Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-05-09
Miseellaltepns.
LIFE IN THE CAISSON.


The recent death Of laborer in the
caisson of the East river bridge, from, a.
alleged, the effects Of compressed air
while in the performance of his labors, has
excited some interest in the community
relative to the general welfare of these
caisson laborers. The stone pier to sup
port the East river bridge on the New
ork side Is now being rapidly pushed
forward at the foot of Roosevelt street.
Anlimmense dock there is occupied by the
barracks OF the men, the numerous engine
rooms and the offices of the contractors.
On one side is a slip for the landing of
material; on the other is Williamsburg
ferry land. At the outer endsor 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.
1t is as yet only few feet above the tide
This masonry rests upon the. caisson,
| about which so much interest is telt. As
the caisson 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 substatum
OF rock beneath it, then the pile will COM
mence to grow heavenward and will soon
attain the tall and slender proportion of
that companion pier that seems almost
within stones throw, and yet rears Its
head so handsomely three-quarters of a
mile away on the Brooklyn side.
The caisson is huge chamber, seven
tty-six feet below the surface of the earth.
1t is lighted by gas, an engine being used
above ground expressly for that purpose.
1t is supplied with air by thirteen small
engines, which pump stream of air into
the chamber at the rate 2100 feet per min
ute. This air finds egress through num-
erous pipes opening out on the edge of the
pier, through which also the dirt excava-
ted is whirled out jus as letter is whirled
through pneumatic tube. 1t also finds
egress through the water of the East river
in enormous bubbles.
The pressure Of air in the caisson is
about thirty-four pounds to the square inch
at high water, the variations of the tide
naturally affecting the position of the cais-
son itself: There are sixty men at work
on the caisson and they are divided into
reliefs, so that none of them remain below
more than four hours, each man taking two
turns, one of two hours and a half and
another of two hours. There is, therefore,
an allowance of thirty-fve 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 cais-
son you enter first narrow chamber,
where all the doors are closed and the
strong air is let on. At once the pressure
causes the ears to tingle and then to pain
excessively. A minute or SO of this in
ures one to the greater pressure yet to
come. The heat becomes excessive. The
perspiration begins to stream down the
face. When the air has reached density
equal to that in the main chamber the door
connecting the two can be opened. 9th.
erwise the combined strength of giants
would be insufficient TO press it open
against the atmospheric pressure inside.
''An' if ye could open it," said the
workman, who was initiating Herald re-
porter into these mysteries, ''it'd blow all
of us up through the well, without having
to wait for the elevator"
Inside the main caisson the men are
busy excavating. The water rests upon
what seems to be the floor of the cassion,
but is really the floor of the East river.
The tide ebbs and flows as on the beach.
The men wear gum boots reaching up to
their knees. The incessant tingling Of the
ears becomes uncomfortable, but there Is
no difficulty in breathing. There is no
ever present terror of instant suffocatiOn
as in the mines of PittstOn-no choke
damp, no deadly gases. All that is un-
comfortable is the density of the air. 1t
is pure enough, but there is too much OF
it. We can imagine any hearty man
standing it for months, but men Of sickly
constitutions, wasted away with consump-
| ton or liable to heart disease, would be
-. Al
| living here. In addition to the tingling of
the ears and heavy pressure on the head
there are stitches of pain shooting through
the knees and calves, caused by the damp
ness of the floor. The contractors employ
physician, who examine the men as il
they were enlistihg in the army, and none
with weekly constitutions are hired. While
our reporter was present man came up
to the top of the shaft, assisted by two
others, and wended his way 10 the engi-
neer's office. there to await the coming of
the doctor. He was troubled with sharp
pains in his knees. The recent death, ac-
cording to the engineer, was occasioned
| by bright's disease of the kidneys.
.'lf we'd known he had it," said that
gentleman, 1--WE would not haye hired
him, and if 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 a close examina-
ton, but some obscure diseases escape us. I"
The dock is covered with engines. Ev-
cry appliable means is used to dispense
with hand labor. Steam engines hoist the
stone from the scows. and small railroad
tracks carry them to the pier. Steam en-
sines raise and lower the elevator, in the
shaft for the ascent and descent of the
men. Gauges are constructed to show
the pressure of air in the caisson and to
mark the rising and falling Of the tide.
A telegraphic arrangement, with an
original code of signals, connects the upper
portion of the masonry with the chamber
beneath, by which signals for any ordlna-
ry communication can be conveyea.
Huge doors are connected with tne ar
pipes to shut off the steam If the pressure
becomes too dense. Barracks WIN Dunks
huiIf for the Ia