New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-20
WOPK Of DIIMOND REEF CONPLETED.

THIS TROUBLESOME OBSTRUCTION 10 NANI"N
hon REMOVED At LAST
Passengers ON the Hamilton and south ferries missed
an object Yesterday which had become a familiar
sight 10 them. II the United states steam anil
Sow General John Newton, which had been 'uhton'd
over Diamond Reef since November :. l7-J, WIN
the exception Of a few month, I'm the spring Of l7".
she wa towed to the rock oil Ilhr) our'h st.
in the East River yesterday and T. 40" stationed 100
yard. south Of the spindle or Man War Rock therr
Her departure from the position which she held - ohS
means the completion Of i most Important "oFh'
which i, Of grent value b. the vessels 0f deep drush1
which have their piers along the East hiN'F. ~"
nilots Of the tugs, fTrybOats, and sound steamers
hail the departure Of the scow for another reason. -
she was A great obstruction 10 navigation, beng
anchored in a busy part Of the channel she
WAS A necessary evil, and constant menace ~
on account Of her massive and heavy c"hstH'uOl' 4
collision with Der meant damage Ia The river craft III
variably There many such collisions, luchIy
without any serOu, results
4 fun description Of the scow and the work She Wa
doing was given IN The Tribune If sunday, August
20 1890 Diamond Reef, which she has now com
ulecly removed for all practical purposes. ~ 1t no"
a, twenty-sx feet Of water over II at mean low tde'
consisted Of separate rocky projections above '"'
twenty-.ix foot curve, having areas oi lOVcO ana
10000 ,dnarc feet respectively, with minimum
dcnth If :33 and 2O.- feet respectively, at mean
ipN
uroohlyn The surface OF the ref wa, covered WIN
and gravel and small bOulder-, which made tho
oueration Of dredging and blasting exceedingly am
ci,t The United states steam drilling 500" wa
uonrcd Oh this reef July 1859, began drilling july
10 and continued drilling and blasting nnt september
Is 1888 when she taken To the reef OF Thirty
thrdst on November Z, l7-J, the drlll roo" r.
turned and STAYED till Janu'ry ~ $780, and resumed
work on May 49, remaining until yesterday.
Atogeth,r 5Ol7.1a tons Ol rVk were removed
from fine bed OF the river The work exceedingly
tedious owing both 10 natural Disadvantages and Ia
local legal restrictions The hitter forbade the fling
of more, than twenty five pounds Of iorcitc No. -
which was the explosive used. at one time. The
condition of the bottom made IL Impossible to use u
dredgc aud the broken stone had to be loaded on IA
scoop by divers. The strength of the current per
mlttcd the divers 10 work only at slack water. which
lasted only II little AN hour each day. one
hundred and eighty eight holes were drilled their tta
deph being BAG feet. Twenty seven drill hodc blasts
and 45s surface blasts fred with II total eAIcn
dture Of 20 IA pounds Of forcitc NO - The expenses
incurred HID to the end 81 1890 SlOOOGi 30. Of
which 81 3j5 81 remained outstanding ut the close Of
the fiscal year. After completing work on Tie rock
on Thirty bird st. the scow Will begin NJ the reef on
Sunkcn Meadow. q. l.. Gillespie. lleutenant-Colonel
CORDS OF Englaocrs, T. =. A. has charge OF the work,
and responsible for all the harbor improvements