The New York herald., 1869-06-24
TEE HELL GATE DISTRACTIONS.

Extension Of the Shelb0urne C0ntract-Pre.
sent Prospects Of the WOrk-PrObability Of
Something Being Done SO0n-Recent Con.
tracts.
Considerable man9uvring mas been occasioned
In various circles from well understood delay
In beginning the work OF removing the Hell Gate
distractions; and In fact, partially, on account OF
some misapprehension OF the facts, and, partially,
no doubt. from inherent Impotence. the notion has
gained ground that the business Ia being, or has
been, systematically neglected. Conclusions more
unjust were never elected from insufficient premi-
ses and conclusions from insunicient premi-
ses constitute q vice peculiarly American.
At the beginning the appropriation lsS5,0Oo)
was quite too small to undertake the
work upon any extended scale. In fact for CON-
plete survey Of the rocks, with view to give out
the contracts intelligently, not less than $500
would have been needed Leaving only 900 with
which TO prosecute the contracts. In consequence
OF the limited appropriation survey was made OF
only portion OF the distractions at an expense Of
about S., 600, with view to put them under con-
tract This survey included Halett's Point, Pot
Rock and Frying Pan; and for the removal OF the
latter two contract was entered into with Mr. Sid
ney F. ShelbOurne, whose new submarine drill made
some sensation in scientific circles q few months
since.
Aessrs. Morris Cummings Of Duane street, Mr..
Shelbourne's hackers. having been delayed in the
building OF the scow necessary to the operation Of
the drill the experiment could not be tried. though
experts were generally sanguine OF its success, and
Mr. ShelbOurne's contract was extended TO August
15 1859, TO give that gentleman an opportunity OF
testing his invention. 1t Is promised now that the
shall be forthcoming IN three or four days. and
the prospect is that work will be soon begun there
alter. In the meantime, however, Pot Rock has
been taken from Shelb0urnes contract. leaving only
the Frying Pan to be operated upon; and In the
meantime too, Mr. ShelbOurne has materially mod
fed his drill, by the addition OF an iron column TO
enable the operator TO descend and manage
or regulate the action OF @ the & drill TO pe. pre-
from by the current II is heavily ballasted at the
base with iron Joined to 1t by means OF ropes may
be suggested, however, that ropes, which always
yield more or less TO any strain can be hardly reck
Oned sufficient to steady toe column which contains
the drill subjected it will be to pressure OF 900
pounds or more per square inch and In this connec
ton the use of strong iron couplings would seem to
be more judicous.
be tested in The course OF week, however, and
meanwhile, judgment may be suspended. Since IN
inc ns Se ne
Is probable that the Shelbourne drill Will be found
too small for rapid progress. 80
distractions included in 1t were TO be removed foy
the sum Of $4,000, and there being good grounds
for believing that Mr. ShelbOurne's invention would
be successful, and that gentleman having already
expended some $4,000 under his contract, the Sec
retary OF War, by advice OF General Newton was In
II has been this delay In testing the Shelb0urne
drill which has placed the work IN critical position
and ought to have been, 1t Is confidently believed
that the problem Of the removal OF these obstruc
tiOns would have been solved before this time; but
there being in General NewtOn's opinion nothing to
be gained by denying an extension, the contract has
nevertheless been extended sufficient time to
afford Mr.. ShelbOurne an opportunity. At General
new drill have been limited to Pot Rock.
or the $ls000 appropriation General Newton was
nnta duta nntil fha 10 nf fha
ton having been included with Others, and the task
OF division thereof having devolved upon the Secre
tary Of War. Within q month from that time con-
tracts the amount OF SILL 600 had been entered
into though, as the law OF Congress specified that
the contracts should be awarded to the lowest bid
der. General Newton is net sanguine of their tho
rough fulfment under the TERMS No money is to
be disbursed, however, except after satisfactory
completion OF The work. and hence, II the contractor
fails, he fails at his own risk and not at the expense
Of the government. The following obstructiOns are
now under contract:-halet's Point Ways Reef
or rather the latter is under survey, and contract
for Its removal is to be given out In few days.
Counting the items altogether the amount to be dis
bursed is equal 10 $14S000; and as at least SIS 600
will be needed for surveys 1t may be taken for
will have to he delayed until further appropriation
shall have been made About $4,000 will be left
a sum quite nsufcient for the thorough prosecution
OF the work In fact for the satisfactory clearing OF
wsc s a. eas a oe
Attempt to remove distractions was never made
under combination OF circumstances so difficult;
and this Is the opinion Of all competent engineers
VINO have looked into the matter. The rapidty Of
the current the depth OF the water ian average Of
twentythree feep and the continual passage Of Ship
ping TO and fro, with all the dangers OF collision
these circumstances which unite render
the work the most difficult OF its kind ever
undertaken. Certainly, the removal Of the
Holyhead distractions In England, the late
Canadian work OF similar import and the recent
removals from the Columbia river were all CON-
paratvely easy when measured by the difficulties OF
the work In hand. The system applied in either OF
the above cases Is inapplicable MISUNDERSTANDING
resort TO expensive experiments and bringing into
requistiOn the utmost inventive skill and ingenuity
in the mastery OF difficulties which has not hereto
fore been attempted.
1t way be predicted, however, that the work VIII
be gotten under headway this summer II, IN fact,
the Sheloourne drill succeeds the problem s solved.
II not General Newton proposes to take the matter
in hand personally with view TO the elictation by
experiment OF some means OF completing the work.
IL IL understood that work under the contracts will
be begun next week, and the utmost that can be
done Is to wait patiently, hoping for success, and II
one experiment fails trying another. Inventions
and skill will In the end supply the means Of
coming al difficulties and give New York clear
and safe East river.