The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-23
.l4nost Dlfncult Engineering Project
Oh Point Judith
WORK is PROGRESSING RAPIDLY.
Usefs IA, 900 Tons Of stone Already In
Positton-some Interesting Features
Of tho Undortaking-The Most Serious
Obstacles Are Ground swelis.

Work on the new break water at Point
Judith is progressing rapidly. over 1900
tons OF stone having been placed In posi-
tion. The contractors are Hu his
Brothers g. Bangs. The building OF this
break water is the most difficult engineer
ing project ever undertaken on the coast
Of New England.
The work has been divided into three
divisions. The first ofthese Is the quarry
from which the stone for the breakwater
IL obtained. The second embraces all the
nautical work for the safe delivery and
return of the tug aud scows. And the
shird relates TO the unloading OF the
scows at points along the lines OF work
designated by the United States in-
7pector. The quarry is known as
Hazards quarry, aud Is situated on the
west side OF Nara ,ansett bay. In the
town of North Kingston. and l2 miles
south BY water from the breakwater.
Over 100 men, assisted by steam diills,
are engaged in getting OUT the stone after
zach successive blast. There are from
two to half dozen blasts each day. The
work IN this division will be trebled next
year.
on squid Ledge.
The particular point OF the breakwater
Just now under construction is at the
southerly end Of Squid ledge. at what is
callea the east aud west wings, and.
whers the structure makes curve to
the east on o line with the old buoy set
to mark the reef The present plan
adopted by both the inspector and super
intsndent, is, II Is understood, to finish
~ nearly a. possible each portion Of the
wall OF the breakwater before proceed ing
TO smother part of the work.
The most serious obstacles yet encoun.
tsred are the frequent ground sweils,
caused either by a heavy storm at sea,
often many miles away. or from heavy
southerly winds nearer home.
How the scows Work.
The scows mcst frequently employed
nt present are what are known as self
bumpers, each scow being divided into
i've or six compartments Of over 100 tons
capacity. Each compartment can be dis
charged Independently Of the other. This
greatly facilitates the even distribution
ofthe sfonea
In dischars ing these scows two modes
of procedure are employed-one known as
the running and the other as the station
ary dump. In the running dump the
tug, BY means OF the long tow hawser.
draes the scow over the top Of the sub
merged breakwater until the first point
1esired 10 reached.
Thsn the tug lays to. or moves ahead
- speed sufficient to hold her steerage.
way, and theGypsy engine. a new appliance
latsly added to the tug and situated in
the aftermost part Of the hold, puts
powerful capstan, also after. in motion,
which has had rove round 1t the towing
haws sr, and the dump IL slowly drag ged
from point to point, as compartment is
discharged, until all are free of their
cargo
The stationary dump, so-called, is a
much more tedious affair, for the scow,
after being placed, has to DO carefully
moored with two or three anchors t.
keep her In position. and the getting
them up after the dump In completed
takes up much time. Indeed, some two
hours difference are counted upon be-
tween the two modes. In the former case
nix or seven hours are required to 70 from
the quarry and return, while the latter
viii occupy eight. providing, Of course.
In each case, everything works az 1t
should.