The New York herald., 1863-11-14
Harhor DefonCeS.
m TEE RNrrOu Ar Tuu UYp

~ Ih6 bUiIOh " The dbBAbDs
Your readers will remember that, the city having ~
propriated million or dollars for harbor defence kl
sum was voted for the purpose by the IAgsatuf
Of the State last session. and Governor Ssyhour s&
Governor Morgan and the State ComptrolIer we're uf
mately appointed Commissioners Of the work. We ID
plauded the appointment Of these gentlemen = guarah
OF this important trust but what your reporter stst
really the CASE have TO cnango our opihoa
and will watch further proceedings with vgilant Sts
capacity of Reconstructed extra commissioner.
Soon after the appointment the Commissioners advse
tsed for engineers 70 furnish plans for system Of ha
Dor obstructious which, while ensctusly barring ou
enemy, at the time not 10 inure the cha
mel or impede navigation ,oderns premium Of thrsI
hundred dollars for each Of the three best plans submitted
So far good. We suppose they obtained number q
plans; but as yet, after many months, no public awar
has been made, although from what follows, IL win
that OF these plans has been adopted ahe
mated cost of carrying out which scarcely ored
Learning that contractors advertised for and thu
plaus and specifications exhibition the oloe
the engineer No. ~ Exchange place. OF numero
correspondents made reconnaissance, and the foowr
is the result of his observations
He found the room Of the engineer charged with Of
structng the channel on the third floor Of No. Al.
entering the room the most conspicuous object was
nicely framed and colored drawing representing the on
TEN Of distinctions which the Commissioners have se
6t in the pentude Of their WISDOM adopt. This pl
of series not Of aoats, but Of immense oblo
RATS, dfty feet wide and hundred and twenty "a
long, each raft anchored BY three chain cables towa
the enemy and by two chain cables on the sidc towar
the city, These RATS are placed twenty feot distant
from the other and are connected one 10 the other
OF elk chains three aud half inches thick plac
points about fifteen fee, apart the long side Of
raft. The distractions apparently extend from ?,
Hamilton to the opposite shore. Upon the respect
shores there massive stone structures, 70 which
extremitiee Of the obstruconE 10 be made as Up
the face OF each float towards the enemy -four Of wi
the engineer calls snags shod with iron. ftese arc
tended penetrate the bow OF any ship that attempts
"Kick against the pricks"
After asking questions, and beifg furnish|
a contractor, with a specification Of the work TO
contracted for correspondent put tho final and m
interesting question Of ALL viz; TO the estimated
OF such immense work, and was told "abou, two
quarter millions Of dollars" upon which, as he Sc
all previous Inconsistencies became at once cleared
and be ncontinently left.
So far our correspondent. Now for our own priv
opinion Of the matter, based upon the preceding and
previous experience The estimated cost being about
three and quarter.
Added TO this IL seems 10 us that the system Ia In ID
faulty and will defeat the object intended The rats
sent the stream and tides and consequently 10 tho
mense masses Of ice which cover the river 10 win
Tat surfaces 1fty feet each between two raf thera
openings Of only twenty feet that tho ice collected
City feet Of raft viii have 70 force itself through
two and bali times smaller. This win load TO a
and II the obstructions are not quietly carried out ID
by the enormous pressure, we will have beautiful
bridge covering the river from Fort Hamilton 10
Sing. That such would be the actual effect Of such al
rsngemeni we think there can be little doubt Have
thought Of this, Maesrs. Commsssonerss
Furthermore, IL seens that 70 connect the RATS b.
chains will make q comparatively rigid structure, VI
cannot be bent upon itself, 90 a. 10 be easily opeo
main channel, 70 admit the ingress and egress fr,
vessels. TO make opening tvo hundred and
feet wide q steamer would he required 10 tow ,hr
the RATS out q the way after unshscksIling ,wcvs
rate chains and as thess three enormous Affairs
require be adjusted in their places nicely again
ineans--mesnwhils perhaps, the t,ds n
turred-we give the Commissioners Joy Of the oper
Ne think noats having vertical displacement, Id
~ superficial would have been much better po,r
the ends N defect the ce aud with spaces bstwse
Goat suniccut allow frce pesssge Tor the tds, lca
good TUCK cham would have becn bsssct THAI w