The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-28
LIFE IN THE !CAISSON.
Tho Air Chamber Under East River-Hcw tho
Bridge Builders Breathe Compressed Air.

the recent death OF iaborcr In the caisson OF
the East River bridge, from. alleged the efects
OF compressed air while In the performance OF his
iabors, has excited some interest In the community
relative to the general welfare or these cassOn Ia
borcrs. The stone por to support the East River
bridge on the New York side is now being rapidly
pushed forward at the foot OF Roosevelt street An
immense dock there Ia occupied by tho frame
barracks OF tho men, the numerous engine
rooms and the oflces Of the contractors On one
side Is slip for the landing OF material; on the
other Is Williamsburg ferry landing. At the outer
end or bulkhead OF the pier rests the huge masonry
just now beginning to take shape. upon which the
New York end OF the bridge Is to rest II Is as yet
only few feet above the tide. This masonry rests
upon the caisson, about which so much interest
Is felt AS the caiss0n descends the stone foundation
settles until when the excavation inside is complete
and the huge pile that Is to be has secured sure
foundation, not upon the uncertain shifting sands
at the bottom Of East River but upon the hard sub
stratum OF rock beneath 1t, then the pile will COM
mence to grow heavenward and will soon attain
the tall and slender proportions OF that companion
pier that seems almost within stones throw, and
yet its head so handsomely three-quarters OF
a mile away on the Brooklyn side.
The caisson is huge chamber, or series OF cham
bers, seventy-six feet below the surface of the
above ground expressly for that purpose. 1t is
supplied with air by thirteen small engines, which
pump a stream OF air into the chamber at the rate
Of 2100 feet per minute. This air finds egress
through numerous pipes opening out on the
dirt excavated is whircd out, just rs
letter is whrled through pneumatic tube. 1t also
finds egress through the excavations made by the
they progress and 1t rises through the water
Of East River in enormous bubbles. The pressure
OF the air In the caisson is about trtyfour pounds
N in o. hNhxr atnr thn 10 of
the tide naturally affecting the position OF the
caisson ITSELF There are sixty men at work on the
none or them remain below more than four
hours, each man taking two turns, one
Of two hours and half and another OF two hours.
There is, therefore, an allowance of thirtyfve feet
of air per minute to each man. The trouble does
not lie in the scarcity Of air. but In its density,
When you descend into the caisson you enter first
narrow chamber, where all doors are closed and
the strong air Is let on. At once the pressure
cansss the ears to tingle and then to pain excess
sively. minute or 80 Of this inures one to the
greater pressure yet to come. The heat becomes
excessive ,S i've The Precipitation begins to stream
equal to that in the main chamber the
door connecting the two can be opened. Otherwise
the combined strength of giants would be INSULT
cient to press 1t open against the atmospheric pres
sure inside.
"An' Of We could open It," said the workman who
was initiating HERALD reporter into these mystic
ries. IT'D blow all OF us up through the well, with
out having to wait for the elevator"
inside the main caisson the men are busy exca-
waiting. The water rests upon what seems to be
the snor moor OF the casson, but is really the
ana flows M on the beach. The wear
heavy gum boots reaching up to their knees. The
incessant tingling of the ears becomes uncomfort
Is no evcr-present terror OF instant suirocation
IN the mines OF Pittston-no chOke-damp, no deadly
gases. All that Is uncomfortable Is the density Of
bhe air. lt Is pure enough, but there Is too much OF
1t. We can imagine any hearty standing it for
months, but men Of sckly constitutions wasted
away with consumption or liable to heart disease
world m
living here. In addition to the tngling OF the
the n there
calves, caused by the dampness Of the nOOr The
contractors employ MUSICIAN, who examines the
with weakly constitutions are hired. While our re-
porter was present man came up to the top OF
way. to the engineers office, there to await the
coming OF the doctor. He was troubled with sharp
pains in his knees. The recent death, according to
the engineer was occasoned by Brights disease Of
the kidneys.
'1f we'd known he had it," said that gentleman,
1--WE would not have hired him, and II he'd known
that, no doubt he wouldn't have told us he had it,
The men will take risks that way, and we get the
blame. We give them close examination, but
some obscure diseases escape us.n
The dock is covered with engines. Every appli-
able means Is used to dispense with hand labor.
Steam engines hoist the stone from the scows, and
small railroad trucks carry them to the pier.
Steam engines raise and lower the elevator In the
shaft for the ascent aud descent Of this men, Gauges
are constructed to show the pressure of
air in the caisson and to mark the rising and
falling OF the tide Geographic arrangement
with an original code OF signals connects the upper
portion of the masonry with the chamber beneath,
by which signals for any ordinary communication
can be conveyed. Huge Ringing doors are con-
nected with the air pipes to shut of the stream II
the pressure becomes too dense. Barracks with
hunks and benches, have been bnt for the laborers
and hot coffee Is served to them whenever they
come up from the atmospheric pressure below. In
the barrack room code of rules Is displayed urging
the best means OF preventing accidents and insur-
ing health.
The engineer maintains that the new men suffer
most from the density OF air in the chambers. The
old laborers become used to it. 1t Is not desirable
that any one should pass lifetime in such air, but
as the work has to be done, he maintains that 1t is
done with the greatest regard to the health and
comfort OF those who do 1t. As or,the reporter he
felt that he had seen enough in a ten minutes
visit and meeky signifed his desire to return.
Two hours afterwards, when he had inhaled with
hearty thanksgiving the blessed air OF heaven, IN
compressed, his ears still tinged and his head still
felt duh with that ten minutes in the caissOn.
SAFETY AND RAPID TRANSIT.
The Long Wished For Reform Secured