New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-27
WORKING TOWARD THE TUNNEL.

NEW OBSTACLES EVERY DAY-DELAY WITH THE
Observation-Disclosures OF THE CRowDs-1HE
CoPFEH-DAM ADVANCING.
There were few sightseers about the grounds OF
work begun on Sunday was continued. although the
advance made much less rapid than was antlcl-
mated. The pile-driver. which was started on
Sunday. was put to work at 4 o'clock
yesterday morning, and cot along without accidents
through the whole day, although the ples driven
scarcely averaged one an hour. Ii had been hoped
10 start the second pe-driver also in the morning
but il was found that the engine which had met
with mishap the day before, could not be repaired
for several days SO II was abandoned. and the en-,
CINE of a floating pllc-driver moored III the canal
dock was arranged to act as its substitute. lt re-
CURED a long time to move the second pile-drlyer
into position and to rig the ropes connecting with
the engine far away from II, but the thlng was
done finally, and the first pile was driven
by the second machine at o'clock p. H.
About 100 men were employed at the coffer-dam
yesterday: piles were being taken 10 the ground,
unloaced aud carried to a convenient position as
rapldly as possible, and the scene was busy one.
As the work was going. there was ple-drver at
each side of the proposed cOffer-dam, next TO the
working shaft. from which lines OF piles we're beng
driven outward. Ii has been determined to extend
these lines a distance of twenty feet from the
shaft besides putting down number along the
shaft itself, III order to protect that portion OF ne
wall from which the earth IN the coiter-Cam will he
removed. When that much is competed the
pumping and digging will begin, while the rest OF
the coher-dam IS bnldlne A large pump with tne
capacity of raising 300 gallons of water minute
is expected TO be on the ground this morning. ana
this it is claimed will remove the water from the
hole as it goes down faster than it can flow III from
the uncncIosed end next the river. President'
Haskln said he thought that one'sde of the cnffer-
dam would be finished for a distance OF twenty
feet before the day over. The desire seemed to
be to get along rapidly possible. but the dong
of the work in an inverse ratio to that desire
I'VE have been working rather slowly and care
fully pear he walls of the shaft" said Mr. liaskin,
/" Tor fear of endangering them, hut we will soon
be past that point, and then can go along more
rapidly. Thus far the working shaft has sustained
40 injury whatever, either from the water or the
p;le-drlving think that now we have both pile
drivers gong can get ready to begin digging to-
morrow evening or by Wednesday morning. While
the digging. of course the pile-iriving VIII
be continued beyond them, that all the work will
be advancing together"
Inside the building there was sense of loneli-
ness. Down n the working shaft, the small pump
was running slowly, and man was engaged III
scrapIng the mud from the walls with hoe. The
TRIBUNE reporter went down TO the bOttom OF the
shaft which, although uninvitng, was interesting.
heavy, uuwhOlesOme atmosphere pervadcd the
place. and the visit was not long one. consider
able quantity of water was running from the bulls
ewes, but it was kept from rising above the plank
floor by the pump.