The New York herald., 1874-11-24


The appropriations tor removing distractions
ihPthe East River and He'll Gate are not entirely
devoted to the tunnels and galleries at Hallett's
Point, q considerable amount having been ex-
pended for the construction, maintenance and the
operating OF the steam-drilling scow. which has
been at work, at various periods upon Diamond
and Coeuties REEFS in East River, ana upon Fry.
ing Pan and Pot Rock, In He'll Gate. There are
certain rocks In He'll Gate, as Shelldrake and
Ways Reef, which should be removed prior to tn
completion OF the reef at Haett's Point because
the existence OF the latter reef would protect the
machine from rapid currents, and, what is OF
more Importance, from Violent collisions Coen-
ties Reet which has been, Is Is thought. thor
Oughly broken up, requires but small sum to
complete It's removal to depth OF twenty-four
feet The present least depth above the mass
OF broken stone Is twenty-one and half feet.
1t is economical likewise, to continue the use OF
the drilling scow in blasting the channel rocks,
on account OF the necessary deterioration OF
the scow from the progress OF decay-a process
which Is equally rapid whether the apparatus is
kept at work or not From the expedIency, as
just shown, OF employing the steam drilling scow
proportion OF each appropriation must neces-
sar1ly be diverted from the work at Halletrs
Point, and the amount annually granted
$225, ,OO0-is found to be entirely too limited for
the economical or rapid progress OF the important
operations TO which this sum Is applied. The con-
dition Of the work at Haert's Point Is such that
there can exist no reasonable doubt Of It's entire
success, and therefore, another similar WORK, in
tended for the removal OF the Middle Reef and In
Guiding reels, under various designations, as
Flood Rock, GrldirOn, Hen and Chickens and
Negro Head, should be early commenced, as by its
removal the width of the channel would be IN
creased from 600 to 1900 feet, and the most for
mldable obstruction TO navigation, which exists
at He'll Gate, would be obliterared.
ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE NECESSARY.
For the reasons above given ask an appropri-
alton OF $e00 900 as the sum which could be profit
ably and economically expended during the year.
the removal OF tue rock mas been postponed until
the exploration OF the whole area or Hallett's
SHOULD have been first completed. This is nearly
done, and 1t is proper to state IN general, terms
have moaes
gested. First to excavate Q chamber or cavity
e a large and anS to 1esee the whole
the removal OF all the stone piers supporting the
roof OF the excavation, and the substitution there.
This plan. Which appears appear : plausible, as wei
as complete would, In my opinion be lnapplcable
main TO be done In taxing down the existing large
piers under the roof and in sinking considerably
the noor lines to provide sufficient cavity; the
ana . half times the solid contents Of the roof
The nature OF the strat1catlon, In thin verticle
subject to grave accidents, due TO unexpected re-
suits, during the blasting process II these pieces
done at Blossom Rock, where the rock was Of
peculiarly easy manipulation, one OF the
o. ors the PIERS Ma Be
the constant application OF blasting is required.
Again, to carry out the system OF providing a /,
ports to replace them, must have considerable
altitude in some places thirty 1--we to forty ieet
and this altitude would add lncalculably TO the
dangers incident to their removal.
These diiiiculties and others have formed the
the T6rS Of the tunnels and galleries used t to ex
piore the whole rock and ascertain It's condition
should be perfected It did not seem pertinent TO
enter into the present discussion, which really
concerns only the last stage of the work. while, on
the other hand, II tvs was probable that more
would result from the course adopted.
THE MODE OF REMOVING ROCK
by providing receptacle large enough to receive
the roof has never been applied. It was partially at
tempted at Blossom Rock very smaireei, where,
ncaS the process would have been ap
abandoned this scheme before 1t was half per-
lected, and after blowing up the rock had tore
expense oy such process, too, at Hailetrs Point
Would IN my opinion, be much greater than by
system OF tunnels and galleries having proper
an oaranage, 70 Obtain places Ior charges OF expo-
and to IN Of the debris By trans
removal OF Blossom Rock, published by the En-.
sness ssrosGts Department pa there are found two
VAo " tcueLdl .. AlcA.
hnucIs y! the corps or Engineers by
means OF the second method before described, and
oi date anterior to the project OF Mr.. Won schmidt
described In the same volume, and which differed
from the former only in REMOVING the piers or
was between the tunnels and in providing deep
caampe[ 9,, or CAVITY TO receive the debris. The
tunnels, At least, was evidently borrowed By MIN
from General Alexander, and Blossom Rock was
Won Schmidt declined to carry out his own and
had to remove the depris afterward by artif1cial
means. Prior to the date OF General Aiexander,s
letters-pr0Daoiy as much as six months-
was engaged In discussion OF the
rocks In this locality, by using an iron
cylinder TO reach from the surface OF the water To
the rock and working In this to perforate a shafr
into the body OF The rock and drive q system NJ
galleries where charges OF explosive Compounds
TO blow up the whole mass could be placed This
process was not applied TO the channel rocks for