The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-27
Revival Of the Work on the
North River Front.
The Nov Granite Bulkhsad Now Being Built
Around Manhattan Is.and-Inspsotion Of
the Work by Herald Rsporter-whst
Has Bsen Done During the Past Year
and the Propositions for tho Future.


been going forward all winter are now quite COM
pleted, and the constitution OF the department IL
such as 70 insure rapid and perfect work. Hereto
fore the smith and carpenter work, OF which there
Ia great amount was done by contractors, but
now the department makes and repairs It's own
tools, builds It's own forms for making "Beton
blocks" (Which are described and explained below,
and erects its sheds and houses. The officers OF
the department are enthusiastic over the efficiency
or their present force OF Smiths whom they regard
as the finest body Of temperers and forgers in the
city. Their shops turn out work to procure which
they had previously 10 60 out or town. There
two yards under the department-one IT the
foot OF Gansevoort street, North River the other
foot OF Seventeenth street, East River. In the
North River yard ali the wood and iron work is
done; and here. TOO, the immense Beton blocks
which have been source OF w0nderment to those
VINO have seen them are made. These blocks OF
artificial stone, which are used as the substitute
ture for the granite bulkheads and PIERS are
formed on platforms IN the Gansevoort street yard
They weigh from ten to ffty-two tons, and are in
destructible. having greater resisting power than
solid granite Itself A HERALD reporter was de-
tailed to examine the process OF forming these gi-
gantic masses, and the following are the results OF
his 0bservations:-
MAKING BEroN BLOCKS.
The ingredients OF these blocks are Portland &C.
ment, sand and broken stone, such as Is used for
Macadam woodways, 10 the following proper
tions:-One part Of Portland cement and three of
sand to nve OF the broken stone. The sand
and cement are nrst mixed In the ordi-
nary way and then thrown in upon
lot Of stones which are handled until
perfectly mingled with the cement mud. The mix
ture Is then wheeled in barrows to the forms
which look like boxes, 10 feet by 10 and IL by -
wi su.ro avoa NON nroro
hammer and crush the stone, padding down
tightly into the form, which, when filed, is
allowed to remain standing three days, after
which time tue case is removed and the stone
stands perfect and solid. As there was no der.
rick In New York capable hitting these fiity-two
ton stones the department had to build one, he
most powerful portable machine OF It's kind in
America 1t picks up these great stones to use
the words OF Mr.. Stoddard, '.llkc snipe would .
grain OF corn.n The longer this composition re-
mains In the water the harder 1t becomes. 1t is
less liable to break when brought into violent con-
tact with heavy iron vessels than granite. The
steamer City Of Limerick did not, as previously
reported, demollsh the submarine work on pier
l; 1t was the granite supersrructure which was
mere wall, the back not being filed in, that was
oislodged. a a asN# esf
THE NODE OF BUILDING THE DOCK
VIII be very interesting TO the general public rs
they have not had the pleasure ~ OF seeing the
submarine work in progress as did the HERALD re-
porter who went d0wn.in Divers suit on Friday
afternoon 1t pier /. ms4s
HERALD REPoRrER UNDER WATER.
| This il the best point At which to obtain CON-
prenensive idea OF the work, parts OF It Are m
lshed Others incomplete and others still being just
begun. The reporter, with the assistance OF the
divers, got into diving suit which was undoubt
water he began to ieel q queer sensation
porter began 70 look for something TO
see, but the disturbing presence Of the
under the guidance OF fellow diver he was con-
Quoted over the velvet carpet OF mud to the base
the part Of S
work, the guide led the way to the place where the
base Tor new arch IN the pier was being made
which had been sunk in the mud, and upon the
top OF this Beton block was being lowered. The
concrete Is let down In the wooden boxes, IN which
1t amalGamates and coa,esces, the box rots away
by the action Of the water and leaves solid con-
crete lounaation under the Beton blocks. From
the foundation up to low water mark the BetOn
blocks are laid, and there begins the granite SUPER
satisfied with what he had seen at pier No. l.,
the reporter accepted an Invitation to go to the
foot OF Christopher street ana see the work gong
that at the Battery, TO quote again from Mr. stod-
dard 'YOu couldn't get solid bottom there II y0u
dredged from the Fourth Of July until doomsdsy, !"
BY means OF patent machine the poles are cut OF
twenty Get below the surface and the space be-
tween the two rows Is filled with concrete, on the
top OF which the Beton blocks are laid. The
wooden docks that are being put up at piers 43, ~
and As North River will permit free passage OF
the tide through the slips, when viii prevent them
from dling up, as they did when the old break
water piers were there. This improvement has
the sewage filth to pass on with the tide instead
OF settling IN the slip and being exposed to The sun
All the improvements made on the water front
contribute as well to the financial advantage OF
tue city as to its commercial interests, as Will be
seen from the following tabes:- eas
The first report OF the department to Mayor
Havemever, which covers the three months end
ing July 81, 1873, shows as follows;-
Disbursements for wages material &C.. in dc.
Pad to City Chamberlain for dock rents iosss
The second as above, for three months ending
Disbursements for wages, materials 4c.. sl95 SIS
Paid to City Chamberlain tor dock reLts, us Is
The third report, for tine two months ending De.
Dsburseia1nts Tor wages, materials &c sls7s7s
Paid TO City Chamberlain Tor dock rents Ac.. lo7S
The fourth and last report sent to His Honor, but
as ". uhpuohsneu, CONTAINS sne s iaen ~
March 81, 1874
Disbursements for wages, materials. &c ss2 SEC
THE DEPARTMENT OF DOCKS AND RAPID TRANSIT.
Like the absent minded man VINO hunts high ana
low for the pen which STICKS behind MS ear, New
York Is exhausting IT'S energies In searching, on
the premises OF Others for that which 10 IN tts own
possession. The East Side Association, tne west
Side Associations the Citizens Association OF Har-
lem and the lately organized North Side Associa-
ton oil fail 10 see that which Is Immediately undcr
their leet, their eyes Delng centred On NE ever
! changing sky OF Albany legislation IN nope OF
| there seeing the lightning streak OF Mmcn tne
| KnickerbOcker prophets have spoken. II commute
| tees from the several associations above men
| toned would wait on General Graham, the
/ Eagineer-in- Chief OF the department. OF Docks,
and with their eyes follow his finger as 1t glldes
over the plans OF the work, listen to his elucida-
! TONS then 20 and make personal examination OF
! the work completed ana IN process OF c0nstruc-
4 ton. ne would explain TO them an undeveloped
plan for rapid freight and passenger transit When
! regarded as to results It would be cheap; and at
! the age OF i've years 1t would more than pay or
the interest on It's bonds and begin 20 take them
mp. It will be necessary, ~ preface TO the ex-
! nianatiOn OF the plan, 10 detail the dotngs on
THE NORTH RIVER WATER FRONT.