New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-18
bore modesly and looked worthy of the honor they
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HARBOR DISTRACTIONS.
REMOVING DIAMOND REEF.

hr.olON DlAhO&sD
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRILLING scow-PERFEcTIoS
OF THE WORK UNDER RECEET IMPROVEMENTS.
The United States steam drilling scOw, under
charge Of julius H. streidnger is now operating upon
Diamond Reef, near the Battery This reef has long
been object dread the naygators OF the harbor
lying IL does just east OF ne from the Battery 10
Governors Island, and at almost an equal distance from
each work for its removal done by Maille-
er In 1851 but his process was not generally success
full Gen. Newton gave submarine blasting careful con-
sderaton, and gradually perfected the drilling scow
This scow 10 arranged In two parts, the large
fat or scow having o wehoe in the CEN
ter 81 feet In diameter, and the dome, which
is suspended, when work Is not going on within
this welh0le by the Of iron chains. The dome s
hollow hemisphere open at bottom and top. 1t u con-
sucted OF plates OF boiler ron laid over an IRON frame
and ryeted 10 IT, When In use rests upon the surface
OF the rock Some drills inserted perpendicu-
larry through the hollow hemisphere about quarter OF
the way from the top and equal distances apart Be
sides these there others, ali supported by ght IRON
framework within the she'll and reached through tle
opening in Its top. There adjustable legs Also at
tsched to the dome, which ret down soon as any
portion Of It touches the rock being long short accord
upright position.
All around and above the welhole is framework OF
heavy timbers On the top OF these tmbers rest the
drilling engines. There nine OF these engines, and
they placed in vertical position, all OF the pistons
working vertically The connections between the pstons
and the drills thick ropes because rigid connections
would do the swinging OF the scow with heavy
wave would break iron rods. When the dome has been
lowered divers go down to examine the surface Of
the rock. II the rock ia not suitable for one
drill they pass to the next. II 1t Is suitable the
driver telegraphs the number 10 the man Oh
deck and the dri is placed in position. The drills are
about 20 long, or inches in diameter and weigh
GOO or 700 pounds each. The cutting edges are IN the
form OF and Sig inches long Ihe vertical pay II
IL inches They raised by the engines ard fali by
pon the stone turning little at every stroke gradually
cuts the hole. Upon the scow are conducted several
II is built very heavy and strong, and has proved
itself, UP TO this time, capable OF WITH
standing violent collisions Win Othef vessels
Below deck II is divided into four compartments One OF
these is machine shop aud another carpenter SHOP
cupitd Offices By Mr. Stricdingcr and Capt karow
Another building the boiler and part OF itseryes
who make the connections and prepare the primers
aud for the divers and their cothinG large der.
them while they adjusted TO their positions The
Is anchored by means OF chain cables aud anchors
When a sufficient number of holes nave been drilled
the next step to charge them The dome raised rom
the bottom, and the scow swung on from the sgo TO
safe distance which depends the amount OF nitro
giyceriBc To he used IN the explosion ana varies IFp
10 TO $40 feet TIE gyger9e Is t i,o S s. Oh Thesa
made on the drilling scow Ihey are carried
divers descend and place them As each drill IA witii
drawn from the hole il has made plugs are inserted ana
these plugs connected by cord The divers foio"
the cord A can o 10 teet long and or inches IN
diameter previously filled with glycerne Ia passed down
10 them aud they withdraw the plug and insert ~ III the
hole IN can attached 10 wires covered with gutt1
percha or rubber before IL leaves the scow When II Is
In ts nlsce the divers follow the cord secOud hole
and tie same process gone through with. When all Ee
holes are charged they return 10 the small scow tie
wires are connected with battery the scow with
dawn the charges are fred and the explosion takes
place The cOnm0ton I'm the water is often great am
the column projected into the ain sometimes reaches the
hght OF 100 feet Almost soon as the blast Is over
the scOw Is placed in another position and work begins
AZ once continuing night and day night set OF men
relieve those who during the day. The crew OF the
the who rendered efficient service AZ
the TInllctS Point pUsun Mr. Kelly, the mechanical
engineer board. has suggested some Important M
prJvscts which render the operations OF the mache
more rtfecIfve Tile machinery employed II SAID 10 Dc
The mot etf.ttiHe koMn for snOmarlne DlAstlng