The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-20

be lmpossi BILE In such position because with the
strong currents and narrow channel difficulties IN
moorng the drill scows and other vessels necessary Tor
the operations wonld only be surmountaDie at the
pense 9! NE temporary interruption Of navigation
through Hell Gate IL was therefore decided 10 a0opt
the very ingenious plan OF Stalking large shaft pic
on the main land and just outside or the line estab
hsnod az the proposed water line after the completion
OF the undertaking. this centre to drive
nes radating into the solid OF the ledge aud
through the rocky shell which forms the river he'd al
this point ut present Il also determined to
further honcycomb he ledge by connecting these
tunnels by of galleries coacentrc with the cir
cumierence OF the semf-circuiar pit and with the
tunnels dividing up tho body Of tho rock into
series OF large excavations under q common
roof formed by tho rock bod or tho river Thi
roof supported BY rock columns which were LEFT I'M
water might be sustained by the rock roof after the
beneath IL was fully cxcavaed II was then pro-
posed and charge each OF these columns In such
manner as to their certain and Simultaneous
destruction when everything readiness to re-
supporting columns OF rock being blown from under tho
rock roof the latter falls into tho excavation formed
beneath for IT'S reception an the depth OF water Is sud
denly increased to that OF the present door OF the
cavaon, less that occupied by the thickness OF the
debris OF root, which would in time DO entirely
moved by dredging and grapping Such was the gen.
eral plan devised adopted for the part OF the He'll
Gate improvements connected with tho removal of
Hailctt's Point Ledge. With very few notifications
this plan carried out In the most efficient and
satisfactory manner and preparations are being made
for The final do or the rock by exploding the
rock columns. From the commencement OF tho work
Tho stage OF its proercssand indeed wo may
regard complete and ready Tor the explosives
the has been conducted with great care and
skill and well deserves to rank IN the estma
ton of engineers OF the most difficult and sue
cessiu works OF Its kind on the American continent
The most experienced minefs employed In driv-
ing tunnels through the solid rock and under the
waters rushing through He'll Gate, and tho workmen
were separated from death only by about fcet thick
OF the rock and daily danger OF sudden
leak which would admit the overwhelming river
waters.
Nearly all the reef to DO removed by the operations
at Hallctt's Point submerged. II was. therefore,
protect the outer water side portion Of
tho semcircuar shaft by solidy constructed Golfer
dam which excluded the tdewaer This work had to be
built with great care because Its stability and gen.
crai effectiveness for the purposes designed the prose-
cution OF tho entire work mainly dependent II
any tmo during the driving OF tho radating tunnels
and the circular connecting galleries tho dam had given
whole OF the work, with the workmen cn-
gagged therein, would have boon overwhelmed by tho
inrushlng waters the East River and tho success
OF the undertaking compromised. The ordinary OBJ
server general rule fails to recognize the merit Of
many apparently unimportant details OF this great
work. but practical men, who arc familiar with tho
difficulties that besot tho engineer In an operation this
aud his able assistants for tho skill and foresight
displayed in It's prosecution
PRELIMINARY WORK.
In order The attained 1t Hallots
Point II was necessary to mako perfect survey OF
formation the numerous variations OF siratinos
ton and every inequality OF its surface. In word
Information had to be collected which has enabled the
engineers produce perfect model OF the ledge even
tho details OF Its formation. This cntacd
an of preliminary work which few but experts
appreciate and tho fact that success has attended
all the operations up their present advanced stage
shows how thoroughly that preliminary work
was performed Thc currents flowing ovcr tho
submerged rocks had to be carefully studied
in order determine correctly possible the vary
ing the Golfer dam and the probable result
OF he removal OF the ledge the tidal 1ow through
He'll Gaea Then numerous experiments had to be
made tho kinds Of explosives 10 be used In
the excavation. This an investigation requiring
great experience Skill because 1t must DO
bercd that only thin shell OF rock allowed TO
remain between tho workings and the water, and any
njudcious use OF explosives tunnels and CALLER
might have resulted In destroying the cohosvencss
roo u.s. Gna
would be created which no amount Of pumping power
could overcome or any known means check The
mscalcuiaon In the drilling of this shell OF rock
might have led 10 It's perforaton and the force OF the
pouring under pressure, through the orihce
formed would prevent any plugging from remaining In
position These few OF the many details of the
preliminary work necessary TO insure success which
win convey the reader idea Of the difficulties at
tending this unique undertaking 1t satisfactory
that the results prove tho most complete JUS
ticaton Of the means and that tho Scya OF the East
River Is about to be assigned place among the things
OTHER DANGEROUS DISTRACTIONS.
