The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-07-27

DESTRUCTION or WASHINGTON ARISEN
AL. At three o'clock Saturday morning
an explosion occurred in a small magazine
in the Washington Arsenal, which is used
in the preparation of rockets, lights and
shells for the signal corps. The explosion
was distinctly heard in the Northern part
of the city, and it was Immediately fol-
lowed by the alarm of fire, for it caused Il
serious conilagration. involving the de-
struction of at least 81 100000 in govern
ment property. The flames communicate
ed to u frame building near by and were
carried thence to what is known as store
house No. ?, in which was stored all kinds
Of cavalry and artillery equipments. In
this room too was a model room or muse
um in which was stored all kinds of
models and specimens of foreign arms
and equipments, and which is a serious
loss to the government, aside from the in
trlnsic value of the articles DESTROYED
Store house No. | was also in danger, and
would probably have been DESTROYED but
for the fact of the wind. There was not
much powder kept stored in the magazine
where the explosion occurred, as the an
senal makes no pyrotecnics or explosive
articles except for the signal corps upon u
special order. Sergeant Flint was at
work in the magazine Friday night and
when he LETT his work all things seemed to
be in good order. 1t is supposed that the
explosion was the result of spontaneous
combustion.
The fire also communicated to another
small building in which were stored saddle
trees and other equipments The quaint
ty OF iron in this building can be made
available in the future The buildings to
which the flames communicated were
totally destroyed and several houses near
the large buildings were injured by the
flames.
The greatest engineering work of the
day. the rebuilding of the docks and piers
of New York on the plan of Gen Nc
Cleilan, has commenced. The chief feat
urc Of this plan is the construction of Il
river wall Of solid masonry, from $50 to
10 feet broad, along the North and East
rivers, with large covered piers at right
angles. Piles have been driven and
drcdgcs are now at work, clearing the
way for 4 foundation between Castle
Garden and Pier No. /, North river. The
main wall will be constructed of large
blocks OF concrete, resting upon a rip-rap
or pile foundation, as the nature of the
bottom in each place may require, faced
with granite above the ice-line of the
river. 1t will be finished with massive
coping of granite, with lamps and moor
ing-posts. The street will be filled in
and paved on q level with the coping. A
break-water will be constructed to form q
basin for small craft, and 4 large landing
place, with three landings at different
heights. The pier will be 500 feet long
by so feet broad, built of concrete in
blocks of 100 tons each. and granite above
low-water mark. The superstructurc viii
be of wrought-iron and the roadway OF
| timber, 1t is expected that the work Of
| laying the granite for The bulkhead from
| the Battery to Pier will begin about the
| LIST of September and be finished about
| the LIST of December, but the rapidity OF
the work depends greatly upon the condi
| ton OF the water. The new wharves arc
| to be built between the old ones, and as
soon rs each is completed the old affairs
| are to be removed. Under the new sys-
tenn there will he 4 wharf line of thirty
seven miles and Il pier area Of about 5,
1o5, 900 square feet within the same limits
| At all points along the line the water will
reach u depth of thirty feet, and in many
cases sixty feet.