smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1870

Blossom Rock, the most dangeroui
obstruction in San Francisco harbor
was blown up on Saturday at 2 o'clock
Twenty-three tons Of powder wer.
used. When this immense amount o.
powder was touched off, the water
apparently 100 feet in diameter, wa,
thrown to the height of about 10(
feet. the center being filed with smoke
and stones, the latter going far above
the water. Between SO, 900 and co..
600 people witnessed the explosion. -
The explosion was scarcely perceptible
in the city; only deep thud accom-.
panied the blast.


THE OBSTACLE TO BE REMOVED.


Blossom Rock was situated in the
harbor of San Francisco, and has
proved a great annoyance and danger
to shipping. It was submerged six
feet below the surface at low tide, and
was situated where the water rolled in
large swells. which, being interrupted
in their progress, were broken and
tossed into wild commotion. The
difficulties to be encountered in an at
tempt at removing q huge mass OF
rock 80 situated can readily be imag-
ined and yet this work was begun,
and with the utmost confidence in his
ultimate success. nearly four months
ago, by Col. Won Schmidt, civil engin-
eer. The means adopted for it's re-
moval were entirely novel in subma-
rine blasting, and he undertook the
experiment at his own risk.


PREPARING FOR ATTACK.


The first work to be done was TO
make careful survey of the rock, as
certain where it dipped in. and where
it projected. so that in the work of ex-
cayation afterwards to be accomplish
ed sufficient space might remain to
resist the ressure of the water. This
was carefully done, and from it plans
were drawn of the rock The next
work was to construct q water tight
coffer-dam on the rock, and around
that part of it through which the
shaft was to be sunk. This was found
TO be most difficult. The coffer-dam
was first put in its place, and then a
scow was built around it, into which
about two hundred and fifty tons Of
stone were thrown. The dam was
lined around with bags of sand to
more effectually keep out the water,
and when this was complete an iron
turret was placed inside of it. This
turret was imbedded or sunk in the
rock distance of three feet, and
closely and thoroughly cemented in
its place. This being done, the work
of excavation, or sinking the shaft
A platform was erected
on the rock, ffty-six feet in length.
and about twenty in width. On this
an engine and q complete boisting ap-
paratus was placed at one end, and at
the other shanty was erected con-
tanning six sleeping apartments and a
kitchen, which was also used as an
eating room by the workmen. When
the shaft had been sunk sufficiently to
permit the work of excavation to be
to either side. the work was
considered fairly begun, and from that
time forward it was pushed with all
the despatch possible. When the
shaft had reached certain depth, q
small cylinder was placed inside the
original turret extending down into
the shaft, which made the hosting of
the ballast from below more conven-
lent.


TUNSELLISG THE ROCK.
Year: 1870




The plan for the removal of the
rock can be best understood in this
way. The object was to scoop out
the center, producing q cavity inside,
measuring in the clear, from the high
est point to the bottom, twenty-five
feet, and leaving q crest or stratum OF
about six feet thick to resist the pres
sure of the water while the work was
in progress-this crust or stratum to
be blown up by powder when the re-
mainder of the work inside had been
completed. To do this, however, was
not only difficult but perilous, and in
volved the heaviest responsibility. It
required the closest attention, and the
exercise of more than ordinary skill.
AS the work progressed and the exca-
vation became larger, the crust of rock
left STANDING would naturally beco:1..
weaker, and more likely to cave in
In order to prevent this, pillars of
rock were left standing at short inter-
walls from each other, until the limit
of six feet was everywhere reached
Then it became necessary to move
those pillars away. Before this W is
done, uprights of heavy timbers were
set thickly around the cavity to supply
their place, and in this way all fear OF
the roofing falling was obviated. All
the pillars, except the two main ones,
were removed several days ago. The
cutting away of these two was the last
work done before the powder was stor-
ed for the grand explosion,
Year: 1870

The amount of powder used was
about twenty-three tons, which was
placed in casks and boiler tanks, very
firmly made and perfectly waterproof.


