Year: 1877

GENERAL MENTIONS LABOR OF CLEARING THE


CHANNEL TO BE AT ONCE RESUMED


PREPARATIONS FOR BLASTING.


After a stoppage OF work for over six weeks opera.
tions have once more been resumed upon Flood Rock
the scene OF tho supplemental labors in removing tho
obstrucons in He'll Gate 1t with reluctance that
General Newton ordered the temporary discharge Of
the workmen when compelled 10 do so by the floating
ice from the experience Of several OF the who
wcre made prisoners upon the rock for nearly two
days, and when to have continued the tunnellng
would have been to jeopardize tho lilo Of every
engaged the work. For the last few days boiore the
suspension the cold such that the men wero
nearly frozen in the headings, and nothing but tho
taken the operations and tho desire
not to permit the galleries TO nll up with water re-
tanned the iorco In employment when communication
between Flood Rock and the Long Island shore was
always dangerous and at times impossible.


Now that all danger OF any interference from the
passage Of floating ice through the channol between
Flood Rock and Hallctt's Point may be said to have
disappeared, General Newton has resolved to continue
work last as Congress will appropriate the neces
sary funds


The workmen. about twenty in number, under the
direction OF their foreman Mr. Baruar Boyle, are
engaged IN unloading coal upon me rock and preparing
to place pumps in position in order to begin tho
operation intended TO Tree the headings aud shafts
from water Al present tho shafts are iiled up TO tho
level OF high water mark or within few feet Of
the surface OF tho rock. Several days VIII pass
before the pumps can be placed IN position and the
boiler machinery cleaned up and put In readiness
to commence tho pumping; but when all these neces
sary preparations have been completed-say IN a
weeks time or css-the pumps will be kept at work
night and day IL Will occupy nearly week the
after the pumps IN order and alter the water
has been exhausted several more days must clapse
before the chamber win bo in it condition Ior the
workmcn resume hen work was stopped on the
tonarv engines boilers and other xtures that did not
permit OF removal Although tho rock during the
weather has not bccn visited ny any Of tho men
EN- mpoycd in works Tor the purpose OF
keeping this machinery in order, when Mr. Boyle re-
turned there everything was found TO be IN perfect
state Of preservation aud ready Tor almost instant
FINANCIAL HINDRANcEs


When everything is in good working order and the
labor OF drilling and blasting Is in progress there will
be room a considerable Increase OF the number OF
workmen. In fact 200, as Mr, Boyle remarked to
the reporter .'could be employed II only had the
money The great difficulty the lack OF funds. Wo
have sufficient money 10 carry on our present
working force of twenty men long and II Congress
don't take steps 10 furnish the necessary
funds, we must from sheer necessity, stop work. II
We are compelled 10 do this IN the summer months.
result Will be bad, as II Is during that period
that must hope 10 accomplish the most. The stop
page occurred this winter is likely to occur
next winter and tho winter following and II Will be
great loss TO tho government aud serious drawback
the actual Of tho undertaking we are COM
PEELED TO stop tor want OF money"


A substantial, well covered landing place has been
erected the Long Island Shore facing Flood Rock,
men forth the to the rock Is being
painted and thoroughly overhaucd


HALLETTS POINT.


1t IS somewhat remarkable that the force OF the cur
rent passing through He'll Gate has not percepbly
DIM nscd although the rect that formerly existed at
this point has been crumbled into dust. The water
literally boiIs past the point where few months ago
the huge Golfer dam stood barrier to the angry
of waters and away Off on the Wards Island shore
the Hogs Back marks itself in clear and distinct line
OF ioaming breakers


The contractors Tor tho dredging at Halletrs Point
will begin work "nshng for the debris'' tomorrow
or Sat urday and il is probable that tho complete sur
veys the will be in tho course OF tho next