The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-06-13
THURSDAY, June u.

THURSDAY, June II.
On pleasant day it is well worth the trouble
of pull or the leisure of sail to visit the
scene Of the government operations at Upper
He'll Gate, Back River, land witness the manner
in which Uncle Sam improves the navigation
of important commercial marine highways.
Last January and February it will be remem-
bered that Boiler Rock was removed from the
entrance to the upper Gate by contractor Capt
Jas. Andrews of Bidderord. This gentleman
has the contract for the deepening of the main
channel still further by removing the surface
of the Hell Gate rock. This ledge is the scene
of operations atpresent and is ITO feet in
length, 80 feet in width, and from it's surface
an average of four feet is to be removed Boiler
Rock distant 300 feet from the ledge northeast
stretched across the channel so feet and was %
feet wide. From this rock an average of two
feet was removed AT the He'll Gate ledge
work has been under way for two weeks by
divers Augustus Palmer of Biddeford and
John Williams of Boston, both of whom are
experienced divers, with crew of nine men,
The lighter Frame of Bath is used and in the
lighter the men do the work and take their
meals, sleeping in wooden hut on the shore
A six horse power upright engine drives %
feet drill worked from heavy movable plat
form placed over the ledge near the boat. The
divers encased in their rubber dresses with
lead waist weights, brass helmet and copper
shoes, are lowered from the vessels side, drill
hole in the spot desired about one foot deep,
insert the cartridge of dualine and are taken
ON board. The vessel is removed from the
spot, the battery is charged and spark sent
along the connecting wire to the shell when
the explosion takes place. There is % feet of
water at high tide over the He'll Gate ledge
and an explosion only causes rise of water
about two feet above the surface. The con-
cusson, however, does execution beneath, fire.
quently covering the river with dead or stunn-
ed fish and breaking off fragments of rock, the
largest of which during the last two weeks
blasting weighed about four tons. This rock is
drawn from the river bed by chains and iron
baskets, thence carried by lighter to construct
break water at the Arrowsic camp ground, an
idea of Gen. Thorn. The men work about
nine hours per day and if the work continues
as rapidly as up to the present time the channel
will be made by Sept. 1. Two air pumps sup
ply the divers with air, and tools, crow-bars,
wrenches, ETC., are left on the bottom of river
as on the land Mr.. Palmer says he frequently
spears fishes with his crow-bar while down be-
low. Inc bed is covered with large eelS and
founders which manifest no fear of the intru-
der. Seals sometimes frequent the scene
but Mr.. Williams says as yet he has seen no
mermaids. Sixty tons of rock have been re-
moved during the period of the work The
men are decidedly hospitable and kind and
visitors are gladly welcomed.
Duprez & Benedict's minstrels are billed for
the 10Th.
Freight receipts-K. & Last Z, West TO-
M. Cast II, West Is cars.
Chas. Dunning will remove his billiard tables
and pool tables to Harpswell during the sum-
mer season.
Capt. Roberts of the schooner Mary Sands,
from Perth Amboy for Augusta with coal, now
in port reports having met the sail boat "Uncle
Sam" about 5 miles east of Cape Cod sailing to
the northeast. The captains wife dressed in
rubber was steerer
Ten tramps came in from the Brunswick
road this morning.
The sale of oil paintings opens Friday MORN
ing.
The lowest wages paid mechanics by Mr.
Shea is 50 per day-a good use of money
Deputy Marshal Longley with Officers Tib-
bets and Fife in response to telegram to Mar
shall Ballou, went over to Woolwich to look for
the assassin Haynes expected from Rockland,
but were unsuccessful.