The Washington times., 1905-07-16
BLAST WILL CLEAR
PORTSMOUTHHARBOR
Pull-and-Be-Damned Point
to Be Dynamited.
BIG ENGINEERING FEAT
Destruction of Rocks Will Greatly I'M
prove Port-Big Conclusion
Anticipated.
BIG ENGINEERING FEAT

Preceding the meeting of the peace
ENJOYS of Russia and Japan at Ports
mouth, n. H., the United States Gov
ernment is to attempt an engineering
feat in Portsmouth harbor which will
shake the town to its foundations.
Fifty tons of dynamite will be used
TO blow up huge ledge of rock jut-
ting out into Portsmouth harbor. This
ledge is known geographically as Hen
derson's Point It Is one of the most
famous on the coast OF Maine and New
Hampshire.
"Pull-and -Be-Damned' Point.
Sailors have another name for it, be-
cause of the extraordinary effect it has
Ga the tide racing into Portsmouth har-
Dor. To them it is known as Pu1l-and-
Ee-Damned Point
Many naval officers in Washington
can testify to the almost irresistible
sweep of the current around the jutting
promontory. It was for this reason
that the Navy Department called upon
it, most expert engineers to plan the
task of removing the point altogether
A firm of contractors undertook to
blow the rock skyward The explosion
will take place July %.
With deafening roar that will make
Portsmouth and surrounding towns
quake, and possibly, but not probably.
do more injury br concussion than any
explosion in recent years as we'll as
cause possible disturbance of nature,
the blast will dispose of three acres of
rock
To Miss Foster.
The honor of setting off the blast.
the most remarkable ever heard of and
one that will attract thousands of en-
gineering experts. geologists, and spec
tators from all parts of Maine, New
Hampshire and Massachusetts,. will
fall to Miss Edith Foster, the charm
ing young daughter of Superintendent
o. a. Foster, who is in charge of the
work.
The young woman will be safely pro-
tected in a specially erected stand.
where small button connecting q
powerful electric battery with the sew
eral charges of dynamite, will be placed,
which she will press at the order Fire
by her father.
For the past three years hundreds OF
men have been employed in drilling
holes in the mammoth ledge both above
and below the water. in anticipation OF
the event of blowing UP the reef Il
make Portsmouth harbor, now one OF
the most dangerous along the coast, one
of the safest and easiest harbors to enter
The entire ledge. covering an area ol
more than three acres, has been honey.
combed with holes drilled by massive
steam and electric rock drills. Holes
sixty feet in depth have been borej
within a few feet of each other all ovei
the surface. and other holes. ranging
from twenty to forty feet, have beer
drilled beneath the water
Each Hole Loaded.
Each hole will be filled with Ions
sticks of waterproof dynamite. and eacf
stick of dynamite Will be loaded witt
powerful electrical exploding caps
From each OF these caps wires will b.
led to the electric battery on shore
There all wires will be connected an,
when the electric button is pressed b,
Miss Foster one powerful current 0
electricity will set off the entire blast
If the blast is successful the engineer
in charge of the work say that the en-
trance 10 the harbor will be at least 30
feet wide and at least thirty-five fee
deep. making the harbor safe for tn
heaviest vessels afioat any time of IN
day or night.
In anticipation of the great detona
ton. the authorities in Portsmouth an
many OF The surrounding towns hav
notified the residents that the explosio
would take place on that day. July 2
While the authorities do not expect an
disastrous RESULTS, there is great pos
Eibiiity that glass may be broken fC
miles around.
Following the blast. the work
dredging viii begin. and the contractor
Eay that the work will be com plete
January J. 1906. The whole harbor wi
be dredged and all the large rocks tor
off by the blast will be removed. III
contractors viii receive $4,000 for III
work
The dynamite used will be transfere
from New York to Portsmouth by ia
and water, and Will be kept out in
safe place in the harbor until the cor
tractors are ready to handle it,
The day will be Il holiday in Port.
mouth. and already active preparation
are being made by all railroad ar
greet car lines for the transportation
the thousa nds of curious spectators WI
will go to Portsmouth 10 witness II
explosion.
nnfhnFNN- ls1nIti n k.tnnr