The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07
UGE THTvG AFIOAr
Tho Launching Of an Immense Golfer Dnm-
An Explanation of iis Workings.

At thirteen minutes past 0 o'clock yes
terday morning, Mr. John H. walshs enormous
floating Golfer dam the only thing Of tho Kind
in the world. glldcd smoothly down the ways
and into the East river, from the foot Of
1OGth street. 1t consists of four caissons,
two Of which form tho sides, lS9 feet
in length, and two at each end, standing at an
angle OF about % degrees from the ends, inclos-
ing a working space 30 feet in width by lj0 in
length. Each caisson Is Is foet wide, IS in
height, has three internal decks, and one on top,
all Of great strength and ia built throughout OF
the best yellow pine, with locust trenails and
galvanized iron bolts. In its construction
l,2JN,OOO feet Of timber. and 1000 trenals have
been employed. The weight is i,430 tons. Float
ing without tho machinery which is yet to be
placed upon IL, 1t draws little over seven feet
of water, and when fully fitted for service Is ex-
pected to draw about eight and half. 1t will
have in each Of tho side caissons. within bulk
headed compartments, two centrifugal pumps
II inch and inch-and a sixty-horse power on
ainc. On the upper deck will be a railroad track
for carrying pile driver, derrick OF immense
power. and other machinery to be used In the
construction of submarine walls and piers The
end caissons swing Ike gates upon gigantic
hinges. and are fitted with rubber packing. 80 as
to entirely exclude water when closed. All
about the Inside of the dam, at distances Of six
feet. are slotes to serve for direction of square
piles between which huge shutters move up
and down.
The caissons will be sunk by filling them with
water until the dam has settled probably six
feet IN the soft mud at the bottom, upon which
1t Is designed TO build. Then the piles. twelve
inches square and sixty feet long, will be driven
down as much further than tho bottom Of the
caisson as may be desired. and between them,
supported 10y them, the great shutters-hve feet
wide, thirty-hv feet long, four inches thick and
shod with iron-wll he forced down until solid
foundation Is reached Should this not be
found until at s!ill greater depth than seventy
feet from the surface of the water. longer piles
and supplemental shutters may easily be applied.
The pumps viii then II ia estimated, ted empty
of G"' thirty fest-iS fiiy.Sye minutes. & " Xiicr
this the work OF dredging To any desired
coed as easily a. though upon dry land. When a
section of wall l5O feet in length has been CONF
eO0OO gallons per minute viii speedily fro the
caisSons from water. and they. having a
ispaccment Of 5,OOD tons, Will rise to their or
dinary free draft of eight and one-half feet.
The piles and shutters will also be drawn up.
Ihon the entire dam viii be moved along - n
to take In space for another section of wall l0J
| ter to III Tho wall, will be hung upon tho side
| caissons aud closed upon the end Qf the COM
| plcted wall the dam Will be sunk. the piles
| and shutters forced down and the water pumped
out AS before, and the work Of construction
| ruption. II Is estimated by the builder that
from four to six hours will be ample time to
anchor the caisson Ia place and To sink IL ready
for WORK or tn move IL along on wall In pro-
ccess Of construction and sink ".
yesterday morning. Mss Nellie Walch chri-ten-
ed It " Tie Centennial" and AS bottle Of wine
chine which happening to be foremost, was
| considered the PROV, a iias bearing that name
sTSP TusS isS n Sp1 S'SS Sna si T. s
towed the dam to Corlear's Hook, where 1t was
laid up against the marble yard dock 10 receive