New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-17
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

RICHMOND AND TOMPKINs, AND THE BLAST
ING OPERATION AT HE'LL GATE-ANNuAL
DINNER AT THE AsToR HOUSE.
The American Society of Civil Engineers
"a, wear combined business and pleasure by holding the
convention and enjoying excursion and banquet on
tbe same ay This year, the members resolved on de-
voting one day 70 business and held their annual ConNeh
lion ON Wednesday, while yesterday was devotedentle
10 pleasure At the new propeller Pleasant val
lev Capt p Leary. ready for the reception oil hr
passengers AT Pier No ], East River. In honor OF tue
distinguished gentlemen who carried by her she
showed great quantity Of bunting AT l'5o the Iono"
Ing persons were board: Gems wright newton
and Tower Maior-Gens Warren, Barnard ana Uilinoio'
lieut. Commander Heusner Of the Danish fga'e Ancona'
Cant RAYMOND, r. N Brown, J. r. Won Wesseley' D. W.
Adams 6 Wbinple l. C. Thompson II. L. BrevOort H. f.
Wallne W w Wilson Jas. A. whitney, c. D. Ward, Ho-
ratio Allen r. Van Buren, T. Weston, j. d. Ward, John
Avery W s. Auchincloss, W. L. WOrthen, r. n Brown
AP BeIer, Van Brunt Bergen, A. W. Craven, f. Glata
p,r J. d. steele g. s. Chase, NJ Coryel, j. j. K Croes, D.
NJ Clark j. n. Stanley J. MoNamee, W. j. McAlpine, C.
uaeoora1d r. Collingwood, NJ o. Davidson, W. W.
Evans J. X Ford, c. II. Fisher, G. 5. Green, g. s,
Green IT. II. V. Norris j. o. Morse, s. Keeper c. IT,
Hazwcll j. Z. Gould, J. r. ellis, and G. A. Gilmore
esq
shortly before y o'clock the President of the Society
Craven esq gave the order 20 start and the boat
was rot long in reaching Fort Hamilton pier where Col
COUNCILMAN of the LIST Z. g. Artillery awaiting the ar
rival Of the party and lead the way TO the fort The band
vas drawn mp the green and played for the deleca
iou u the visitors. Here the company were received by
Col Hail. commanding the fort who assisted N DONG the
lcnols.
After cxamlng the structure the officers led the way 10
the water battery and exhibited with considerable pride
'he SO new l5-nch guns already in position
Their construction Is OF the most perfect
Toyc rsffeTn Each Of tfein cost $500 The greatest
srrias1. however, the 2Oinch gun, the heaviest
;i9c over O and rivals the famous Krpp breech.
loader For practice the small charge OF 200 pounds OF
powder used. il has been fred with 900 pounds ana
nil stand a still greater charge. Active work is ~
Iroac stopped at s fort Oviugto want OF apprOlila
ia, wharf VIII he placed the western battery render
ing s Carhclad defense one Of the most formdape III
steam was now made for Forts Richmond and Tomp-
lius. Arrived at Font Richmond those VINO had never
this massive granite structure were loud IN
it, praises as triumph OF military Shsineer.g, dts
eli l0mch guns, nor,s, ana h0WUers, Wlnch are III eA
celleut condition. Fort TompEins, however bore away
the horrors of the day. Its magnificent works were
closely scanned from every available point, ana Col
Henry overwhelmed with congratulations. Al
though the eNthwoIks in some places need repair or
completion, gang OF men could in couple OF weeks put
everything in order.
