The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-12
IMPROVEMENTS TO NAVIGATION.
COLONEL MENTIONS REPORT TO THE CHIEF OF
ENGISEEgs-THE WORK IN AND ABOUT HE'LL
GArE-THE HARLEM RIvER--THE SOUTH


provements in the neishborhood of New York city
has been received by the Chief of Engineers and is
under preparation tor transmission to Congress.
The original estimate for the work at Hell Gate was
SIS. $780, 40 and there has been appropriated up to
date So. 53S 200 of which there has been expended
S2.OS4.7l1. During the year just completed there
was expended sl97.975. leaving on hand for future
work. after allowing for liabilities. s3309s9. The
estimate the next fiscal year is $4,000 and the
total amount required for the completion of the i'm
proyement is se.Gl5.07s.
The next labor will be on Diamond Reef which
contains an area oc about and half acres. and
is covered for the greater portion OF its surface by
formation of clay gravel. sand. powders and con-
crestd mass through, which the bed rock occasion
ally projected Work has not hitherto been rcgu-
larry conducted upon this reef; at times only when
operations ceased for time upon Coenties Reef and
others the drilling scow has been put to work upon
the outlying portions OF tho bed rock. 1t was
finally determined to resume operations and pur-
sue them steadily until the whole should be re-
duced to the proper level. After Frying Pan. in
He'll Gate. shall have been removed the next posi-
ton will be upon Pot Rock. which will conclude
the channel reefs enumerated in the original report.
1t is designed rst to excavste under the lower por
ton of tho Middle Reef. including Negro Head. as
by this operation alone great step toward radical
Improvement will have been acco mplished.
The amount OF rock excavation has been small for
the past year, owing to the necessity of purchasing
and establishing entirely plant; but the
larger facilities furnished will insure u quick
progress. With every advance OF the galleries. also.
increased area of operations il developed.
At Halletts Point the total amount of rock
moved since the final blast is 81 029 gross TONS
leaving about 200 tons to be removed. Advantage
has been taken OF the absence or the dredging
machines to mako an examination OF the reef by
means of the sweep. The shoalest point found is
lat feet below mean low water. while over that
part OF the reef to which the dredging has been
principally confined the depths vary from about 81
to % feet the required depth of 26 feet having been
obtained over large part OF the reef.
FLOOD ROCK.
At tho beginning of the year the mine was full OF
water, having been since the stoppage of work
December 81. 1876. The pumps were put III place
and the water removed. 1t was found that numerous
seams had opened in the walls aud roof. which
quired timberng to prevent the piers and roof rock
from falling. The broken rock which was taken
from the mine used for building island large
enough to give place for machinery for carrying
on the work, and SO placed as to serve for dyke
for DETECTING the ebb tide from the tiridiron and
Middle Reef until they are removed. When all the
machinery o in position is proposed to increase
the present rate Of working about four times
more if the amounts appropriated from year to
year justify it.
Tho drilling scow placed on Diamond Reef
and located on the eastern edge. The divers
ported small areas of rock exposed, and the dome
was lowered for drilling. The drills. however.
struck through to sand at three to six feet, and
proved the rock to be only embedded powders.
Further examination showed the whole northeastern
portion Of the reef, nearly an acre in extent and
comprising about two-thrds of its whole area, to be
of the same character, bed of stiff clay and &C.
mented sand. filled with rounded powders OF all
sizes up to twenty or thirty tons weight. and
cavation. Upon reporting this fact received
authority to try the efficacy of streams of water
the material and loosening the powders. The ex
pertinent tried at slack water, the divers guild
ing the hosepipes which were dashed to spars held
down from above, and was tar satisfactory that il
was decided TO purchase large pump and arrange
for working it constantly. With this apparatus.
which requires four or five men Tor handling it, no
difficulty was found in working in the strongest
tideway under twenty or thirty feet of water. and
with fully rs much effect as upon dry land.
THE HARLEM RIVER.
In regard to the Harlem River Colonel Newton
says:- s~
In addition to the appropriation Of $500. OO0 made
June IL, 1878, there appropriated by the act of
March 8. 1879. 100000. Both of these appropria-
tons arc subject to proviso that the amounts
not to be available until the right Of
way is secured to the United States free
of cost. AS money could be expended from
these appropriations an allotment made
from the appropriations for examinations, surveys
and contingencies of rivers and harbors for the pur
pose OF making detailed surveys OF the different
routes for cutting canal across the mainland to
connect the hudson and Harlem rivers. These
routes were laid down the map, and holders of
property affected by the proposed cut we're addressed
by letter to ascertain If they would cede to the
United States their claim to the property. AS but
few signihed their Willingness to do so. measures
were taken by persons interested in the improve
u
State Legislature which provided for the ap
pointing Of commission to benefits and
damages and to condemn such land may be
necessary for the proposed cut canal. Sincethis
bill became law detailed maps and descriptions of
each piece of property in any way affected by the
proposed cut have been in progress of preparation
to DO submitted to the Supreme Court, this being
necessary before the commissioners can be APP
pointed The estimate for fifteen foot channel is
$2.l00000.
SOUTH LONG ISLAND.
In conformity with resolution of the House of
last session Colonel Newton has made q report on
the improvements necessary along the south coast
of Long Island. between Rockaway Inlet and Coney
Island Point. He says:-
The coasts of Long Island and New Jersey meet
ing at the bar at Sandy Hook. limit water area
which is exposed to the sevcrest gales which DESC
late this coast The line specified under the resolu-
ton is but five and one-half miles in length. from
the point of Coney Island to Rockaway Inlet. and
every part of It bong III the immediate neighbor-
naturally arise. What necessity. under such crcum
stances could there be for the construction of a
breakwater? obviously only under the contingency.
which would belong to . very severe storm. OF the
waves breaking on tho bar and thus preventing
tue passage or the tempest tossed vessels
ton for a breakwater under this aspect of
things along the portion OF the coast under
consideration would DO west of Rocklway Inlet in
five fathoins of water. the line facing southeast.
This line would. if prolonged ntersect at short dis
and would thus have its TANKS protected from dan
gerous seas. Rockaway Inlet. however. is continu-
ally advancing WESTWARD, accompanied by immense
shoals OF moving sand. which gradually restrict
ing and may finally obliterate the deep water
suitable for brcakwatcr aud now lying between the
inlet and Concy Island Point. rendering it necessary
thereby to fix the location in deeper water and In
more exposed position. No permanent. Improvement.
based upon fixing in lite present position the course
OF the inlet. is possible and no improvement should
be contemplated which aims at than tempor-
airy benefit. by works undertaken ut infrequent and
irregular intervals. with the object of insuring u
reasonably direct discharge over tho bar. break
water, IL constructed. would not be the por
ton OF coast examined for the protection of To-
cal commerce. Its position would be distant from
the shore of Long Island. between this and Sandy
Hook. in water OF hve or six fathoms deep at low
tide. and its object would be the protection of gem
eral commerce aud OF coasters between the New
England and Southern States There appears to DO
n great deficiency OF places of refuge between Della
Bay aud the east end of Long Island Except in
lets OF shallow draft suited to the small els
ployed i'll local commerce. which in the future will