The daily gazette., 1882-10-20
RAhstsf PlEns.
Fishing for Stones at Marcus Hook--Tbe
Government Work There-w aiting for
the II. Il d. Road.


Government Work There-w aiting for
the b. d D. Road.
The Marcus Hook folks are once more
happy. The lost pier, which suddenly took
a header into the mud some weeks ago has
been found and a greater portion of II fished
from the bottom of the river. II lay en-
bedded in the mud 1S or ~ feet below the
surfaces at low tide. Many Of the stones
were broken loose from the mass, but the
whole pier undoubtedly toppled and fell over
In one lump. tf
A scow and dredging machine belonging
to William W. Taxis OF Philadelphia has
been at work one week under the direction
Of United States Engineer Locke of this
city and already a large-number of the huge
granite blocks and Jumps of concrete, used
to fill In behind the stretchers, have been
brought TO the surface and piled on the old
landing and the small old Ice pier adjoining.
The scow is taken to the site of the upset
ice pier, where 1t is loaded with stones, then
pulled inshore and unloaded. Good head
way is being made and 1t will not be long
ere the whole pier will be recovered. The
stones were laid dry and fastened to each
other with iron clamps or braces this shape
n, smelted lead being poured around
them to hold in position. The clamps were
made of iron about " of an inch thick and
IN lnCutb Wiue, Jut ltuBbu IOOL AQU
the Tapped ends about 2 inches long.
The cause of the disaster is said to be very
clear, and an old resident of the Hook, In
| conversation yesterday, said 1t didn't sur
prise him one whit when the pier toppled
over "For," said he, s'it was only built as
an experiment, and costly one 1t has
proven. Had there been any heavy ice last
winter both of the lower piers would have
gone as they just rest on the top of the
piles. AS 1t is, the companion Of the fallen
pier Is fast settling, and 10 one would be
surprised at any time to see 1t roll over and
out OF sight"
The two piers, built little over a year
ago, were placed upon 192 piles, driven
within two and three feet of each other. ac-
cording to position, and sawed off even
eighteen inches below low water. On top
of the piles platform was built and the
stones placed on that. The theory Is that
the piles were not driven sufficiently through
the mud, and one side having settled the
stone work lost its balance, so to speak, and
came to grief.
The four old piers, further up the stream,
built shortly after the war, were built upon
a different plan and are apparently as good
as when first put up, although one of them
was badly Jared and had some stones
badly loosened at one time by being struck by
the steamer Illinois of the Pennsyl anis
line.
The old piers were, built upon cribs, con-
structed on shore and taken out and sunk
In position. When the crib settled, being
one piece, the settling was uniform and not
irregular as with the plain piling plan.
I The government engineers are very re-
ticent about the whole matter, and IL Is said
I is very desirable on their part that the
story of the "lost" pier be kept as "mum"
as possible. In fact, those having charge
of the construction of the last two piers are
rather chagrined at the failure of their
work. or course the government will lose
the cost of the construction, will foot the
bill for fishing the stone from the river, and
pay for the re - tioss Of the pier. II Is moi
known when the work will be commenced
or upon what plan 1t will be done. 1t is al.
most too late this season to do much, ifany-
thing, and the probabilities are that when
spring comes there will be two piers to re-
build instead of one.
The Marcus Hookers don't worry much
about the matter, as it gives them work
during the "of'' season.
Proposals for an eighth pier have been
received and opened and possibly the con-
tract has bea awarded ere this by the de-
partment at Washington. 1t will be located
on line with the inside row of other piers,
landing place. There were but two bidders
Frank Pigeon of New York-for crib pier,
$40 900 pile pier, $4,000. Leiper 81 Lewis,
Chester-crib, $4,000; pile, Sl4 900. The
Chester firm will no doubt do the work, oi
course provided sufficient security is given.
On Wednesday afternoon one of the gov
ernmcnt coast survey vessels spent several
hours In taking surroundings and running
lines in the vicinity of the sunken pier
At the end of the second landing is the
old and smallest pier of the lot. 1t Is about
half the size of the others and nearest shore
The stones In 1t are fastened in the same
manner as those in the one now being
grappled for. The clamps, however, are
made of round copper about three-quarter:
of an inch in diameter. On the top course
of stones all but two pieces of the copper
have been removed at different times by
thieving men and boys, who have stolen the
metal to sell as junk. The twopieces leftare
hacked and bent and so firmly imbedded in the
stones as to be secure. At the right hand
upper corner the large stone has beer
pushed several inches out of place by bal
used in wrenching out the copper.
The residents of Linwood or Marcus Hook
or Marcus Hook or Linwood which ever it is
are anxiously awaiting the action of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company.
Two lines have been run In the vicinity fol
the new road. One passes midway between
the p, w. 81 B. station and the river, while
the other passes over mile to the westward
of the present station. Land is held at good
figures and property owners are smiling at
the prospective raise IN prices of real estate
''If the road runs through the place, all
right ; If it does not, all wrong" they say