Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-20
REBUILDING BREAkWATER
Interesting Piece Of Work Out in
the Laler
Diver at Work rs Feet below the sur.
face Fsstening 1mmensc Cribs of
Heavy Timber In Plsce-Water
High for July.

To those who are interested in engineer.
ing. the work of repairing and rebuilding
the breakwatcr, which has been in pro
gross for the last three months, ia instruc.
| tive a force Of men has been ut work
since tho middle Of May. At present the
mon are building a new breakwater at the
north end. just south Of the gap.
This work liz being done by contract for
the government by James eastman of
Boston. Mass. The work IL Immediately
Isuperntcnded by Mr.. CashnMn's son.
James. A force of 10 men are at work.
including a professional diver, John Dono-
van Of Boston. Government Inspector
John Warren is also present at the sito
of the work most OF time. The tugboat
Pnstime. owned by Mr.. eastman. cap
tanned by Edward I.avcllec and engineered
by j. Il. Jewctt Of this city. is in use. car
rying supplies and the workers to and
from the brcakwatcr.
At present and since the beginning of
this years work in May the men have
been laying cribs as foundations to tho
new brcakwatcr at tho north end. These
cribs are very large framcworks, made
of heavy timbcrs and held together by
heavy bolts. They are sunk to the lake
bottom, which AT the point the men arc
now working is 81 feet below the water
surface. and held firmly in place by means
Of marble and other stone. These cribs
arc then filled with large blocks of stone.
reaching few feet of the waters surface.
A double row Of these cribs is laid. The
row toward the lake. after 1t has been
filled with rocks, is left few feet under
the surface Tho inner row is covered
with crushed stone and concrete. which
extends above tho surface of the water.
over the whole is then placed what Is
called tho apron. which is n smooth layer
Of cement 81 feet in width and several
feet high. Tho breakwater, when COM
pl.tcd. therefore. will consist of cement
apron visible above the water and. on the
outer side, a submerged supcrstructure Of
stone.
A large float is kept near the break
water, upon which is u powerful derrick,
which aids in the work. The new break
water is far moro durable and effective
than tho old structure, which was built as
many as - years ago.
The work of Diver Donovan is some
thing not often seen here. Encased in his
suit of rubber with his head enclosed in his
large metal cap with its prison-barre
windows, he walks around on the bottom
of the lake with MS much ease as do his
companions above. Two men are kept
constantly turning n crank which sends
fresh air through a tube to their comrade
below. MIR. Donovan is below the surface.
on the average, three hours in the morn
ing and three in the afternoon. coming
above for rest twice and at other times
only for material to work with.
Cribs only have been laid this year. The
men will be unable to lay tho apron or to
do much more than lay cribs until the
water lowers at least two feet. The watei
at present is as high as It was the first
of June. although it has lowered two or
three inches during the last week. When
the work at the north end Of the break
water is completed repairs will be made
to the south end The contract calls for
the work to be completed this year.