The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-22

Opening of the Bids for the Removal of
Frying Pan Reef and Pot Rock

Opening OF the Bids for the Remoyay of
Frying Pan Reef and Pot Rock.
Brevet Major General John Newton's office. Army
Headquarters, West Houston street, was the scene
OF considerable excitement at meridian yesterday
it the occasion for opening the various bids
for the removal OF two dangerous reefs in Hell Gate.
Acting under the law regarding the appropriation Of
$4,000 by the last session or Congress for this mpor
tant object the less than the opening of another
commercial avenue OF magnitude to New York, Gene
raj Newton had advertised for proposals that these
dangerous distractions should be removed. With
out indicating any definite plan how the object
might be cOnsummated, he wisely left the matter to
the various submarine engineers who were combat
ting In the struggle to obtain the first great prize Of
disodging these impediments to the commerce Of q
world.
1t had been widely circulated that these rocky beds
should be removed to the depth Of twenty-five feet
at mean low water mark. and the debris arising
from the work be deposited the engineer in charge
should direct The estimated cubic contents OF the
rocks also given. that OF Frying Pan Reef being
1,2222 square yards while the estimated cubic con-
tents OF Pot Rock were $751; cubic yards, extending
over an area of 1922 square yards;
1t was also particularly noted in this general intel
ligence that General Newton would not necessarily
assign to the lowest or any bidder the contract as
the process proposed would be one OF the rst to DO
taken into consideration. Further 1t was also puo-
licly advised that new and more detailed survey
would be made OF these rocks and that the accepted
bids for their removal might be increased or dimn-
ished in amount as the work shown by the new sur
veys shall be greater or less than that deduced from
Eighteen gentlemen well known in the world Of
submarine engineering, assembled at the hour
noted ana, with pencil and paper In hand, awaited
amid an ominOus silence the opening of the sealed
proposals. With elaboration that the moment
and cave the Content Of the ENCLOSURES to the the wa
ing throng as follows, which Is the order OF their
being received &
No. 1.-George H. Bradbury for Frying Pan,
1929 1870, to be completed December 81 1867 for Pot
ROCK, $3.50 to be completed n April Is, 1870.
s2o7 c9 Pot Rock, sls 3Ss o.; both to Be- removed
No. BE. R. Lowe, Frying Pan alone, 100000;
No. 4.-Messrs Cammeyer, Lewis Patterson
Frying Pan, sS25,o Pot Rock, s176,ooo; to be
The reading of this bid caused momentary lull in
the serious business of the meeting many Of the old
heads looking up with strange SMILE almost In
credulous in their nature and wondering that they
had heard Alright asked again for the figures
NO 5L!ohn j. Flanagan Frying PAN so sSS 600, to
to be done November /. 1869.
No. e.-George L. Lincoln, Frying Pan, s45Ooo;
Pot Rock, S35, 00O work to be completed September
No. 7.-B. Mallifert, Frying Pan, $40 so per cubic
yard; Pot Rock, $44 2S per cubic yard; work COM
pleted May l, 1869.
No s.-A. D. Bishop, SOS per square yard, specify
ing no time. ~
Rock, $4,000. Both to be removed September Is.
1859.
No 1o.-Murphy, Pontez & Baldwin, Frying Pan,
81 60 per cubic foot; Pot Rock, 81 per cubic foot
General Newton, when the last bid had been re-
corded said that he did not then mean to assign the
contract, the great disparity In the sums submit
ted and the various processes proposed would neces
state careful deliberations whereupon the scientific
throng separated.
The modes proposed for the removal Of these
rocks are various. Some submit that their process
will be drilling and blasting with gunpowder; others
that surface blasting, using nitro-glycerne, ignting
it with electricity In the ordinary way will be efec
tua and II not so, they propose to drill with an In
genious machine and use 1t in charging manner.
The removal Of these rocks has called forth many
plans and the public may rest assured that the
awards will be made. after mature consideration,
only to responsible parties combining ample means
with engineering experience and energy OF pur-
pose.