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Drinker TUNNELING 1878 Scarce Lehigh Railroad PA

Title: Tunneling, Explosive Compounds, and Rock Drills
Author: Henry S. Drinker
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Printing Year: 1878

Condition/Details: Bound in three quarter leather with marbled endpapers, this large volume discusses the "details of practical tunnel wor", including blasting, drilling and air-compressors, and covers the history of tunneling from the age of Ramses II to the 19th century. Drinker was the Solicitor General of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and later President of Lehigh University. This exceedingly rare publication is imporant on a number of fronts, including the fact that his description of railroad hammering was used by scholars to lend credence to the validitity of the story that John Henry, the famous folk hero, beat out a steam-powered hammer. The work is profusely illustrations, both with in-text images and large fold-out diagrams and charts depicting things like tunnel facades and cross-sections. The volume shows some external wear, with a detached front board, and is solidly bound with very mildly age toned pages. The book measures approximately 9.5" x 12" and contains 1031 pages. Shipping cost (within the U.S.) for this lot will be: $12.50