The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-13
Breathing in an Aerial Pressure Of twenty-five
Pounds to the Square Inch,
Sensations Novel, but Not Dslightful-Laying
the Foundation Blocks Of Grantee xoavat
ing Below the Rivers Bed-The Huge
Dsuldsrs-Ths Scene in the Subter.
ranean Compartments.

Length OF river span !, 6l6 feet
Length OF each land span $40 feet.
Length OF New York approach 1,441 feet.
r, Length OF Brooklyn approach BAL feet.
Total ength--terminus to terminus 5,875 feet
Bridge above high lido 26S feet.
The building OF this vast bridge throughout It's
tire construction win be one Of the most dinicut
feats OF engineering ever undertaken in the world
The preparation OF the calsson, built by Mr.. Ecklord
Webb. and the work Of excavation for the East
river pier Is the only progress thus far made:
but the pubic at large knows little of the diff
culties that Deset the labors OF the engineer
the impediments at the rivers bed, the dangers
attend the excavation and yet the great progress
already made In penetrating the soil and rock below
the water.
BY taking a Fulton ferry boat and dlsembarking
on the East river side the observer has the great
caisson, submerged on May before his eye. 1t Is
situated just northward OF the ferry house and Is
at pre- sent The scene Of activity aud animation.
ON THE SURFACE,
covered over with solid and substantial planking,
the foundation stone blocks being laid. They
consist OF huge, symmetrical oblong blocks OF hard,
niney bluestole Of the most obstinate cry5talza-
ton, and being carefully joined and cemented
that the substratum of masonry will be admirably
calculated to sustain its heavy superimposed bur-
den. The two most prominent objects sighted at
once are the
CAST IRON ELEVATORS,
by which the excayatcd earth and rock is drawn
from the bottom. With all the usual attach
ments these elevators are cOndu Is for the passage
of two catchbasns which, upon being lowered to
the bed OF the river scoop up their loads and, by
steam power, Immediately ascend to the surface
The movements OF these two tireless workers are
rapid, methodical and indispensable. 1t Is by them
alone that the sub.son can ever see daylight, and
their curious operation Is an interesting study. AS
q n IL a n Ia n m nj
TRAMwAYS, r,n
are ready at the open aperture to receive the SOIL
which is dumped by simple movement Of the
clamp. The soil Is then carted away.
The reporter on visiting the caisson yesterday
found Mr.. Roebing, the constructing engineer,
about to descend into the stomach OF the earth. He
politely invited the reporter to accompany HIM, and
the invitation was accepted. Let the reader de-
scend with him, bearing IN Mind however, that his
safe distance ls his pest safeguard. - frrfe.
Colonel Roebling Climbed up ladder standing at
angle OF about forty-ive degrees, and after
ing the top OF large tube six feet In diameter at
height Of twenty above tho surface OF the Gals
son, lowered himself down through man hole
about twenty Inches in diameter. Below was a
chamber made in the shape Of drum, with the
man hole already mentioned ana another opening
through the iron floor below Of the same dinen-
siOns. once In this
both outlets OF the cylinder were closed. In this de-
lgntfal department, eight feet high and six feet in
q gloomy dungeon but presently there was loud,
sharp Kissing sound, and then thick vapor, as OF
steam, Oyerspread the compartments
Colonel ROebng-If you feel o disagreeable SEN
salion swallow pointing to Adams applet.
Hiss Kiss Hlss-s-s-ss-s and the deaiening din
continued. Presently the ears felt
STRANGE OPPRESSION
the canals and passages OF the head were filed with
Q deadenlng rumbling aud the acoustic tubes
seemed to be shaken by q sharp vibration. There
would be strong concussion the head would seem
70 AM am% rn
In rapid succession until their effect proved rather
enervating, and the impression Immediately en-
throned Itself upon the mind that the entrance to
NO IRoN-BouND PARADISE.
Ssn6 people affirm that these physical manifesto
lions ale akin 10 drowning, but as that pastme was
never practsed by the reporter 1t Is impossible to
state accurately as to Its truth No doubt however
merely the effect OF adding an extra pressure
Of ten pounds 70 the atmospheric pressure
breathe in element or compressed air OF the den-
sity OF twenty-five pounds to the square inch This
those persons who would he effected by the action OF
sucn extreme physical. forces:
wa caused by the admission Of the compressed air
from below, which was ten pounds heavier to the
square inch When the pressure was equalized the
trap door under loot was swung up on its hinges and
Colonel R0ebling descended through
A LONG IRON TUBULAR UPRIGHT,
u
through this manhole to the subterranean chambers
below the entire structure.
You are now below the bed OF the river with water
oil around You on the exterior OF the caisson You
are IN an artificial light breathing the heavy, dense
atmosphere saturated with foul odors, poisonous
gases and vapOrs arising from the mineral and ani-
animal and vegetable decomposition which has been
going on for centuries. The scene is interesting.
You stand IN chamber whose ceilings and sides
are but OF heavy tilnbers iron bolted now covered
over with dampness and Shiny wet-dark, nasty and
The chambers are six in number and are respec.
lively twenly.eight feet Wide, eight feet high and
1o2 feet long, butt with inclined Sides thus pre-
senting the easement Of huge room. The south
erly chamber 10 No J. and the rest Nos 2, 3, and
O. to northward. There are two doorways i'll each
tween the compartments. Men engaged In ex-
cayat,ng the bednwhcn is simply the loor Of the
found all along the East and North rivers.
The men are
HARDY AND STRONG woRKMEN.
accustomed to exposure, and they are clothed In
pants and wOo.lcn shirts only, with long rubber
boots reaching to the waist. This style OF garb is
The work itself is difficult, and is, from It's char
acter, slow. Pickaxes, shoves, and all manner Of
digging implements are employed In forcing the |
gradual depression OF the caisson, and the work OF
excavation proceeds directly under the base timbers
OF the different chambers. AS these ,imbers the
foundation pieces upon Which the structure rests,
rhe Important operation OF ditching to either side ID
the principal pornOn OF the submarine labor. This |
leaves
in the centre, which Is borne 10 the elevators on
RneeDarfUWS.
Surrounding the mouth OF the elevator Is deep |
pit, into which the soil Is emptled and the catch
basin as II descends takes ii In and bears 1t aOlt
During this excavation numerous b0ulders, Of the
granite gnelss species, Astounding all over the |
island have been encountered, particularly In the
southern compartments oil the chambers. When too |
large be lifted by the elevator 1t Is necessary TO
split them ana send them up in piecemea theory !
exists that these boulders III the Oden time rolled |
down from the Brooklyn Heights and settled in their
present snug, resting places.
The chambers are lIhted by some 100 tallow can |
dies and
SIX OxY-HYDRoGEN LIGHTS,
OF dazzling intensity. The gas is manufactured IN |
coppered retOrts which have to stand In a sorts OF
oud Positions
, NOW IMAGINE THE SCENE.
Inc men are digging, wheeling, sweating, crawl
LIZ Trough mud, water, and dumping their carg0es;
VIC I&ntS burning mi Of c0flnr me