New-York tribune., 1876-09-30
TIE HE'LL GATE CHANNEL.

sOUNDiNGs OVER THg DESTROYED REEF-OPINIOSs
OF PILOTS AND OTHERS UPON THE RESULT OF
THE EXPLOSION.
The soundings at Halletts Point were begun
yesterday nt 1898 r. Four trips were made In iho
sounding boat during which 40 sOuGdngs were taken
This was the northeast portion OF the reef and over
the point the shart excayaed within 200 eet
OF the Shore The floor OF the shaft was covered with
stone giving less depth than befure the blast, wble
over the rest reef whore there formerly only
six feet Of water the depth vnres ranging between II
and Is feet The completion OF the survey will require
from 5000 TO 5000 sOundings, which will be taken about
ten feet apart. There Will be two surveying parties at
work to-day. II the weather proves favorable, Will
liam Prcuss the surveyor thinks this work can be fin
shed in about six weeks Mr. Preuss has conducted the
surveys since beginning Of the aetts Point work,
and he is held high esteem accurate tOpographer
The present surveys made by him.
The captains and pilots Of the steamers and propeers
plying EewYOrk and ports on the Sound and on
the New England coast derive benefit, apparently
from the change In the rapid and eddes after
the destruction Of Hars reef than from the removal
of the reef itself These currents flow more In the
way they should flow for safe and easy navigation. The
destruction OF Flood Rock looked forward to ad
ditonal and much greater advantage Halleus reef
although sometimes grazed By steamers, was more par
tculary dangerous to sailing vessels Oneof the Sound
pilots stated that the average number oI sailing Srat
sometimes two or three were to be seen the
same time Having wait for favorable tide, sailing
vessels would often cOnegatc there In heets and make
the passage still more hazardous. The pilot OF the
q. H. N0rtham finds u somewhat easier TO
take his boat through Hell Gate now than be-
fore the explosion, and says that he will gain much
by running his boat the destroyed reef when the
buOys put there by Gen. Newton are removed col
ison which occurred recently between the Norhan and
u schooner could not he said, happen In the present
state OF the channel One OF the regular He'll Gate
pilots said that ar Hactt's Reef was concerned
It's destruction mad very little difference to him at
tides he found more diieult TO get through with
schooner now than before the explosion. lie said 10
should be remembered, however, thai ANYTHING which
lessened the difficulty OF passing through Ieu Gate
lossened alsO the work of the pilots. With regard
TO the number OF vessels going through, h Is
not believed that II win bo greatly in
creased by the work done 10 be done;
very boats coming from north OF Ncwlork
go outside OF Long Island which increases the distance
by II 10 20 ez and the pilots charges for passing
the Gate onefUurth large at Gandy Hook.
The depth Of water At Hell Gate is graer nan AZ
Sandy Hook 20 feet being the depth at the Hook, while
vessels drawing % feet at Hell Gate. Very
long boats, however euch the ocean seamers have
and twist than IL saIe on the Gate The de-
structOn OF Flood Rock viii enable them to come In as
easily st the Hook although L is not cerain as yet
that they will use this route.