Barnard had exhibited with some pFide the pier he
erected in 1885, and which stl appears as firm aud sub
stantal ever the boat made for the East River and
after del Chtful passage landed ncr company At the As
tOria dock to pay visit to the blasting operations at
Hell Gate The approach to the works at Haletts Point
s. by plank causeway erected over marsh between
The streets Of the adjacent village and the Point,
distance being about 200 yards. The
area of the excavated shaft was first inclosed
NV water-tight crib or cofer-dam of irregular form
ine straight on the river side aud carried back from
The river at various angles. The CRIB Is formed OF
double tier plank vertically and supported by tim
heTp and tie beams the sides and top; the space he
tween the of plandug is filed in with concrete OF
clay, making perfect dam Ihe shaft as az present eX
Cayated is about 1907 in diameter, with depth OF 2U Oh
the east side II is somewhat deeer and welhole col
the rock all sides at the rate Of several gal
Ions minute This is G Ss 4 f@ the SHAFT %
over 20 men were at work boring and steam
loles three inches in diane ter which win De filed with
powder or ntIO-gyccrine when sufficient number are
another blast it is thought viii clear the bed There is
also a Bwleigh drill which is not at present used.
and which in England bored in three minutes through
the hardest Cornish granite nearly seven inches min
nscbine works three TO four times AS quickly as the
Quarrymen the cost being Oneiomth. The rock eX-
eSyated is raised by derrick ana windasS and depos-
lied on shore The character Of the rock Is sim
liar TO that found in the upper part OF Man
Mica, hornbiende and quartz, varying in hardness the
strata being uniformly vertical The lower portion OF
bottom and when the whole area Is graded the lateral
the rock under the bed OF the Ilyer No dhculty IS an
IopatCd in the completion OF these galleries, and the
obstructs Hell Gate near Halet's Point, viii
done in the process Of removal of the debris.
In connection with these works floating apparatus
pernendent Of the work. for operating on the surface
81 the rock IL consists Of large scow pierced through
and over winch is suspended wrought iron circular
come al about % diameter at the bottom, 20 high, hav
inc circular opening at the top about 10 diameter
This dome is suspended over the wellhole by four der
Tcks Che blooms Of which meet over the center of the
dOne chains and can be lowered through the wehOle
upon the surface of the rock beneath the object being
Guir the process of drilling and charging the holes
TIE dlls, nine in number are operated by small steam
cylinders mounted snort framework, which is placed
the dome after it's sunk to It's proper depth. Tie
c4'h pss tu- oei1 s ~ ~ ms ny t or ~
81 me q, me, anu are o. u4htt'T' Inc weight OF lAe
DIM alone used to perOrdte the rock, the cylin
GERS raising them AT each suCke; some dimeulty has
Heu iound in attaching inc uIs TO Tue piston OF the
cylinders, the eyes giving way but this has been
iess on the ntero2 lower aismeter passing through
guides, and resting on the bottom when lowered The
weighing two uDs, and attached 10 strong iron chains
through at eaeh end OF the Se0wand which
raised or lowered by steam power The boiler is
deck and for hosting or lowering The dome and also fhe
cylinders in the drilling frames The scOw has no motive
power, but must be lowed into position and anchored
Gen. Newton having shown every point OF interest
course shaped for New-YOrk and on landing, the
Aston House Where the annual TO be enjoyed
Att p. m tho members and invited guests sat down
dinner, tue following being the menu;
,rB sSS .sSSd '' TPaa Ps aaes
f4rTfe Of Beef is1ti Ia SaysDdi; Spring Chicken Ia
Frtg~ocane Lamb chops ponies dserges Tmbs Of
RoAsIsssd Mutton red current jelly capon, Madeira
NEGEABLEBod Bermuda po0e asparagus string beans green
prssrRr Scoe russo Champagne jelly Swiss merngues
soe cake fruits Ice cream coffee ega sherry aIe Rhine vine,
ClaMpagne
Alter the dinner appropriate resolutions were passed
the demise Of John A. Reebling, and the following
toasts among others feiCitOusly responded to
Military Engineering. by Gen. Barnard Civil Engineer
Ing HGratO Allen; Mechanical En- cheering 5. c. II. Has
wei, Gen. NewtOn The Gates Of Hell shall prevail
against him. Gen. Newton.
Toe Odcs, Civil Engineer, Mr.. s. Whipple - Mr.. s..
Khipple
Our Guests, Capt Heusner.
THE FATHER DALEY HOMICIDE.
MARY DALEY SENTENCED TO THE PENITENTIARY