The New York herald., 1870-02-07
TEE HE'LL GATE OBsTRUClsOYs.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALp:--


In the HERALD Of January 80 appeared an ina ecu.
rate account OF He'll Gate operations which am sure
you WIN most willingly correct when you become ac-
0uainted with the facts in the case Mr. Merriam
Of Brooklyn, was too well known for me to say
anything OF him to New Workers. His scientific re-
searches rendered his name familiar every section
OF the country. Professor Maiefert had been en-.
gagged In removing rocks In the harbor Of Nassau for
the British government and hearing OF the He'll Gate
distractions came to New York for the purpose Of
obtaining contract for their removal. Lieutenant
Maxwell Woodruff, OF the Coast Survey Depart
ment, having no authority to DO anything in the
premises, introduced Professor sMaillefert to Mr.
Merriam, and they commenced conformity to obtain
the WhereWlth TO commence operations, which was
done by subscription, 70 be expended under the
supervision OF Professor A. d. Bache, Superntend-
tained with which Pot Rock was reduced from eight
feet to eighteen feet, and other rocks operated
~ upon 80 AZ soc 20 eneCe Cnange IN the current Then
was expended under the superintendencc OF Major
Frazier OF the Engineer Corps with which went all
the private means OF Professor Maielert, with the
hope and expectation OF reimbursement by Con
gress. Mr.. Blunt, Chairman OF the Board OF Pilot
and HarDor Commissioners, lmDortnued Congress Tor
an appropriation to continue the work and by dnt
OF perseverance he and the Professor had introduced
IN Inc General Appropriation Dill claim in favor Of
Hell Gate General schoheld, the Secretary or War,
ordered proposals to be published for doing certain
specific work tremovai Of Pot Rock and Frying Pam;
offered to complete the work by the l5tn OF Uecem-
ber OF the same year for the OF twenty odd thou
sace IN the mater oerea TO do far "a exps o m
cubic yard, which, according TO the surveys would
have amounted TO over $4,000 The contract was
awarded to Shelbourne. AT the expiration Of his
three months nothing was dono on the rocks; but
he was experimenting on drills. under the supervi.
sion OF General John Newton, aud OF course General
Newton made no difficulty about extending his time
TO the 18th OF August 1862 up to which time piece
OF rock as large as mustard seed was not removed
ia oh faar fhaf
lowance would be made by the War Department out
OF the Congressional Appropriation Maillefert Il Co.
applied to General Rawlings directly for contract
to remove ShelldraKe and Ways Reef at the rate OF
their bid for Frying Pan and Pot Rock. This was
accorded tnem by the Secretary. when commenced
the difficulty with the Engineer Department.
aiefert employed surface blasting, ana Gene
raj Newton, chief OF the Engineer Department
here, had MS head turned with drill. General
Newton commenced his operations at Old Fort
stephens on the I'd OF June, 1862 has expended over
$4,000 OF government money aud has not even re-
moved peDble from the He'll Gate cnannsl while
Maiileiert commenced August 3 Two months later
and mas removed, according TO Newton'5 own
port, 1855 cubic yards, rendering navigation just
that much less dangerous, and up TO this time
government has not PAID him one cent. General
Newton ordered hin to deslst from work about til
lJth OF December, TO allow hun to make his surveys.
As soon as the surveys were completed Maillefert
returned TO his work to remove the rock that had
blasted, and has been more successful within the
last week tnan during any part OF the time he has
been engaged, ana contemplates soon dnishlng
General Newton is dslncined 70 allow Maeierp nG. TO-
continue his Work, under the apprehension that
portion OF the 900 900 he asks Congress to appro
PIRATE for MS "drlling and tunnelllng' may be d-
verted to pay Mailefert for removing distractions
to navigation IN the East river az Hell Gate General
Newton, IN his HERALD report, says, .He (Maille-
lert) claims Lo have reduced Ways Reef 10 nineteen
feet depth; Shelidrake also TO eighteen feeto
Where does be get this tMallefert mas never made
any report to him or SAID anything Of the kind)
.Yet" he continues, 'his figures, however, do not
tally with those OF the Official reports to the depart
ment at Washington; and this divergence may be
the reason why nis request tor renewal Of his con
tract ls held In abeyance." Very likely as Maileert
has furnished no figures, and Gen. Newton's figures
1866 cubic yards removed from the channel
while drilling and ttnnellingn have only made an
unslghty hole at old Fort stephens, on Halletrs
Point, on dry land away from navigation, and Grid
iron stands. To use his own words 1T is especially
the Grdron, with its length OF aoout 200 yards and
an average width OF about afty which makes the
navigation OF He'll Gate channel so extremely dan
gerous.v IL the case be as he represents II, why
not employ the hundreds OF thousands OF dollars
on 1t, instead OF Haielts PontY The rocks At Hell
Gate can be removed, not by theoretlc "drng and
tunnellingn but by actuai hard work. fudiciously
directed Commerce demands that 1t be done, and
people will consider Congress- derclct IN Its duty
II 1t oe any longer neglected. POI ROCK.