The New York herald., 1874-11-20
may be remarked here that about this time Tor
early IN the spring OF 1870, some officers the

may be remarked here that about this time Tor
cary IN the spring Of 1870, some officers from the
stan oil the
came to He'll Gate Tor the purpose OF using re-
Gently discovered element OF destruction called
''DUALiN.n
said 70 possess powers as superior to ntro-glyce-
rine as The latter is superior TO gunpowder The
results OF fhe experiments were not satisfactory,
anu Inc charges, ialing To ignite by the electro
spark, had To be Withdrawn. IL may be stated
here incidentally that the Prussian gentlemen
VINO initiated the experiment exhibited want OF
confidence tor, perhaps, an over conndencel IN tue
new explosive by declining 70 assist IN the dah.
gerous operation Of witadrawing lhe cnadgss me
shait where the dualln remained, IL haa 10 os
removed.
PROGRESS OF THE WORK.
The total number OF ieet OF tunnel on the 81 OF
June. 1874, was 6.7sl. The work was suspended ior
want Of unds about the middle OF NeveSer, naa anu
feet OF tunnels cxcavated during 1879 was eso |;
the number OF cubic YARDS excavatea "a
November. 4e4s; number OF eet OF holes drilled
A, $50; average number OF ieet OF holes 10 each
OF nitro gycerlne used 10 each cubic yard Of rock
removed l-l0 lbs.
OF the appropriations made for the removal OF
ohstructlons IN the East River, including Halletts
Point, a considerable amount was used for the
construction and operating or the steam-drliling
scow at work at various periods on diamond ana
Coenties reefs in the East River. ana upon Frying
Pan and Pot ROCKS IN Hell Gate. Coentles kees,
wen h Is eeeSep su1 10 =, pe cemne 70
the depth oi twenty -iour ieet. II Is considered
economical to keep the scow at work on account
OF Its necessary deterio alton and from the prog
ress oil decay. which is equally rapid whether the
apparatus IS kept at work or not
GENERAL NEWTON WANTS AN APPROPRIATION OF
100000
for operations at Hell Gate during the next dscal
year. The amount annually granted t$225, ,000), -
proved TO be entirely TOO limited Tor the eco
nomical and rapid progress OF the important
oEerations TO which this sum Is applied. There ID
considered no reasonable doubt that the work at
Halletts Point Will be a complete success, and
therefore another similar work. intended tor the
removal oil the middle reel. which includes rocks
under various designations, as Blood Rock, Grid
iron, Hen and Chickens md Niger Head, should
be early commenced. BY the removal OF this mid
die reef the width oil the channel would be IN
creased from GOO to 1200 ieet, at an average depth
of 20 ieet, and the most formidable obsti uction 10
navigation which exists IN He'll Gate could be
ooliterated. Wnen the WORK will oe nnally COM
pieted depends almost wholly upon the liberality
oil Congress IN making appropriations. Members
from the city should take early steps to facilitate
On undertaking in wnicn the commercial interests
OF tie metropolis are so deeply connected.
II Is proper to state that General Newton Is ably
aided IN his great work by Captain william Il.
Hewer, corps OF Assistant Engineers. assistant at
Haiictt's Point, and Mr. julius Ii. streidinSer, as
sistant engineer In charge OF the drilling scow, with
gangs oil experienced American and foreign
miners under competent leaders, to prosecute
the work with energy and despatch.