The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-05
The Tunnel Problem.
PROB ABLE ADOPTION OF A NEW PLAN TO RE-
COVER THE BURIED LABORERS- WILL TWO
PUMPS BE ENOUGH!

PROBABLE ADOPTION OF A NEW PLAN TO RE-
COVER THE BURIED LABORERs- WILL TWO
PUMPS BE ENOUGH?
New York Herald. yes,erday.I
The slight progress made during the past
few days in the work OF recovering the
bodies OF the twenty laborers who two weeks
ago to-day were buried beneath a mass OF
mud and iron sixty feet below the surface
OF the water BY the caying in OF the Hud-
son-Riyer tunnel, in jersey City, brought
about another conference yesterday be-
tween the officials in charge Of the work,
which will to-day result probably in "A
change OF plans.
Since saturday last the cofier-dam has
been 10 a depth OF fifteen feet perfectly clear
of water and mud and all the necessary
cross braces were in position. 30 that The
top might be strengthened as the excavation
was made deeper; but in the three days that
have passed no greater depth has been OBJ
tanned on account OF the water which ills
the excavation. The water, it is believed,
enters from the river through the old bulk
head, and, although at low tide the rotary
pump and Sipbon can keep the pit iolerably
free from wafer. at high-tide the place nils
up again lust as the air-ock in the shaft
did before the door and dcaGeyes were
closed.
Since Sunday it has been apparent to
those in charge that il the water could not
be controlled the work OF recovering the
bodies through the cOtler-dam, II ever suc-
ccssful would not be ACCOMPLISHED Tor a
/ long time. A new pump was ordered. and
| last evening it was being placed III position.
The two pumps will then be worked at an
aggregate capacity OF $500 gallons per
minute. and il that fails 10 control the Wa
ter then the present plan OF recovering the
bodies will have to be altered.
At the conference yesterday were PreSi-
dent Hoskin; Mr.. Charles Loveioy, who Is
building the Golfer dam; Mr.. Brush, the
engineer in charge Of the tunnel; Superin-
tendent Anderson Superintendent Hill, oi
the Erie railway; and Professor Lee. q
veteran engineer, who raised the wrecked
vessels at Sebastopol. The plan considered
by the gentlemen was that first suggested
after the accident-the use of compressed
air. A portable cassOn, It was unani-
mously agreed, would not be success
fnl, but it was thought that il the
water in the dam could not be con.
trolled bv the pumps it could be got out
by building a stationary caisson. Thi:
could be accomplished by flooring the dam
putting in IN air-Ock in perpendicular
position, through which the compressed ail
could be applied, and by the use OF the all
the water and silt below the flooring coulC
be blown out through siphOn.
This is the method used in clearing on
the tunnel. and the plan seems 10 recon-
mend Itself TO all present; but it was de
cided not 10 settle the matter positively
until it was found how the additional pumI
works to-day. Engineer Brush said TO
Herald reporter that he considered the plaT
a good one. Before putting il into operation
the door and deadeyeS in the alr-lock at th'
bottom of the working shaft would b.
made secure. 80 that the chamber below
the flooring OF the cOiier-dam would b
entirely ar-tigb', and then. after the com
preSses air had accomplished the work o
expeling the water aud mud, the men wb'
would be put to work could, after rcmov
ing the municipalities from where the bodle
are buried, take the dead out through tb
air-lock in the shaft, or that through wbicl
they had enteie ed, into the cOfier-dam. Wha
time the work would take he said he coul'
not tell positively, and he did not care t.
DTOphesy.