Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-07-24

AS a spectacle the explosion was q
disappointment to many. The geySer-
like column of water shot up for $50
feet. That was beautiful. The rest gave
little satisfaction. The expected trem-
bling of the earth was not noticed by
those on Seavey's island. On the Maine
shOr" of the river it was distinctly felt.
The only element of the danger was
the great rush of water toward the
Newcastle shore which was some 1900
or 1000 feet away. 1t caused no damage,
however. Some Of the pieces of tim
Der also fell on Pierces island, where
there was a throng of spectators. but
these We're easily avoided. No sooner
had they struck the ground than they
were quickly seized and split in frag-
ments as souvenirs.
AS soon as they were permitted to do
50, boats of all kinds appeared, and
making their way up the river in
which direction the tide was carrying
the wreckage, began picking up all
sorts of floating material to keep as
memento of the event. After the explo-
sion Rear Admiral Endicott chief of
the government bureau of yards and
docks. declared that the work was "a
complete success
This opinion also was given by Leu
tenant Gregory, who had charge Of the
work for the government and by ST.
perintendent Foster of the contracting
firm.
The explosion has removed the point
clean with the edge of Seaveys island
as was desired by those who planned it.
BY ITS destruction the channel is wild
cncd some 80 feet and the contract for
the work calls for n uniform depth of 81
feet ut mean low water.
The contract price of tho undertaking
was S1i30D. The expense was covered by
4 government appropriation in connection
with the bill authorizing the construction
OF the big dryGOck at the navy yards.
1t is understood that the charge of = tons
of dynamite is the largest ever exploded
ut one time in this country
Henderson's point is Il solid ledge of
| horseshoe shape. 400 feet wide at the
base. and jutting out into the river about
300 feet. Around it has swircd innumer-
able currents and a tide which for more
| than 200 years has been the dread of all
mariners. The swift waters have worn a
| channel 30 feet deep in the solid rock,
of the cross currents has been so great
and the channel so narrow that for years
is has been Il menace especially to the
development of the navy yard. With the
esta blishment of the great drytock its
removal became imperative Its destruc-
| ton will give the navy yard and Ports
mouth an approach 1000 feet wide with Il
depth of water ample for the greatest
ships in the world
At first it was believed that submarine
operation would be the best method 1t
Was soon found. however. that such a
plan would not be possible and it was
decided 10 build a Golfer dam and to ex-
cavate. \ bulwark was built around the
| entire point. 1t was 20 feet wide, made OF
sheet piling the timber being boIt.d to
the rock mt the bottom of the river. by
divers. and the insidcS filled with cIay
1t took a year to build the Golfer dam
and it cost 10000
Then the project of digging out the cen
| ter Of the ledge was begun. Thousands
| of cubic yards of rock We're removed I'M
| fly only rim of ledge remained The
| material taken out was transported to va
| r;ous parts of the island on which the
| navy yard is located. and by its use it is
estimated that more than 81 acres of new
land have been added to the yard area.
| The border of rock left was between 40
and 50 feet high and estimated at 1900
cubic yards in bulk. This was the OBJ
struction to be removed by SATURDAYS
blast.
| The wall had been perforated with about
go holes. more than 800 of them being
drilled horizontally. Some were 50 feet
| long. Into the holes dynamite and
matches designed for the purpose and
made abroad. were placed. Each charge
was carefully wired by an expert and
Friday. connection was made with the
switch which was to operate the entire
lSystem.
| 1.-TWO breaks which occurred in the Golfer
dam hindered the work. The first caused
a delay of several months and cost $50. 600.
TheS second was less disastrous, but n
fracture let in 30,0000o0 gallons of water
SO quickly that the workmen barely es-
lcapdd.
The work was done under the SUPER
vision of A. o. Foster. superintendent of
the Massachusetts Construction Co. and
: OF Lieut. L. f. Gregory. civil engineer.
4. s. n. assisted b. Thomas F. Flanagan.
chef eiestrieian of the department OF
yards and docks of the navy.