Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-17
The Engineering Operations at He'll
Gate.
Leslie's Newspaper.

AcoHc newspaper
The engineering operations for the
removal of the distractions iu the
East River and Hell Gate, New York.
are making satisfactory progress. The
work, as will be remembered, was be-
gun In 1866, and it was nine years
before any visible or practical results
were shown. Then thousands of tons
OF rock were blown out of the water
the explosion being so successful as to
place the final removal of the obstruc-
tons Beyond all doubt.
The obstruction known as He'll Gate
consists of series of reefs and rocks
In the East River, where they have
long been menace to vessels passing
to and from Long Island Sound. The
water ranged from five to twentvssix
feet at mean low water. As early as
Io4o II was estimated that one sal, I'm
fifty was hurled upon the rocks and
wrecked, and one naval officer WAC
was locsted there for two months re-
ported that fifty went ashore during
that time.
The first explosion removed a reef
containing about three acres, while
the Middle Reef (Flood Rock upon
which work is now being prosecuted.
contains nearly nine acres. Since
august OF last year the operations al
this point have been confined to ex-
tending the galleries in the northeast
ern section of the rock, comprising
about three-quarters of an acre. and
drilling the holes in the reef and pill
lars for the final blast.
The work of extending the galleries
has been completed, and all the holes
for the final charges having been
drilled. The charging of the holes
was begun during the month of July,
and 1t is expected will be completed
about Oct. 1, 1885, at which time the
blast will be fred.
A reporter of the New York World
who penetrated to the bottom of the
suoterranean chambers, furnishes this
description of the work: ''There are
nearly four Eailes of tunDeling, or
exactly 81, $40 feet. The longest gall
leries are four blocks long, or 1 200
feet. You can walk Under the rock
and water distance equal to strolline
from the Battery up to Forty-second
Street. In all, "a galleries of tunnels
have been run from north to
south. These are intersected
by forty-six others, running nearly
east and west. The tunnels are on an
average ten feet from floor to ceiling
and six or eight feet wide. The roof
of rock they support is from 10 to 25
feet thick. The rock taken from them
measured $4,000 cubic yards as it Law
in its original bed The 467 huge pill
lars and roof that remain measure
275, 600 cubic yards as they stand. In
making these galleries, assures of
water were met with, but they were
all successfully plugged. All through
these galleries and corridors workmen
nave bored holes nine feet deep and
three inches in diameter. The 467
rude columns that remain have been
also honeycombed with holes. Alto
gesher there are IL, 1856 holes, or one
for every working day In the year for
four years. These holes are being
filled with dynamite and powder
cartridges. When the loles are full
everything will be blown up. One
conclusion will ignite every cart
ridge. The explosive compound does
not need fire TO touch it. A pistol or
big frecracker exploded ia any gallery
would send everything skyward. So
the greatest care is exercised in hand~
ling the cartridges. The chances are
about even that one of them dropped
would explode. Of course that would
send every person in or about the
tunnels to eternity. There are 275,-
900 pounds of cartridges to be handled.
Placed in line, they would reach
twenty-five miles. The previous ex-
plosion at He'll Gate was effected with
80, 900 pounds"
The entire amount thus far expend-
ed on this great work has been S. 1872
O43. 81 and it is estimated that 81, 602,-
963.67 will be required to complete
the work, which has been so well
conducted that General John Newton,
who has had charge of it, will make
lasting reputation as an honest and
efficient engineer.