The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-12
GENERAL MENTIONS LECTURE.

THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE EAST RIVER AND
IT'S IMPORTANCE TO NEW YoRK-sHowING
HOW HELL GATE WAS BLOWN UP.
large audience assembled in the hall Of the Cooper
Institute last nieht hear General John Newton lec
turc about the improvements being made In tho East
River and their future importance 10 York city.
Many well known citizens were among hts hearers.
Tho General introduced by the venerable Peter
Cooper
Upon the platform was the large battery with which
the mine He'll fred and also the 'conpect-
I'M frame" with which the circuit closed when all
was in readiness for the ignition Of the $4,000 pounds
OF explosives. Morse key, coils OF insulated wire
and feet long miniature in plaster Of the big
mine were tho other objects upon tho platform
which caught the eyes Of the spectators Tho
lecturer began with general discussion Of the
harbor OF New York, and the object and scope Of tho
improvements, accomplished ana proposed. in regard
TO The East Rivcr He'll Gate. He then gave brief
history Of submarine mining operations, description
OF tho principal explosive compounds In
and tho drills with which holes bored
for their reception. Some remarks on tunncing
and discussion Of the application of electricity to
the simultaneous explosion OF mines and the reasons
which led TO It's use az Hallctps Point followed rho
General performed a number OF explanatory expert
ments Great interest manifested by the audience
and hearty applause greeted the more striking points
Al the outset the General called the attention OF his
hearers 10 sketch OF the present approach to the
harbor and showed that vessel drawing more than
twenty feet oil water could leave or enter the port ut
all times On the other side, the Importance TO the
inccs oil having an approach TO New York BY
way Of Long Island Sound was referred TO-
1t had been stated by that there wcrc difficult
ties attending the navigation Of Long Island sound
which would ever prevent lis being used Tor the pass
age Of large vessels the dangers Of ,ogs increased
had been insisted upon by the opponents Of the chan.
mel As an unansweraolo objection "But where"
asked The General, us navigation over absolutely
saicY Is tho North River or the bar at Sandy Hook
free from ogsy"
EXAMPLE or CANADA
In discussing the question OF the navigation Of the
Sound by seagoing vessels the General reverted 10
the navigation tho ST. Lawrence River, which pre-
sents longer route. land locked, with fogs bead
lands and points not so well marked 0y
the lights as tho Sound. and with narrow
Peter, Montreal Tho objections which wore
urged against that river had not prevented an immense
vessels and all TO nearly 900 tons
burden, although the channel had depth OF but twenty
feet u low water and vessels could not pass
through the during the night Yet
the Canadian government has SO much faith IN
deepening Lake st. Peter and also the locks OF the
canals ut outlay OF about Sl2OU0,0o0 The RECORDS
OF the trade OF Montreal snow steady increase; aud
in 1875 when The gram trade Of New YORK ieil on
fully 20 COO 900 bushels that OF Montreal suffered but
slightly. cargo, the General SAID, mover
waited long Tor shipment II tho depth Of water
permitted the arrival OF a suitable vessel
In connection with tins the Improvement of tho Har-
| lem River was important When the channel shall be
cut through the Harlem, uniting the East and Hudson
rivers " would present line harbor for canal barecs
Railroads would establish depots and elevators there,
and vessels would soon follow.
in aduiton 10 tho com me REAL reasons for improving
Hell Gate, General argued that III tho event u an
i attempt 10 blockade the narbor Dy foreign naval
pow err II would be impossible 10 close two Approaches
During the winter months vessels in tue North River
were exposed 10 northwest gales and were endangered
by foniina leo crowding against their sides lnese
objections did not apply TO tho East River Besides
ali TINS medical regarded the western side OF New
YORK as best suited Tor dwelling places and that al
orded powerful reason Tor the location OF lactorle'
/ ana gtorehouscs on the eastern side.
| EXPORTS TO IMPROVE HILL GATE.
The lecturer proceeded TO recount the various
| ottcmpts made 10 remove the distractions al Hell
Gate from iS47 fwncn examination was made ana
report submitted TO CoDgrcssl until 1906, when I'M
i government directed General Newton 10 mako al