The New York herald., 1877-12-19
RACE ROCK.


WHAT THE UNITED STATES Is DOING FOR THE
SAFETY OF sAuoRs-A DANGEROUS REEF 10
DE TOPPED By BEACON LIGHT.
II an imaginary line be drawn due south from the
city Of New London, Conn, 1t Will strike, at point
bur little less than ten miles distant reef known as
Race Rock This reef lies in Fishers Island sound
and has At all times dangerous object to
the soaiarlng man who ignorant OF Its location.
SEVERED FROM THE MAINLAND
II is believed that at time this rock the
southwestern extremity OF Fishers Island, but the
action Of the surgng whitfield II of, bit by
Bit, from The mainland untilt stood alone. Between II
and the land swept and strong calm
weather, but when the gallo and the tide high
the sea ragged and roared about the hercey and
menacingly. Many vessel has shivered her timbers
upon this deadly rock, and many bronzed face has
looked troubled and anxious when tho noarse roar OF
the Race-by which name tho locality is best known
was heard.
GOVERNMENTAL RECOGNITION OF THE DANGER.
Doubtless the government had long been aware or
the danger attending commerce from the presence OF
Race Rock Ree-almoht In the track OF eastern bound
vessels whose course lay through Long Island Sound
but II was not until years ago that other steps
were taken make It less menace to mariners than
channel to the westward o the rock. Inls71 specin
cations we're drawn comprehending the erection OF
per ana light upon the reef The work OF construct
ing 1t was inrusted to Francis H. Smith, civil eng-
neer at No 35 Broadway, this city.
COMMENCED
On tho 9th day Of May, 1872, the work Of building
the pier was commenced. Submarine divers sounded
tho bottom and found there rock IL feet long,
AZ feet high and feet wide. At low tide Its
highest point was feet below the surface Of the
water From that day until now the work has
been carried on through great difficulty and danger
The attempts TO land material after The pier had risen
above the water attended often times with barren
results Tor tho heavy rolling sea would make 1t I'M
possible for vessel 10 lay alongside ana discharge,
aud at timos work would be suspended tor several
days by reason Of the rough weather The FIRST step
was 10 sink shipload after shipload of huge, uncut
stones around the rock in order to lay foundation.
THIS dumping OF stono was continued for year.
NEW METHOD ADOPTED.
But 1t was discovered the OF that time that
was cxpedlent 10 change the pan lar pursued ana
TO recommence tho work upon different mode OF
operation. The stones were, therefore, removed by
divers IRON the immediate vicinity ol The rock and an
unobstructed space upon the bed Of the Sound made
Upon this bed about eight thousand tons OF granite
blocks were set These blocks varied In size from
4 ieet square 70 by feet and BY feet. They
nm iudes,ructibls foundation was formed Upon thus
foundation WAS placed an iron band oneourth OF an
inch thick, feet high aud % feet IN diameter. The
interior filed with concrete. When this concrete
hardened, which II did In about iorty-egnt hours,
another iron band, GO feet III diameter, and still
anotner 63 feet diameter, the proportions other
wlse being the same US those oil the first band
also placed and filed with concrete. Tho surface of
the uppermost band was even with the surface Of the
water.
A breskwater formed arouno this foundation py
promiscuously piling huge blocks OF rough granite
against It. These blocks rise TO an average height OF
| perhaps hvo ieet above low water Wheu tho Con-
nectcut River "breaks up' IN the spting OF the year
imme nse masses Of ice como whiring out rs mouth,
| aud, striking eastorly curront, are swept win
great velocity the direction Of Race Rock TO
vent this foating ice from damaging the breakwater
the latter with square blocks OF stones
each weighing fourteen TONS inclined Mt an angie OF
forty.ly degrees made fast the granite blocks.
| PIER
The concrete and granite foundation and the breaKs
water being completed the buiaing OF the pier COM
menced 10 form this fourteen courses Of stone were
iaid the first niue courses being campcd with iron
and doyetaiied, and the remaining five courses
cIampcd but not dovetaiea. The stones IN the
| first course are about ieet square; those In
the others average about 2 feet SQUARE. a pier.
| 70 ieet high above low water mark and 3S icet
| IN diameter between It's parallels, is made by the
granite foundation, the concrete and the fourteen
reaches a point nine aud one-nalf icet below the
! coping capstones. AT that point 1t is open aud
s' Is The "ceiiar' Of the lighthouse, which is 10
surmount tbe per, and whose gnt will be seventy
tureo and onehali feet above low water
A cistern, having capacity oil $4,000 gallons o
water, has been sunk IN this "cellar," WHICH, 1t rs be-
/ lieved, will be kept supplied by the rainfall Upon
removing tho cover u the clstern there issues from
a dcicaning roar, used by the incessant beating
OF the waves upon the foundation Of the per- " was
originally intended TO have swo csterns, but the plan
was aba doned. Ii Is undersood thar the light
will be OF the second order and the lighthouse built o
/ granite brick.
/ WHARF.
Facing the southwest shore of Fishers Island Is
wharf Guilt out the pier and made Of solid ma
soury. lis dimensions are 53 ieet long and 20 ieet
wide mt the bottom 81 feet long ana rs ieet wide al
| the top; height above low water mark IL ieet
In tue wnari and pier AZ, 900 cubic i,et OF cut
stone 1000 cubic eet OF rough stone and $4,000 cubic
| feet or concrete.
The entire cost OF constructing pier, wharf and ligh
will fall but little below $500, 900. The structure II
the first OF the kind built by tho government
| The WORK has been supervised by MIR. +. L. Meyer
Assistant superintendent of the Lighthouse Depart
partment Captain Thomas Scott, Of New London
famous as q wrecker, is sub-contractor under Mt
Smith
lNn THE QUARTERS FOR THE MEN.
| The men employed upon the Pier 1.-Two in tempo
| rary wooden house upon the wharf Aside from the
Isolation and the dangers surrounding them they ar,
comfortably situated and appear to De jolly an'
contented as though safely housed on land. In De
cember 1876 their quarters were carried away by III
gale ana the sea. incy crawled the ..cellar'' 0
their pier and sheltered themselves with sail which
fortunately, they had. For iorty-eight hours they la!
| there without iOod or lire. Al the end OF that tim
their peril made known by signals and they wer
rescued by surf boats.
| During the past Ave years not n man OF them ha
been injured, although at times their work was pros
ecuteu In the face OF great danger.
1t is not Yet decided when tho work OF building tn
| ighih house will commence Up to that point th
| work IS finished.
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