The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-20
HELL GATE.


n new INTEREST is ABOUT 10 DE awakened CONCERNING
Hell Gate by the effort to remove in part at least the
serious distractions which have SO long rendered
that commercial avenue to New York SO detrimental
to its complete prosperity. During the last session
Of Congress an appropriation Of $4,000 was author
lied as preliminary step to this much needed i'm
provement, and tomorrow the bids for the con-
tSaets will be opened in this city by General New
ton, under whose auspices as the government en-
Rineer the work has been placed. Notwithstanding
the meagre sum of money appropriated Tor
TINS purpose, the fact that no payments are
TO he made until the work is completed and the
rocks on Frying Pan Reef or Pot Rock are reduced
30 as To admit Of depth Of twenty-six feet over
them at mean low water, it is expected that there
Will be considerable competition for the job. IL IS
very generally conceded by intelligent contractors
that there is no money to be made out OF this
special operation; but the hope INDUCED That when
practical and satisfactory demonstration is made
upon these dangerous distractions Congress VIII see
the necessity of following up the work by larger and
more liberal appropriations. Hence the struggle
among submarine engineers TO secure the first con-
tract. without indicating any definite plan, General
Newton has wisely left each bidder to submit his
own ideas OF the most feasible system Of conducting
the work, and doubtless, upon the acceptance of
what is deemed the most practicable plan will de-
pend the award, rather than upon the price per
cubic yard. We may expect, therefore, to see on
Monday variety Of novel and ingenious de-
vices for removing rocks under water.
In determining upon the removal of Frying Pan
Reef first, any one at all familiar with the He'll Gate
passage will perceive that it lies Immediately in the
channel between Wards Island and Astoria and is
the most dangerous rock in the whole group of
INSTRUCTIONS. Next In importance Is Pot Rock, cee-
brated Tor the number OF disasters which it has occa
stoned 1t is calculated that by the removal of these
hidden dangers many OF the complicated currents
or rereolsnoS will be obyated and the strength OF
the tide made to correspond with the line of greatest
depth in the channel. The amount of rock on
Frying Pan estimated by General Newton to be 1855
cubic yards distributed in three separate clusters
1t necessary to work over three different points.
the estimated, cubic contents Of Pot Rock
to be removed are $40 cubic yards, over an
area OF 1902 square yards The great diff
culty to overcome is the extraordinary strength of
per hour through this part Of He'll Gate, making it
almost impossible to maintain any apparatus for
added the constant danger Of collision from passing
vessels For this there is no indemnity, and no
remedy for the contractor but in the rule that the
thardest must fend or"
The prominent dangers in Hell Gate are comprised
between the Bread and Cheese and Negro Point, and
are found IN length which Is less than two thou
sand yards Yet in this space more harm is suffered
And more risk incurred than in all the rest OF the
haVlgable waters on this side of New York from the
eastern entrance OF the Sound TO the city, distance
Of l28 statute miles.
II we observe the divided courses of the ebb cur
Rock the stream separates into three distinct
branches, one of which passes through the east
the main ship channel. These three branches
reunite on the south and west Of Mill and Flood
rocks, and further on, the main stream is again d
vided into two other branches, passing on each side
OF Blackwels Island. To navigate vessel through
these intricate passages, in which the water runs
with such speed upon the rocky shores and islands
and whirs In thousand dizzying eddies requires
even with the superior help Of steam, cool head
and steady hand; but In sailing vessel, without
IN N of nrO al
or sepOssessiOn can guard against certain dangers
The expedient must be 10 sensibly diminish the
number and velocity OF these eddies by diverting the
tidal current.
Another point which it may be well to note in con-
plane OF low water ID which all measurements of
vertical depth will be referred will be the plane of
the shore line Of Wards Island, and not, as hereto
fore, in Pot Cove Such in brief, the conditions
and data upon which the estimates are to be based,
and our hope is that the award Will be made only to
responsible parties combining ample means with
engineering experience and energy of purpose.
Just one hundred years ago the Chamber OF Com
merce was organized in the city of New York by a
considerable number of merchants, whose object
was to promote and encourage commerce, adjust
disputes relative to trade and navigation, support
industry and recommend such laws and establish
such regulations might be found for the benefit of
trade in general" This preliminary organization
was soon joined by all the leading mercantile men OF
the city. and for upwards Of threequarters Of CEN
fury 1t exercised potential influence upon the con-
stanty increasing commerce OF New York ..,, But
clippers the glory Of that ancient institution has de-
parted and although 1t possesses formidable list
Of hOnOred names upon It's roll OF membership II has
long ceased to exercise any visible influence In the
community Years ago the New York merchant
deemed 1t essential to his status to belong to the
Chamber OF Commerce, but then the claim to ad-
mission was based upon standard OF mercantile
integrity, high personal honor and rare intelligence
The spirit Of speculation engendered by the acquisi
tiun of California and the sudden development OF
new Of trade in the Pacific and Indian oceans
created a younger, more vigorous and less scrupu-
lous class OF traders who, approaching the import
ance of being recognized as New York merchants,
became clamorous Tor admission within tne ancient
actuated by the fear tat its prestige might be lost in
the revolution OF trade, the stringent barriers that
BODY were removed, and the Chamber OF Com
merce, opening wide It's doors to the besiegers, 1t
speedily became what we find it to-day-a helpless
and apathetic Organizations museum OF marine
FOSSILS and mercantile petrefactions. This Is the
reason why Hell Gate has remained 80 long unim
proved Ii is therefore, idle 10 expect any substan-
ta result from such quarter In fact, all that has
been done towards the removal OF the dangerous
rocks and distractions in that narrow passage has
been brought about by the vigorous appeals OF the
daily press and the energetic action OF few public
spirited individuals. II cannot be gainsaid that II
He'll Gate had constituted one Of the commercial
avenues to any seaport in Europe its dangers would
have been removed half q century ago-if not by
fhe merchants OF New York cannot say
that they have had no assistance from the
government has had no assistance in the way Of
concert OF action from the merchants; and yet the
record shows that since 5s4s accurate ana carefully
made by Professor Bache and his skilful assistants
Furthermore, that in 1866 complete plan OF oper
atoms for the Improvement Of the channel was de-
vised and promulgated by an advisory council, con-
sisting OF the abest engineers In the country. The
recommendations Of this board, Of which the late
General Totem was chairman, have stood the test
Of the severest criticism both here and In Europe
and no engineers have yet been found bold enough
TO assa their eminent practicability ventured TO
suggest more enduring and economical plan. Why
then has the work been postponed to this late day.
What has become Of the American Society Of Civil
Engineers who weave their cobwebs under the caves
of the Chamber Of Commerce building, which seems
to serve a. a sort Of nytrap for these professional
epidersf why have they not seized upon this
subject and given development to the admirable
plans Of General Totem Is 1t because they have no
appreciation OF anything except what they originate
themselvesY Fortunately for New York, the work OF
removing those harbor Instructions Is beyond the
reach Of the decayed members OF any society.
1t is not difficult to foreshadow some Of the conse.
quences which thorough opening OF the Hell Gate
passage are bound to secure. A series OF long con-