The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-12

THE HARBoR IMPROVEMENTS

Lecture Before the Xavier Union by General
John Newton, Uuited States Army.
General John Newton United etates Army, lee
tured last evening before the members OF the Xavier
Union, No. so West Fifteenth street, the improve
ment OF the harbor approaches OF New York. He
said:-The work which the government Is now doing
In the East River and at Hell Gate consists IN the
removal OF rocks. The East River is an arm OF the
sea- the bed OF which Is caused py Q CONFUSION OF
nature and hence the rocks are hard ana difficult of
removal. The Importance OF the work 10 under
stood when 1t is remembered that the East River
connects two Important arms Of the seattle Bay OF
New York ana Long Island Sound. Hitherto the
rocks have formed
AN IMPAsSABLE BARRIER TO COMMERCE
AT an early date they we're the subject OF wishes
for improvements; but there was no hope enter
tanned then that they could be entirely removed.
The inconvenience from these distractions was
felt during our wars. We are prosperous now; but
who can foresee that the time shall never come
when political commotion in the land shall
not require the harbor OF New York to
be easily passablef Though the contingency
may be remote, yet we should guard against
surprise. The commercial inconvenience arising
from these distractions are apparent Most people
are not aware that previous TO 1913 one vessel out
OF every fifty coming through He'll Gate was either
seriously injured or entirely lost. About that time
dangers and dinicultes Of the passage were clearly
explained. The currents exercise serious embar-
rocks, such Ways reef and Prmeland, &C., there
are the larger ones, Halleps Rock and the
Grd5on IL o 1851 MERCHANTS Of the city sub
OF Pot Rock $50 called on account OF the boiling
waters around itl and this was done by means OF
rms attempt did much service. even slight as 1t
""'' ''S CONGRESS- APPROPRIATED $4,000
Tor me sane purpose, with but poor results But
people DO not look at the work as 1t was done, but
At the beginning Of the present attempt to clear the
Of inc and was 70
surface blasting. i should Be- ' said' is
inconvenience from 1t Is that it leaves the broken
pieces OF rock still on the surface. The city some
Coentles' slip by means Of the diving bell, but SO
great loss or life was caused to the divers that the
at He} Gate is hard drilling The larger rocks are
penetrated by o shalt, excavated and then blown
up. The work Is slow, as too many holes cannot be
bored and only one blast can occur AZ one time on
account OF the vibration.
The lecturer here gave an interesting description
ratons necessary for It, the employment OF machine
ny necessary for the strong currents and the man
He also gave description OF how the Blossom ROCK
at san Francisco was successfully removed. Many
qu''''T Tms si PRosREss Of THE IMPROVEMENTS
should be left unsettled until there was actual need
to combat them, ana among these was the serious
one whether 1t be better to erect new supports or
trust to the natural pillars as the excavation was
increasing. That the distractions should, however
be removed was certainty. The uptown march
of the city necessltated that BY and by we should
have the shipping up around He'll Gate.
There was no relief for the city except by the one
way-viZ, TO blast away the rocks. the theory ad-
vanced some time ago that canal might be run
through Astoria was impracticable. The water OF
the canal should necessarily now over to the low
water beyond. The lecturer gave quite an elabo
rate explanation OF the action OF the strong currents
which. he SAID, caused solely by the many rocks
al and around Hell Gate. 80