The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-05-23
NOVEL AND INTERESTING PROCESS

NoN Eli AMI INTERESTING PROCESS.
perceive by the report of the Whining.
ton and Manchester Railroad, submitted to
the Company at its general meeting in Janu-
airy last, that a very remarkable and success
ful method has been adopted by Col. Walter
Gwynn, the distinguished Chief Engineer OF
the Company, to overcome the extraordinary
difficulty of crossing the Great Pee Dee river
The difficulty arose from the fact that the
bed of the river proved to be an unbroken
stratum of sand, into which piles could not be
driven to sufficient depth to ensure their
permanency. The. difficulty might have been
avoided by bridge of a single span, stretch
ing entirely across the river, but for the ne.
cessity of making a draw for the passage OF
steamers. In this dilemma, Colonel Gwynn,
| whose attention had been drawn to the sub
Ject by publications in scientific journals, ex-
amned very particularly the novel and inte-
resting process of DIR. Potts, of England, for
sinking hollow piles by the pressure of the at
mosphere In this process, which, Colonel
Gwynn observes, is one of the most beautiful
| and simple applications of a natural element
to the uses of manFyet discovered, can air
pump is employed. which being connected
with the head ofthe hollow pile, the air is ex-
hausted, and stream of water, sand, shingle
and gravel, sucking up from below, the pile
sinks gradually into the displacement. is,
| therefore, kind of sub-aquatic excavation,
| the lower end of the hollow pile becoming
| converted into kind of scoop, worked by
| the air pump on the platform above" After
| mature consideration and thorough investi-
| CATION, Col. Gwynn became convinced that
the process could be successfully applied in
sinking hollow piles or cylinders in such ma
terial as compose the bed of the Great Pee
Dee. In endeavoring to accomplish this OBJ
ject, numerous andvexatious difficulties were
encountered, and after these had been over
come and the apparatus put in operation, it
was pronounced by many failure, so that at
one time Col Gwynn stood almost alone in
the support of the plan. With his character
istic firmness and determination he perse-
vered, until his efforts were finally crowned
with complete triumph, and the process of DIR.
Potts applied to the sands of the Pee Dee
| with the most 81 Snal success.
This is a great achievement, and places a
new feather in the cap of Col. Gwynn, whom
we have always looked upon as one of the
first engineers on this continent The stock.
holders of the Company, to whose work he
has rendered this distinguished service,
passed resolution at their last meeting de.
claring that the construction of the bridge
| tn "a Grnat Pee Dee TpOp r,iaooo ..
ON, and mainly composed of cast iron tubes,
| Ia work which the Company now regards as
of undoubted success marks great step in
the progress of American enterprise and Skill
! in the art of Civil Engineering, and has ex-
hibited mastery professional ability, energy
and perseverance. To manifest their appre.
citation of these qualities, the President and
Directors were ordered to procure suitable
medals of gold, to be presented to the Princi
pal and Resident Engineers, with proper in
| scriptions, upon the completion of the bridge
andthe first transit of the ears across it,