The pass OF He'll Gate VOL deserves its modern name.
applied TO II account OF the dangerous eddes which
almost attain tho scale OF whiripoois over its rocky,
numerous groups OF large and small rocks dottng
the OF the passage, all extremely dangerous 10
Msssina, Hen Gate has its charybds as we'll as IL
Scya and the passage through It suggests the dangers
that bese the fleet Of Ulysses when, endeavoring
avoid the many headed Scylla of the ships
devoured by the monster Charybds The best known
rocks and reefs the Hogs Back, the Pot Rock,
the Great Mill Rock the Frying Pan Rock, Little NH
Rock and Flood Rock, each forming the most pr0mi-
parts OF an intricate system Of shoals and rugged
points which is spread the entire space between
Astoria and Wards Island and presenting array Of
solid which form the logic OF He'll Gate In impress
Ing the necessity Of caution on the Oldest poia Some
always exposed 10 view; but the channel compca
they create form effective barrier to the pas
Nall Inv fixy01y
light draught engaged in the trade and
under tho pilotage OF familiar from childhood
with all tho dangers that attend He'll Gate navi
CATION.
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET.
more interesting experience than the passage on
vessel through the tortuous channel Of He'll Gate at
certain stages Of the DO desired Approach
ing from the southwark the ship is headed Tor Wards
Island apparently with the intention or running her
ashore on that homo for tho poor, the manned AMI
the bibulous. The inexperienced passenger, fearing
catastrophe, nstinctively takes hold OF the luke
anchor order steady himself for the
coming shock and have something TO hang to IL the
ship splits upon Of the wo1sh looking rocks thas
But sudden thought the helm is ported and the
ship swung broadside to cataract that tumbles
within few yards OF her trail sides Then the fright
ened looks at the sky and the green fields and
the busy scenes ashore though he would
get his totterng limbs under him on terra nrma:
Soon the ship u pointing her bowsprit shoreward
again, but this time at a pretty manson the Long
Island side. great kne-Iike reef lies across her
course, and she drives It though she would take
flying leap the obstruction Her sides vibratg
der the beating Of waves generated by and
counter but she gdes past tho somehow
ard 10 again bound direct for the Wards Island Ine
briate Asylum staggering rong like drunken monster
that mediated reform Of lie. Behind her roll fright
full masses Of dark water, tumbling the sunken
rocks and before and around her cddcs and 0ths tho
angry flood she treads her way through labyrinth
OF dangers toward the clear straight channel hundred
yards ahead BY the combination Of luck and good
steering which has fortunately attended the passage OF
He'll Gate since the establishment OF o regularly organ.
lied pilot SYSTEM the ship at last enters safe channel
ana proceeds her voyage through Long Island sound
The frightened passenger let's 70 the anchor looks
back the OF his perils and romarks that Il Is
just the kind Of place brighten nervous persons but
that for hts part he never enjoyed himself 30 much IN
his life
THE EvrEcrs ov THE IMPROVEMENT
These must be regarded from moro than one ssand-
point in order TO be uly understood The obsructions
at He'll Gate at present prevent thorough communities
by vessels oil large tonnage between what might b
termed harbor OF Hudson River and that of The
Sound that valuable portion Of tho water front Of
Now York and Queens county. L L, is rendered use