The New York herald., 1874-12-04

s1e t,dal m,wa, waves experience rstaraa,ion
the cob current Ia the stronger in the lower
Harlem River ;'Irom the east the ebb enters the
He'll Gate and the Harlem Kills. setting strongly
toward the New York snore ana forming eddies at
The minimum depth OF the improved Harlem
River Is expected to be not less than twelve feet
oM n s ss re s g
channel navigation. The obstructions given below
were were insspecIed N Pc By & competent diver ana sDecl
l. Three OF the ave remaining piers Of an OLD
bridge which formerly spanned the Harlem from
New York city, to the northwest end OF Wards
Island These i've piers are numbered on tho
the snf BIER nearest ne Waas anS shore
and no s the one In closest proximity to the Har-
lem shore The three piers however which come
Nos. ]. and T. Pier No. has less than the re-
quired depth over it but, by reason OF Its very
y' erly ciassed as an obstacle 70 safe C cnannel n
navigation. No. 2, having twelve feet and
system q IL No ormed m '1s S
large stones, Is distant 1877 feet measured on
centre line Of bridge) from the Wards Island high
maximum depth at mean low water, as feet It's
minimum. Pier No. Is composed OF loose stones.
about three tons, and s0iidiy imbedded together.
This pier is distant 36.7 feet measured on centre
lines. The maximum depth OF water on satd pier
at mean low water Is 81 feet, the minimum 81
feet Before proceeding further u would De well
determine whether these piers should be removed
by the United States governments or by the State
OF New York.
On the goth OF February, 1901, at the request OF
company engaged IN the cotton trade, bill was
passed by the New York State Legislature author
ixlng the construction or the above mentioned
bridge. QSee Webster and SINNERS Laws, vol
ST. It was to be built for the advantages Of the
WQQ0 c0mnanV-nrnnInn
among whom were Bartholomew and Jasper
Ward--the owners OF cotton mill on Wards
Island. The engineer and BUILDER was q Mt
Thomas Lyons since deceased. The exact date OF
the construction Of this bridgeIcannot be found,
near as could De ascertained, after much trouble
the bridge was built In 1907, The structure
ss isss ana tweve half fses o1
each side for the accommodation Of PASSENGERS
county and city OF New York; the piers Of the
bridge, six ~ number. as we have every reason TO
the completion OF Tins bridge was connected what
Is now known the foot OF East Hath street. New
Miledocr,, @ @ d and the northwest end I'd ' Of wards %
Island. the bridge remained standing ttll the sd
CO wn strong S
upon which il mad !ested. These were S visible i
g ssrons IS" to sAs Se the cause q SEVERAL scc a
dents. rney remained In thla condition until the
McGown, Presldent OF the Harlem and New York
Navigation Company. she authorities Of the city
propriated q sum Of money out Of the city funds
Ths contract (ior 5000 1oS c, REMOVING these o.
commenced operations. and BY means OF q large
rake succeeded In lowering three piers and max
water over each. The piers raked down were
those before mentioned as Nos. and 8, and an
day day. Tnose left untouched were the two nearest
the New York shore mos. and 81 and the one IN
same groXimlty 70 Wards ad, Isl Island No =
high water line, New York shore. This rock con
SCUM Sounding gives 10 IeeS on the apex Of the rocS
at mean low water. The reef rises TO q sharp
RYns - az the base Depths q e LYING
as this obstruction does, on the very edge or the
steamboat channel ir IS considered dangerous
obstruction. Several accidents have happened.
ON the Hem and New Navigation
COmpany1S llne) ran on the reel and was damaged
to such an extent as to sink almost Immediately.
In April, 1853, the passenger steampoat Minnie
was also sunk by running on the same rock. There
have also been accidents to sailing vessels striking
q Large nat rock, foot Of East l25th street. Har-
lem, 304 feet distant from the Harlem snore high
water line, ana l22 Ieet above the upper corner OF
the pier. portion of this rock runs under the
fnce OF the proprietor OF the dock TO remove that
part OF it. Ths rock consists or gneiss vertically
OF II feet; the minimum, rs ieet on the rocks.
4. Small rock situated in mid-channel, OF foot
E 70 e o% the
htgn-water line; 1t Is composed OF gneiss, Of dap
OF about rs deg. The snallowest sounding reads
S, small rock at the mouth Of the Mott Haven
Canal about so feet from the northwest corner of
Motifs dock. 1t consists Of ledge OF gneiss,
running in o north northeast direction, nearly
parallel TO the direction Of the canal The mini
mum sounding gives depth OF 3.S ieet on this
rnck a 4 mean low water.
PROPOSED PLAN OF IMPROVEMENT.
Raking alone would not prove @ successful means
igation formed by bridge PIERS consisting, as they
DO OF heavy stones in some places, and OF strong
face blasting VIII be ct first necessary. in order to
reduce the size OF the larger stones, and also TO
ssseinps at grappnne can Be made. Inc removal
OF the remaining rocky obstructions must be per-
formed by means OF systematic process OF rock
lively short distance OF these rocky obstructions
from the buildings on shore will necessitate the
erations 70 be somewhat tedious ana expensive.
ESTIMATE OF COST or IMPROVEMENT.
rf % s a.rsn e od s sssss sae S 9s2a
sSds 81 Fac.ory saS yiEss Reef foot Of as street 70
are. e..e o9 square s yards. At - per eubso
piss rock ID loot 81 East lssI street '''D' "
lem. 30A feet from Harlem shore: SSS6 cubic
yards s eaSc s
street, Harlem, 40 feet from Harlem shore:
239 cubic yards, spread over an area of LIZ
square yarus, at 9l94 % cubic yard. 1850 90
8 small rock at the mouth OF Mott Haven
Canal; 470.5 cubic yards spread over
area OF 26l.2 square yards, at $46 per cubic
yard ....... 2,I76 IS
Contingencies 10 cent Of the ahoye--.... 2s9o q
SLOT 87o 56
Mr.. McGown, President Of the Harlem and New
York Navigation Company, ID entitled to thanks
for the KIND assistance he lent u.s. pointing out at
the commencement OF the photographic survey
the localities OF the submerged obscructfons