Tunneling: A Practical Treatise.

This volume offers a clear, step‑by‑step look at the art and science of building tunnels, from the earliest stone passages of ancient civilizations to the sophisticated sub‑river projects that dominate modern cities. It opens with a concise history, highlighting pioneering works such as the Assyrian and Roman tunnels, and then moves to the rapid advances of the early twentieth century—especially the surge of underwater tubes across New York, Boston, and European rivers. The author explains how new techniques have replaced the old fear of underground construction, making the subject accessible to today’s engineers.

The core of the book is a practical guide to the most common excavation methods used in the United States, illustrated with dozens of detailed diagrams. Readers will find thorough coverage of crown‑bar construction, heading‑and‑bench approaches, and the drift method, each explained with real‑world examples from recent tunnel projects. Whether you are a student, a practicing engineer, or a contractor, the text provides the fundamentals needed to understand and plan safe, efficient tunnels.