The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-30
DIAMOND REEF.

Clearing Out tho Harbor--Activo Operations
OH Distractions in the Bay.
Acting under Instructions from the United States
authorities at Washington General Newton, the en-
gineer to whom Is entrusted the work OF improving
the harb0r OF New York, together with the North
and East rivers, has commenced operations, the
object OF which is the removal OF what IL
known as Diamond Reef This reef ts for
nation Of rock, 400 feet long and $50
feet wide, situated about two thousand feet
due north OF Governors Island, and upon which
there Is at extreme low tide seventeen feet Of water
On Saturday, the 10th inst, an immense drilling
scow, which was constructed expressly for this
work. was towed down from He'll Gate and anchored
over the reef since which time Mr.. s. T. Pearce thu
gentleman having the matter personally IN charge.
has been buslly engaged looking about for and So
lecting the best point upon which 10 commence ope-
rations. The stormy weather, together With the
many accidents In the way Of collisions which have
occurred nearly every day since the scow first
that 1t was not until yesterday morning that tue
operation Of ooring could be commenced. ..S7~
which Is being used FL P l b s2SS Il 81 soSsv6.,
novel construction 1t 1870 feet long ftynve feet
wide, is made Of neavy tnbers well seasoned, and
sible, aud has directly in Its cenre an Octag0naI
well, thriy-two feet In diameter, through which 9
huge dome Sky feet f, in clrcaerencs s lowered
OF four powerful swinging derricks. each Or which
Is manipulated by double cylinder eog OF thirty
horse power. The scow has four watcr-tght com.
partments, aud In each OF these Ii
placed one OF the derrick engines just men,
toned. After selecting a suitable place to
bare, the vessel Is made fast directly. over 1t by
means OF half dozen large anchors dropped over
board at either end and on either side, when the
dome, which in the meantime has been hanging
suspended by the derricks, Is by them lowered to
the rock. Through the roof Of this dome are nine
holes, each Of winch Is large enough to admit
4inch drill; and after 1t is placed upon tue rock and
made perfectly level--which, by the way, Is an ex
ceedingy nice operaton--twO fargo bridges are, ~
iisahs OF the derrcks, thrown across the wei aud
there securely fastened, after which i
THE DRILLS ARE RUN DOWN. .tt.
through them 10 and through the dome 70 the rock
beneath. Not only is the dome used TO steady and
hold III their places the drills, bat IL also serves
create still water through which diver may pass
to I'LL with blasting materials the holes drilled out.
Afier this last operation Is performed the dome IL
aQan raised and the scow Is swung or to one side.
When, by means Of electricity the luse Ia ignlted,
ana In lees than no time What was once formida-
fragments. THIS operation accomplished the scoW
Is again brought back to It's former position, the
dome lowered and u diver sent down 70 ascertain
the extent OF good accomplished. -
As stated above, boring did not commence on the
Diamond Reef until yesterday morning, when TOUR
drills were put In operation; but in a day or two
Mr.. Pearce felt confident that he would nave the
whole Ane at work. Owing TO the fact that NJ iad
but lust commenced the work, he could NOT give an
opinion as to The length OF time nec.ssnty W ACCOM-
psl It. but was nevertheless sangulne tnat ere
many days the public would hear VI ~ 'eass SUM-
good having Deen done. -