Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-09-28
Effects of the BIast as HaIIott's
Point.

Effects of the Blast at HaIIotts
Point.
New York Herald. Sol
In order to form a correct esti-
mate of the result of the great
explosion on the Halletts Point
Reef we must first recall in our
memory its condition previous to
the commencement of the excava-
tions. 1t was then a well recog-
nized danger to navigation /; its
ragged shelving surface, projecting
outward into the channel of He'll
Gate, was like a great trap set for
the unwary navigator, to touch
which was destruction. The shall
low water that whirled over it had
sufficient velocity to draw a vessel
right on its most dangerous ridges,
and in order to avoid it the pilot
was compelled to steer so close to
other distractions that it became
merely a choice between two evils,
both equally threatening. Now,
however, the series of carefully
made soundings over the site of
the reef shows that this monster
obstruction has been completely
shattered. The columns that sup
ported the rocky roof and the roof
itself lie in fragments at the bot
tom of the great excavation, like
the ruins Of a mighty temple
crumbled almost into dust by the
shock of an earthquake. here
the shallow currents rolled over
the reef the sounding line now in
dicates a depth of water in which
an iron-clad might float in safety,
and, instead of edging away from
the shore and risking destruction
in order to avoid it, the steersman
can bring his vessel within fifty feet
of Hallett's Point without endan-
gering her. Such is the result
of General NeWton's work at
He'll Gate. At one blow
he has demolished the rocky struc-
ture that has taken untold ages to
form, and opened wider the gate of
the river for the commerce of the
future. But let us not grow too
sanguine of final success over the
rocks and reefs of He'll Gate be-
cause one of them has been con-
quered last Sunday. The great
blast that was witnessed with exul-
tation by so many thousands New
Workers was but the opening gun,
as it were, Of the great battle. We
have carried an important position
and have demonstrated the skill of
our engineers in this initial success,
but many explosions must take
place before the distractions of the
channel cease to be. Here let us
suggest that in future a short
sighted and false economy should
not be permitted to delay the pros
ecution Of this grand undertaking.
Until it is completed we cannot
boast that we possess in reality all
the advantages Of a perfect system
Of water ways which are necessary
to the prosperity of New York.
The He'll Gate channel must be
thoroughly cleared of all its OBJ
structions and present a perfectly
safe inlet and outlet for ships of the
heaviest tonnage. With a highway
for commerce so free from danger d
wonderful change will take place in
the appearance of the upper East
river. Great steamships and tall
masted banks will line the wharves.
Factories, villages and cities will
cover the now vacant spaces on
Long Island and Winchester close
to the waterline and send their
productions to the shore for ship
ment to every part of the globe.
New York will spread over such an
area as will make her the rival, in
size as well as wealth, Of the great
English metropolis.