The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-10-22
Our Poughkecpsie Correspondence.

PoUGHKEEsIE, SATURDAY EvENIvG,
OCTOBER 10Th, 1850.
Great Blast on the Hudson River Railroad The
Dectsion in the Case of Margaret Lsv,ngston-
Democratic Candidat. for Msm6er of Congress-
The IVh,g and Democratic TICKETS The Court
of Oyer and Iemine.
have just returned from Stuyvesant point, on
the line of the Hudson River Railroad, some four
miles above this place. That part of the road is
now under contract TO Messrs. Smith and Cleary,
and to-day those gentlemen have been trying an
experiment. in setting of large blast by the &C.
ton Of The Ralvanic battery. Ii having been ru-
mored abroad that the blast was to take place at
half past two this afternoon, some twenty-five per-
sons from the village appeared upon the point
about that time. However, owing to some delays,
the battery was not got in readiness till nearly
dark and many persons, becoming weary of wait
Jog, left the ground The rock to be blasted, con-
sisted Of solid piece OF rock about hundred feet
in length, the top of which was thirty-five feet
above the grade. Along the edge of the rock were
drilled SIX large holes, averaging twenty-five feet
IN depth, aud six inches in diameter at the bottom,
and about eight at the top. About two feet back
ofthese holes were SIX more OF the same dimen-
slons. In the center of each Of the first six
holes, was placed rod twenty-five feet in
length, through which wires were passed, con-
nfcring with the galvanic battery, which was
situated about a hundred feet distant. The holes
were then loadsa, three kegs of powder and sew
ersl Of dirtbeipg placed in each hole, round
about the rods. Every thing then being in readi-
ness, the spectators numbering some twenty per-
sons, withdrew TO neighboring point of laud, to
witness the explosion. Among other persons, we
noticed PToft ssor Morse, who took an active in
terest in the experiment. assisting in the prepara-
tons, ard experimenting some ot the arrange
M nts 10 assast In the experiment, he had pre-
sented the contractors with a large quantity OF
wire, three miles in length, and valued at a hun
dred dollars.
few moments after dark, the word was
sounded "All ready" the horn was blown,
flash was seen, slight report was heard
and IL was all over. The report not much
one pronounced the blast q failure. But upon
visiting ~, II was found that IL has looseaed
from twoRy Is thirty thousand cubic feet of
rock A large crack, into which person, standing
by ne, thrust his hand, was found be ming on the
surface about eight inches from the edge, and run
nirg dewn disgonally some TWENTY-FIVE feet or
more, I'LL It's further extremity was fifteen twen-
ty feet from The outer edge Ii being dark, an ac-
ourute calculation was Dot made; but II was thought
by the contractors and Others, that between twenty
and thirty thousand cubic fee { had been loosened
by the blast. On Monday next, the contractors
willprobaby fill the crack with powder, and then
touch it off BY this means the greater part, not
all the rock, will be thrown into the river.
On Tuesday last, the commissioners ia the case
OF Margaret Livingston vs.. the Hudson River Rail-
road Company, met nj the court house, in this viii
iage, and awarded Mrs. l.. eleven hundred dollars
damages The company had offered her twelve
hundred and fifty dollars but she claimed eighteen
hundred.
The d, mocrats in the district composed OF the
counties OF Delaware ani Ulster, have nominated
Ouon M. Allsban, Esq, of the former county, as
their candidate for member IF Congress.
In this county, the wings, as welt as democrats,
have now made out their whole ticket, with the
exception OF the nomination of one or two candi-
dates for Assembly.
The Court Of oyer and Terminer, for this coun-
~, will hold Its session az the Court House. in this
village, in December next Wilkes's trial will
come on at that time, and much excitement will
probably exist