The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-29

employed and the work begun jus; soon as the ap-
preparation may legally be expended In order TO un-
derstand just when the work will be commenced,
how much the sum given will accomplish ard the
difficulties that be ncountersd 1t will be neces
to state briefly the object be achieved As most
readers of The HERALD aware the harlem River and
spuyten Duyvil Greek form continuous waterway
about eight miles long, connecting the East Riverwit
The Hudson and separating Manhattan Island from
the mainland OF Wcstchester county. The tide ebbs
and flows through this strait from bota rivers and It
is essentially an arm OF the sea l.cns ociorc the
Revolutionary War this channel was navigateu
wharvos lined its banks, and produce lumber and
other materials thence shipped in schooncrsto
the city OF New York, lyng at the remote lower emu
OF the island DuriDg the Revolution both tho
British and American armies used the strait Tor the
transportation OF supplies 1t continued to DO nav-
gable until 1918, when the Legislature granted Robert
Macomb PERMISSION to erect dam al the site OF
the bridge which bears his name The
charter provided that passageway for vessels should
be ict but Macomb violated this provision and shut
out all navigation. In 1855 tho Croton Water Com
mssoners determined TO convey the water across the
river about a milo above tue dam, and upon some
what similar structure.
WHY HIGH BUILT
By the opposition OF public spirited citizens this
scheme prevented from being carried into cxecu-
ton, and by an act of the Legislature tho Commits
sioners were compelled the Harlem River by
aqucduct with arches OF at least eighty feet span
and less than 100 feet from the usual high water
OF tho river to the under sdc OF the arches at
the crown, and thus tho present High Bridge came
being. Even this, however, IS an impediment to
navigation account OF the bris span OF It's arches.
tho abuments oil which offer great resistance 10 the
currents About the time work was begun on the
bridge party OF citizens appointed u committee Tor
at npat,u vpnft IN aeon
tore down portion oil it, permitting flow OF water.
Tie bridge by which the dam was replaced while less
objectionable still offers obstruction to the flow OF
water and is in the way OF navigation.
The importance OF a FREQ ana navigabe stream be-
tween tho TWO great rivers then very early recog-
n.zed In 1927 company was incorporated 10 con-
struct u canal from spuyten Duyv Greek TO Harlem
River and to improve tho latter stream SO as TO afford
easy navigation between the Hudson and the East
rivers Nothing done by this company although
the allowed Tor the construction OF canal was
extended from two years to seven years or more
From that period until few years ago the municipal
and State governments from time to time ordered
surveys plans OF proposed pier lines and granted
Charters but the stream is still narrow and muddy as
ever. and means OF communication between the
I've rivers is not as practicable as hundred
years ago
THE FUTURE HEART OF NEW YORK.
Harlem River and Spuyten Duyvl Greek ran
through tho geographical centre OF tho city Of Now
| York--a centre ABOUT which In time tho popuia-
ton will doubtless cluster densey. This fact speaks
volumes for It's importance for It's commercial value
| 10 the future. The development and building up Of
Westminster county, which has received such
| petus from the establishment Of rapid transit will
the transportation OF immense Quantities
oil lumber, brick and other building materials to That
region, and these may be discharged directly
| from the vessels upon the most conven-
| lent points along the Wcs.chester shore.
| Tho advantages that must dow from hav-
! ing SO much water front. where vessels from
Europe may lie and be loaded with grain directly
from tho canal boats which 1t is brought from the
| INTERIOR and channel which shortcns tho distance
between tho North and the waters OF the Sound
bv saving vessels coming from the Eastern States
about twenty miles OF tedious expensive and unsafe
navigation OF the crowded rivers, have oil been dis
cussed In these columns and doubtless familiar TO
our readers.
| Tue three principal things TO DO dore In order to
practically achieve these results are, hrst the re
moval OF the rocks that lie In the mouth OF the Har
lem where Joins the East River, opposite RanaaIl'a
Island second the dredging and lat points, widening
of tho Harlem and third, the construction OF cut"
| or canal from the Harlem 10 the Hudson.
WHEN WORK
Surprising that nothing shall arise to prevent the
route now most favoraby considered from being
ried tn rough operations will BIO commenced in all
probability within u few weeks. THIS ''out' is the
N est important portion OF the proposed improve
ment and VIII be the first undertaken. portion OF
| H. near the Harlem Rivor-ii the proposed limo be
iouowcd-wili be through limestone rock and another
| portion through marsh meadows. General Newton
| will begin his attack upon the rocky portion. The
work wall be OF the character known dry blastn
| A dam 8l vi rrA h0 cut
depouches into the Harlem viii prevent the waters OF
that stream from lowing IN, and ditch or water.
way from three hundred and n.ty to four
hundred feet wide and eighteen feet be.
low mean low water, will be constructed. Al.
though the plans call for depth OF only litcen
feet 1t is tho intention to rock every where
in the river VOL as in tho QUITO the depth Of
eighteen ieet, so that II IL should be deemed neces
sary hereafter 10 obtain greater draught can b.
doae by simply dredging tho bottom.
| WHAT WILL COST.
With tho 5000 600 which will be at his disposal Gen
era Newton thinks he will be able to SO. ooo
cubic yards OF rock. That will be sui carry
cut about one halt the along which the
portion Of the extends aud about OF the
eutire distance from the Harlem to tn Hudson Tht
cost OF the entire 'cut 10 estimated by General New
ton al 5000 Many who have heard Of the pr posed
cut wonder the widb which seems TO them greater
than necessary. Tho object Of making the cnaun oil
so wide is to permit OF the easy exchange oil the
tides between the two rivers. Owing TO Tho
rock obs the bottom and the extreme
rowncss OF the channel at klngsordge there is nc
free exchan nee OF tide betwes a The Harlem ana the
Spuytcu Duyvii at present. Ga the contrary there
practical dvIdo or ridge In she waters not FAR IRON
Foroham Bridge, and there Is, IN consequences,
SCOUT OF current upon the bottom IN Two direc.
tionstoward the East River and tow ard the HUDSON
The simultaneous TIDAL curves, as well MS The differ
enco OF an levels clearly show that the prepondcr
nnce OF sscour tends toward the Hudson, and simply
requires the removal OF the obstacles to tho tidal now
now efisting between the head OF Harlem River and
Spuyten Duy vii Creek to assume Its natural drecticn
General Newton explains that II communication
between these streams should be made OF
width small IN comparison with that OF the Harlem
idai exchange would take place, aud the present
state Of things would still cxst-tbough there hi
be some odncatiop Tor the bcttcr--and sboal cor
IespondIng TO tho position OF TIC "dlvideU would re-