The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-28
HE'LL GATE.
Gnawing the Rocks for
Twenty Years.
What the Government Did and
What the People Did.
Maillefort's Beginning and Uncle
Sans Finishing.
4 Review of the Operations, Past
and Present.

1t is now nearly quarter Of q century since the
HERALD with far.seeing policy for building up the
great city OF New York, presented to the public
elaborate article on the condition OF the channel
through the Sound, and editorlaly demanded the
combined action OF the general government, the
state government and the merchants Of the city in
an EFFORT to remove the distractions at Hell Gate,
which had yearly caused SO much disaster to our
shipping. Since that time 1t has not ceased to call
the attention Of Congress the matter through five
administrations, commencing with President Fill
more's. Aside from the considerations OF safety for
the lives and property Of those in the coasting trade
and others who sought this the most direct route to
our harbor, and which 1t would be criminal as well
rs unwise on the part OF our government to neglect
any effort to secure 1t showed repeatedly and con-
clusively that the sailing distance from European
ports to New York would be shortened by fifty miles,
and vessels would arrive here at least one
day earlier than by the passage through
the Narrrows ana lower bay. In addition TO
economy OF time and distance, the importance OF
which Can only be fully understood by merchants,
who often find the profit or loss Of q venture de.
cded by the arrival or nonarrlval OF q vessel
within twenty-four hours there was also to
be taken into consideration the saving OF
one hundred miles OF outside navigation, and
the essened chances OF disaster and shipwreck at
sells driven out OF their and cast upon the
beach between Montauk Point and R0ckaway.
Touching the military and naval importance OF the
Improvements demanded 1t Is a well known fact
that Commodore Decatur barely escaped the most
fatal disasters in taking his squadron through the
channel, and that Meet OF frgates were blockaded
by reason OF the danger attending Its passage
In New York harbor during the war OF ls12-l6.
During twenty years the subject was agitated at
Washington, but without success fo-, through
CoAxING AND CURsING, CONGRESS
was only prevailed upon to contribute IN all that
time SlO5,OoO. Within short time the government
has taken sort of spasmOdlc action, which promises
GOOD results, and to explain to those interested
what that action is, as well as what has been accom-
pished by other ana to some extent private means,
the following review OF operations from their COM
mencement is given. BY aid OF the chart accom-
panying this article the whole can be easily under
stood II pre1aced by saying that the Frying Pan
Rock, Pot Rock, Ways Reef and Shell Drake Reef
with the outlines showing soundings, appear as
they were before any operations had commenced
upon them.
In lS47-S the distractions at He'll Gate were ex-
amlned by Lieutenant Charles II. Davis, United
States Navy, who, on the 18th OF February OF the lat
ter year, made report to the superintendent OF the
Coast Survey, and by Lieutenant NOW AdmraD
Professor Bacne, the 30th OF October following.
Just one year later, in October. lS4s, the HERALD
having again edtorialy striven 10 AWAKEN Congress
to the Importance OF immediate action IN clearing the
channel, M. Matlleiort, French submarine engi-
neer. then employed IN removing channel obstruc-
lions on the Island OF New Providence, saw the
article and, believing that action would at once be
taken, came on to New York. He announced his
willingness to undertake the removal OF the rocks
STARTLED THE SCIENTIFIC GENTLEMEN
with whom he came in contract by the statement Of
his simple and ingenious method or performing the
work-a method which he assured them had been
nnqualifedly successful in different parts
OF the world where he had used it. The
plan was simply to lower tin can containing 125
pounds Of powder, till 1t rested on the rock beneath
the body OF water then TO fire II by electric spark
The water acted as fucrum, and the rock was torn
10 fragments. The Chamber OF Commerce, to the
members OF which NJ. Maelort was introduced
while they were III session. being fully able TO master
the details OF this easy method OF engineering. and
having faith in Its feasibility, severally and unanl-
mousy endorsed 1t.
Early in December, ls4e, memorial was presented
10 Congress asking appropriation to defray the
expense OF removing some OF the1nost dangerous
rocks. 1t was referred to the Committee on CON-
merce In the House, and before this committee and
Colonel Albert. Chief OF the Bureau OF Typographical
Engineers, Nj. Maiefort appeared and explained
his discovery. The committee reported in
favor OF an appropriation OF $4,000. including
the sum as specific appropriation in the
River anG Harbor bill, which passed the House but
failed ia the Senate on the last day OF the session,
for want OF time to upon From that time till
June, 1851, though Mr. Henry B. Grinnell offered TO
contribute $4,000 toward the removal OF Pot Rock.
the money to be paid when the depth OF twenty and
twenty-iour feet was attained at mean low water,
and others professed their Willingness to aid the
work by advances or subscriptions, nothing had
been accomplished. In June a meeting held at
the Merchants Bank, at which Mr.. James q. King
presided with John Falconer as secretary, and Mr..
Maillefort made a formal proposal 10 remove three
OF the
MOST DANGEROUS ROCKS IN HE'LL GATE
for the sum OF sl5,50o The proposition was re-
duced to written form OF agreement and placed
In the hands OF committee, OF which Walter Il.
Jones, President OF the Lie-Saving Association,
was chairman. In accordance with this agreement
work commenced npo1
POT ROCK.
by referring TO the chart at the head OF the page it
VIII be seen that two rocks stop up the channel OF
entrance TO the 5ound-Frying Pan and Pot Rocks.
These rocks formed together q barrier OF $50 feet
m length each OF them covering an area or about
~ by rs fee Pot Rock al its highest point reached
within feet OF the surface at mean low water with
90 feet soundings on one slde and 81 feet on the
striking 1t ana sinking would 20 down in 10 fatnoms
OF water, ana as IRON 800 to 40D vessels. many OF
them steamers carrying hundreds OF passengers,
passed through the narrow channel between
this rock and Frying Pan daily and were
driven al great velocity by the rapid cur.
was manifest This was the nrst rock selected
by Maillefort Tor Ills operations lie began about
the LIST OF August 1884, TO make preparations the
work, and, aided by small number OF men, on The
18th OF the month fired the first charge UnforIu-
natey through lack OF skill the part OF his assiet
u i'm af
lowering upon the rock, and when fired the charge
did no execution. On The following day. however,
August 70, between three and four O'Clock p. M he
lowered upon the rock two cansters, each con.
tanning eighty pounds OF powder, and few
momenu after nred them by means OF a galvanic
battery from meal 1oat moored sixty feet south OF
the rock. When the explosion took place the water
was thrown In column ~ 0 height OF thirty i've
yeet and the cylinders Of the float sounded as N
STRUCK BY cannon ban. The sides of