The New York herald., 1876-09-27
NEWTON7S CHANNEL.
Popular Feeling Regarding the Work
and the Engineer.
CONTINUING THE SOUNDINGS.
More Satisfactory Results and
Preparations for Dredging.
DIVERS TO GO DOWN TO-DAY.

"Newton's ChanncI'-the new title proposed by the
HERALD yesterday, for the river track over the de-
moshed reei-has been accorded the verdict Of uni
versal appreciation. The application OF the Generals
name TO the channel his skill has SO materially i'm
proved ommended itself to evory one as a well mertoA
compliment to the man whose name Is now SO com.
pctely and thoroughly identified with H. The proposed
change general topic OF conversation yesterday
and everywhere met with the hearticss approval
Many old skppers and He'll Gate pilots sailing over the
sto OF the reef yesterday and finding ample depth
Of water above the mansed remains Of their old aud
ueacherous enemy declared in their enthusiasm that
tho government should erect tablet the spot 70
commemorate tho splendid triumph OF engineering
skill and honor the who achieved It. Others,
however, thought this would involve much delay and
perhaps difficulty, and that afer all tablet however
nne, would not be half prominent or lasting
q memorial the remaining Of the place.
They did not propose to discard the time honored
OF He'll Gate applied to the entire rystem Of
rocks and waters, but merely to give the Generals
that particular channel directly deepened and
widcned by his great work. This has heretofore been
called the East Channel to distinguish It from tho
Middle and West channels which thread the river each
in the direction indicated by Its All along the
shore in the vicinity Of Astoria the change OF name 10
already accomplished fact.
OF rIlH BLASTED RocK-PREpARIxG yoR DRxDGEs-
THE
Hallett's Point was dreary sight yesterday morns
ing The heavy clouds overhead aud the muddy soil
below dotted with the black looking buildings, pro.
senied a iorlorn appearance. Tho rain poured down
steadily and deferred tho curious from visiting the
spot whcro many years OF labor TO q
ul close on Sunday last The place presented do.
sorted appearance, for the workmen remained
within doors during the forenoon, taking apart
what temporary apparatus had been used In making
the blast. Coils of wire we're scattered around pre-
paraiory TO being rolled upon wooden wheels and
stored away for future The little wooden build
ing stsnding tho waters edge, which toppled
by the tidal wavo Sunday, was removed short
distance and placed 10 upright position Tho im-
menso quantity Of rock takou from tho mine
before the explosion lea piled up In
the form OF horseshoe, walling in
marshy piece Of ground and presenting the
appearance OF fertilization II stands up ton
feet high and is aattened on top, forming q semi
circular roadway ~ and from tho water 'front.' AZ load
after load taken OF the mine and lard upon the
marshy ground IL OF its weight to = depth Of
ten feet before It reached nrm foundation.
General Newton und Captain Mercur present
during the day and 10 begin the work OF
dcmoIlshing Flood Rock possible. Mr..
Striedlnger was also there the government tug
STAR waiting for slack water to resume the soundings
commenced yesterday. FAIR weather and slack water
came the hour. and work commenced
A line sent ashore, marking the distancs
the boat stood out $50 oet this circuit the shan
dropped sixteen feet below mean low water, and
aitor moving short distance Of the
uphoavod rocks. II was raised to twelve feet, ard
another trial made. This time IL struck again, but
hgntIy the third trial was made At eight ee aud al
touna clear This the nearest point to shOr0 any
sOundnRs were made, as no vessel need approach 50
near We published IN our columns yesterday tabu.
lar statement OF the results oil the soundngs made
Monday. Tho work OF yesterday extends over 1fty
ieet and covers intermediate points be-
tween those already reported. Al $50 feet from
shore just inside the buoys the shalt sunk
twenty Ave feet and trial made The tide gauge
stood at five ieet above low water mark when the sha
struck. The result warning 10 vessels craving
much twenty feet Of water to keep outside Tue
lines marked by the outer buoy. Another trial at $40
feet from shore under the same tide gauge and depth
Of shaft showed clear passage Of twenty fect around
tho entiro swing Below vil be found the result OF
yesterdays work. II must be remembered that the
heures given do not represent the maximum but the
minimum depths calculated from the average low
mark.
AT $50 yxKr yKox saoRE
Feet:
Depth Of shalt ION third trial...... ............
Tue above low water mark. Z
AT $40 yKEr FROM SHORE.
Depth OF shaft. "a
Tide low water mark. k.......................
Depth st low watcr. "a
AT $50 FEET PROM SHORE.
Tide above low water mark.
DepIn OF low Water ~
$50
Depth OF shalt. -
TIDE aoov" low water mark k.....................
Deptn oi low water. ~
AT 400 FEET PROM
p,la pep'n a,s o. sna ,a
AT 420 yEEr PROM SHORE
pepth o. sna. ...................... -
iide ABOVE low water mark. .................
AT 440 FEox SHORE.
Another trial made but the current by this time
was strongbe work had to be abandoned No record
Is made OF the trial at $50 ieet whero the shalt struck
al 70 feet below low water mark AZ $40 feet, how.
evcr short distance beyond the outer buoys vessels
Of ~ feet drausht may pass with perfect safety.
Diving in the mine will be commenced to-day. Mr..
Stredinger and Of the chief divers will the
descent Their ooJect s 10 ascertan.the condition Of
the bottom oi the blast and to learn effect the
is done for the purpose of nding what kind dredges
will be necessary TO cloar away the shattered
rock is blown into small fragments most
OF the work Will be done with
viii require tho OF huge chains ana more powerful
hoistng apparatus, and possibly the additional aid Of
surface blasting The work to be accom- plished by shs
divers will enable tho officials to make proper esti-
mate tho amount OF labor to DO done by the drodgsrs
VINO NAV contract for the work OF removal.
In tie process OF drilling the roof rock for places to
insert the explosive cartridges ssuros
encountered, and ut other points leaked IN. Al
such places impossible to distribute the sx-
plosivss uniformly, and some large portions 0,
t"c displaced rock Will, II is expected,
be met with Anticipating such result. shsrt wai
prepared in advance marking out theso localities and
search Will be nado to-day 10 ascertain II the undrlcd
parts can DO found BY trIangulation the posltiou
Will be fixed on the wator's surface and marked BY
letting down heavy stone with line attached Down
this line the divers will 60 and begin the search. An.
other line will DO fastened 10 tho sunken stone BY the
aid OF which tho divers will be able circular
area around its base The results OF their work Will b
not only OF great benent In removing the stone but
will give tho officials the oi confirming the
correctness OF their calculations
THE SEWARD STATUE.