New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-29
HE'LL GATE.

THE SUBMARINE BLASTING ON WAYS REEF.
Prof. Mailefert has now been for some weeks
AZ york on his contract for removing the distractions to
navigation through Hell Gate, known as Ways Reel fot
Rock and shedrake Reef His operations have thus Tar
peen confined TO Ways Reef. Gen. Newton, who has
considerable power IN the premises has
the professor with survey of sheldrake Inc contract
awards o CERTAIN for each cubic yard OF rock IT,
moved and the number OF cubic yards IS conpu'cu run
the Government surveys. The contractors meeSs' ID
Mallefert Co, are TO clear the channes No aS "
depth OF 2j feet at mean low water AS the SURVEY u
slelldrake Is withheld Prof Maiieiert "ouiu 20 '.y
hpprudent 10 commence work there without KNOWING lo
now much rock he is TO be paid If tho survey shoulu
nappep 10 be erroneous or disputed IN any
particular, IL would be impo9si99ipo W ,,ored nv
afteT the formation Of the reef had been aeTeu ~
Tie blasting on the other hand Prof. halleieIs "a
SOW work 10 advantage on Pot Rock ~, way ~ j.tinc
Pot Rock are opposite each other Inc Sic
machine aud scow Of Messrs Morris Cummings oe,SS
mo2red over the reel ia an d n Of the Rock At
nigh slack water-the only time when Ifo Ii,n
an h almost always large fleet OF SAILING
cpsft Which have waited for that the safest time lot
passing through For the Professor 70 past ni lie
onld waste the time Of himself and his associates anu
very kcy eudanger vessels which mlghtDe pasSld5
going near him II should be said that some years ago
Prof Maiecrt reduced the reef known as f0t tOca 81
that there is now nowhere less than 81 feet OF water
II al low tide. The Professor Is, therefore, 49,,
ms operations TO Ways Reel ana OF t - biosne
rock picker is mOOred above 1t, ne can 40 no ~ r
OF the Professors blasts give ihe H can he
le q
done only during slack water occupies Dut tree VI
tour days in each week $50. en-, ,,o,ossor,s
Considering above circumstances, the IIoesSCi
process has been wonderful He has only been a1ou'
month 40 work. and already seven scoW Ioaus US, "a
Stone of seycntyhve cubic yards each have been raiSeu
y the rock picker aud carried ashore The survey gUs
900 cubic yards TO be removed and more t afer The
professor estimates that as much more rs either Bs
loose the bottom or has been carried lnlo aeeP @
enormous rock picker of Messrs. Morris d Cummings IN
f operai0n In principle and outward appearance this
cute being that II Is larger ana instead OF SCOOP
Is an enormous pair of rakes which 10 some VIII seem 10
b IKE The claws OF crab. and 20 others like two cradles
IN Which word is not meant arcrcat1Or infants as
Iruu upleinen of the name These are let down
,yr omen Before they are drawn mp they brought
together scrapnG over the bottom ana seuoh InnE ~
Iiiug up some hing Sometimes IL is huge rock Welgh
i'm. three or four tuns and sometimes CARLOAD OF
small fragments Sometimes the machine VIII pIins UP
nothing. aud the very next time IL VIII come "
from the very place with as many pieces as Couo
vel he piled IT. 1t makes descent ABOUT once
minute, working almost as regularly as tne ;
which its chains. As often as the scow whleh hes
alongside is Ged it is towed to the shore ana
gentleman the vicinity paying the Professor $50 load
for the IL is we'll worth visit 10 Astoria 10 ste
the rock which has already been taken out 90 iar %
appearing TO have been broken on OF toPpSu ONeI y
few Of the pieces show any signs OF aG VI r
Is no moss sponge sea-weed, barnacles growing on
Them they have evidently been freshly DrOKeh anu
lends NO Conntenance to the theory that surface blasting
is Intellectual except the rocks project by the SIDE or OF
Charges Said to have been fired by Prof Maefet in the
removal Of the last two feet taken from Pot Rock II
one than when he commenced at the top ana tna mere
was no machine which could be obtained at that time 10
remove the loose pieces. The Professor, who can now
obtain a tOera6ly clear surface to work on was
then compelled grind the rock so fine that cond
be removed the tide and to waste the erect OF MS
charges in knocking about the loose pieces when were
thicky spread over the bottom In blasting the PROBES
sOr goes out with two men in a small Doat,
taking a sounding pole. an electric battery, ana
tin can containing about 100 pounds OF gunpoWder'
His whole force consists Of two men TO prepare me
charges two Een 10 manage the boat, aud himself.
Messrs Morris e. Cummings, wellknOwn nrm, VINO
have been in dredging business for years are EN-
Moved TO remove the displaced rock Apart rom tns
The principal expense for powder. When the blast IS
discharged IL raises mound of water from Is TO 20 feet
high and about 100 feet in diameter and jars the Whoe
shore like the nod OF the Oympan Zeus All the hsh IN
the immediate vicinity are instantly killed. ana mere are
usually two three boats padding about Tor the pu
nose OF picking them up. In conclusion, II may De Cd
served that Prof Maieferts operations are watched
with great interest by the gentlemen living along the
river numbers Of whom visit the scene every evening
after their return from the city These gentlemen are
all so far learn OF the opinion that the Pro
lessor is doing very WELL and is deserving OF high praise
both for his perseverance through ongeontlnued as
couragement aud for his modest and unassuming man.
ner 1t than IL since he nrst orohgnt
his ideas OF submarine blasting to practical test ana
his confidence its efficacy is strong as ever For his
part says he Is thoroughly satisfied with the progress
N,a haau naAR