Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-06-10
NEW PIER AT
LONG BRANCH
Concrete Marvel Near Com
pIe'ion- -Conay's Attraction.

Long Branch, June 10.-WithOut
any fuss and feathers, one of the
greatest mechanical and architect
ural marvels OF the age is rapidly
taking form here. 1t is a gigantic
monolith pier, the first in the world,
and solves the problem hat has
hitherto baffled engineers of erecting
a structure in and over the ocean
that would defy the elements under
the unfavorable conditions that exist
along the North Jersey coast.
AS is well known, the sea has torn
away many miles of land along this
part of the shore in the past CEN
tyry and taken the soil and deposited
it along the point of Sandy Hook,
building up much ground there. Per-
sons still living recall when there
were houses several hundred feet
east of the present shore line here.
Bulkheads and jetties that have cost
in the aggregate millions have held
this erosion in check but the water
is deep a little distance out and the
fury of the waves in a storm is such
as to wreck any ordinary pier. Two
have been destroyed here and the
task for years had been given up as
a hopeless one until the present en-
aso was launched a little 0''' a
Ne project encountered many
kcfSAtudes up until a few months
go, when all litigation caused by a
|ixup with the original promoters
Vas ended, and still more recently
when it was adequately financed.
DSeveral weeks back the work, which
was started in September and sus-
pended on account Of cold weather
In November. was resumed and is
proceeding with speed.
The piling, driven for some 290
feet out last fall, stood the test Of
the severe winter storms perfectly,
standing without support. These
huge sticks of reinforced concrete
each weigh around twenty tons. They
are driven by hydraulic pressure
some twenty-five feet into the clay
of the ocean bed and stand twenty
five feet above the water on a level
with the sea bluff and bluff walk.
They are to extend out $50 feet,
where the water is thiTty-twO feet
deep, and have already been driven
for over half that distance. Later
ally they are placed fifteen feet apart
and longitudinally IS feet.
At the top they are firmly braced
together by a series of Orders of
reinforced concrete and a flooring
of the same material laid thereupOn.
This work Is now in progress. Scat
folding is built out to support the
girder and floor molds, but as soon
as the material hardens it will all
be removed, leaving not a stick OF
wood in the construction.
Most of the work is done by ma
chinery, the driving and handling of
the piling and wen the mixing Of
the concrete, but $50 men are en-
ployed. A series of chemical tests
were made to determine the action
of salt water upon the material be-
fore a start was made. 1t Is assert
. ed that 1t Is indestructible after it
.ardens except by earthquake.
when completed the pier will cost
$500 O0NACfts full width will be
$50 feet. The first section now I'M
der way Is half of that. This may
be completed in time for steamers
TO land in a little over a month.
When the next section Is finished, a
theater and other amusement build
ings will be erected. Already 1t Is
a curiosity that serves as a magnet
for thousands of visitors.
AS a sort of subsidy for the build
ing of the novel pier, the city leas-
ed to the promoters at a nominal
rental, With privilege Of purchase for
s150,0OO, it's magnificent Ocean Park
property, covering an entire ocean
front block opposite the site, and S.
R. Rosof. the pier builder, has trans
formed it into a great popular re-
sort. The Dreamland fire sent many
showmen scurrying here, but prior
to that over two score concessions
have beer let and there will be a
sort of miniature Coney here this
summer, devoid OF obnoxious fea-
lures. The principal one of the at
fractions completed to date is the
mile scenic railway, said to be the
longest in the world.