaving for excavation 644 feet.
Table showing the progress at Central Shaft from November 1, 1865, to December 1, 1866.