The barrels were placed close to the
side of the excavation, near the juno
ton of the arch or roof with the floor,
SO as to blow away the arch from the
lowest point of excavation. The boil
ers, containing more powder, were
placed through the center of the
chamber, where the distance from the
top to the bottom of the excavation
was the greatest. This was so ar
ranged as to equalize the force on each
portion of the rock. The most per-
feet arrangements were made for ex-
ploding the charge. A piece Of gas
pipe, two and half feet long, was in
serted in each boiler, and i piece six
feet long in each boiler. These were
fifled with fine gunpowder, and in Che
end Of each WAS placed Illuminating
Year: 1870

BELIEVE THE BEST. He who thinks
better of his neighbors than they deserve
cannot be bad man, for the standard by
which his judgment is formed is the good
ness of his own heart. Ii is the base only
who believe all men base, or in other
words, like themselves. Few, however.
are all evil. Even Nero did good turn
TO somcbody-for when Rome was rejoic-
ing over his death, some loving hand
covered his grave with flowers. Public
men are seldom or never fairly judged, at
least while living. However pure, they
cannot escape calumny; however in.
correct, they are sure to find euloglsts.
History may do them justice, but they
rarely get it while alive, either from
friend or foe.
Year: 1870

RATHER TOO SMART. A merchant not
far from the Hub" recently hired u new
clerk, and Of course initiated him at once
into the mystery of the trade mark"
The same afternoon, the newly inducted
knight of the yardstick was showing some
goods to lady customer, when she
dcmurred at the price of the articles. The
feelings of the merchant may be imagined
when the young man called out at the top
of his voice: "What shall l sell this for?
Ii is marked four dollars and half and
costs fifty cents"
Year: 1870

Captain Spoke, in his travels in Africa,
relates that he gaze king a fine double
barreed gun. To test lis value. the X ing
sent out an officer to try it on any object
that presented He soon returned, saying
he had shot man and killed him dead,
whereupon the monarch was oveIjoyed to
lind himself in possession Of so good an
IlStruu eat
Year: 1870

BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.
HOW shall I know thee in the sphere which
The diSembodied spirits of the dead,
When all of thee that time could wither
And perishes among the dust we tread.
For I shall feel the sting of ceaseless pain,
If there I meet thy gentle spirit not;
Nor hear the voice OF love, nor read again
In thy serenest eyes the tender thought
VIII not thy own meek heart demand me
That heart whose fOndest throb to me was
My name on earth was ever in thy prayer,
And wilt thou never utter it in heaven?
In meadows tanned by heavens life-breath-
In the hS Srespiendence of that glorious sphere,
And larger movements of the untettered
wilt thou forget the love that Joined US


here?


The love that lived through all the stormy
And meekIy with my harsher nature bore,
And deeper grew, and tenderer 20 the laSti
Shall il expire with life and be no more?
A happier lot than mine, and larger light,
Await thee there; for thou hast bowed thy
In cheerful homage to the rule right


And lowest all. and renderest good for i'll.
For me, the sordid cares in which dwell,
Shrink and consume my heart as heat the


scroll, ,
And wrath has left its scar-that fire of hell
Has left its frightful scar upon my soul.
Yet, though thou wear'st the glory of the
wit thou not keep the same beloved name
The same fair thoughtful brow and gentle


eye,


LoveIier in heavens sweet climate, yet the
name?


Shalt thou not teach me in that calmer home
The wisdom that learned so III IN this
The wisdom which is love-tiH / become
Thy fit companion in that land OF bliss?
Year: 1870

AN 5sent-minded old bachelor is in
the Dit, when he comes home to tea,
of ting the kettle on the stove, and


g a snooze until the kettle begins


ing, when he would get up and


Ie his tea. The other evening, be-


n little prostrRted on account of old
5in1pIIins' daughter " cuttingp him on
the Street, he put the kettle ON the
lounge and got ON the stove himself,
never discovered the mistake until he
began to sing.
Year: 1870

