Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1911-06-17
LARGE INTAKE
WELL IS SUNK
Engineering Feat al the New
Public Service Power House
Yesterday Afternoon.
CAPTAIN EVERETT HERE
Merritt Chapman Company's
Largest Derrick "Ths kon-
arch" Puts it in Position.

One Of the largest intake wells ever
constructed was sunk alongside Of the
Public Service Corporation dock at
the foot Of Buckingham avenue about
$3.50 0 clock yesterday afternoon under
the supervision Of Captain Charles Ev-
erett, of the Merritt Chapman Derrick
and Wrecking Company. The well was
put in place without a mishap in less
than fifteen minutes time with the aid
Of the Monarch" the wrecking com
pany's biggest derrick. Despite that
the well weighed 178000 pounds, or
seighty-nine tons the derrick, which is
said to be the largest Of Its kind in
this country, picked it up as if it were
a feather and gently lowered it into
position. The intake well is forty feet
long, twelve feet wide and twenty-five
feet deep.
Salt Water to be Used.
When the big power house is in op-
Grafton the well will be used to sup
ply salt water to cool the condensers
of the engines. From the power house
to the well, a distance of about 80
feet, two pipe lines are being laid. One
will act as supply main and the other
a return. The mains are being laid IN
der the water and several divers are
necessary to help put them in place.
The pipes are seven feet in diameter
and made Of reinforced concrete. The
pipe is made in FIVE foot sections and
then bolted together into twenty five
foot section, before it is lowered into
the water.
The big intake well rests on the bot
tom alongside of the new long dock
where the water is about sixteen feet
deep. 1t is constructed of very heavy
timber which have been creosoted to
stand the action of the water. Forty
seven pieces Of iron, each weighing 500
pounds, were also used in its making.
The sinking of the well was an interest
ing as well as notable engineering
event and was witnessed by a number
of spectators among whom were local
and out of town newspapermen, guests
of Captain Everett, who is himself a
famous diver.
The captain" is the man who in
spected the wreck of the battleship
Maine, which is now being raised in
Havana harbor and supervises all of tie
Merritt Chapman company s difficult
work. He was elated yesterday after
Inaan- oVar the sucesssfral~ sinking of tLa
well and proudly placed an American
flag on its top.
Can Lift 26O Tons.
The intake well was constructed on
the Public Service property and the big
derrick Monarch" was brought here
especially to sink it. Some idea of the
size of the derrick can be gathered
when it is known that it can lift 26O
tons with ease. The lift yesterday of
only eightynine tons was nothing"
according to Captain Everett. The der
rick has compartments for 600 tons Of
water ballast, but none was needed yes
terday.
Work on the main is nearing compile
tion and to-day connection is being
made with the new well. The Merritt
Chapman Company have a large force
of men at work and several small der
ricks are on the scene. s. E. Page is
the engineer in charge of the work.
The new power house is being rushed
and considerable machinery has already
been installed