Ugh the Southern planters are
J $50 a month for hands, yet
rOes all flock to the towns,
they live in a state of beggary.


nay be interesting to our sporting
RS to know that there is a favOrite
Portland, Maine, that is so well
that he came to a dead stand in
a dOOr-plate with the name A
k. The owner of the dog had
- a shot gun before the dog
Year: 1870

met " SIX weeks ago. He
informed us that he had just breakfast
ed on modest plate of hash and q cup
of something called coffee, but in which
the strongest imagination could not de-
tect drop of the infusion of the Ara
bian berry. His coat was foxy, his hat
had a suspicious shine, and he was
generally run down at the heel. Such
is the present condition of this indiVid-
ual, but the future may have great
things in store for him. Let us hope it
may.
Year: 1870

The new Commissioners of Quarantine, Mr..


Wilson G.. Hunt and DR.. A. N. Bell, give us
occasion to felicitate Governor Hoffman on
having made two good appointments The
democratic majority Of our Legislature will
deserve well Of the people If these instances
truly indicate the principle on which the selec-
ton of public officers is henceforth to be deter
mined. Mr.. Hunt is fine type of the best
class of our citizens. We can think of but
single drawback to his we'll known merits-the
fact that he is principal shareholder Of the
Western Union Telegraph Company. But this
is his affair and not ours, and we are inclined
to hope that if he were duly interviewed" he
would, with his habitual good sense and
candor, acknowledge the immense public
advantages of selling the stock Of that company
and placing its operations under the direct con-
troll of the government. Perhaps he might
willingly consent to 60 to Washington and
advocate so desirable revolution in the pre-
sent telegraph system. AS for DR.. Bell his
faithful services as a surgeon in the United
States Navy, his devotion and courage while
the yellow fever was raging in 1856 at Fort
Hamilton and Bay Ridge, and his efficiency
after the outbreak Of the war as superintendent
of the floating hospitals in the lower bay,
designate him as peculiarly qualified for his
new post Of duty. in fine, both these appoint
ments are good and emiueutly fit to be made.
Year: 1870

1t is natural for the tanners to hold that
there is nothing like leather" and equally
natural, perhaps, for convention giving its
attention exclusively to the canals to declare
that ''the prosperity, wealth and Importance
of the State of New York are mainly due to
its canals" While we cannot altogether
assent to this extreme way Of putting things
while it is obvious that some other elements in
the greatness of our State are equally impor-
tant with our grand system of navigable
ditches-it is certain that the canals do not
receive the right sort Of attention from the
government or the people, and that the mis-
management of them is q grievous injury to
the State. The movement to call public atten-
ton to this subject and to expose the cause of
the evil is therefore good and timely. Our
great internal water communication has now
many rivals in It's labor of bringing to the
seaboard the products of the Western country,
and its high tolls will force trade to take other
channels. We must provide against this by q
better system than that now in use Of keeping
the canals in repair, so that rates may be so
low as to be merely nominal Here is a great
topic for the popular attention.
Year: 1870

Mr. Field, of the Legislature, presents bill
to regulate shooting in the metropolis and else
where. It is true that the practice needed
regulating. It is undeniable that the thing
was very Unfortunately, recklessly and
loosely DONE Sometimes people were shot in
the streets, in theatres, in barrooms, every
where, and The people that shot them had no
warrant for It. Now, Mr.. Field, an intelligent
and resolute member, and a gentleman well
known as pattern and model of all the graces
Of amiability, proposes to mend all this by law.
He proposes that every man who wants
Year: 1870

HE'LL GATE--We believe that General
Newton is quite right in the view that the
removal of the rocks at He'll Gate should be
continued, and that that labor should be prose-
cuted to the end in preference to the adoption
of any other plan for overcoming or avoiding
the difficulties of the eastern entrance to this
port. The Generals letter to the Secretary,
with the several good results Of experience
that it presents, gives nothing more satisfac-
tory than its appreciation Of the economy Of
doing this work otherwise than by contract.
The determination that the estimated cost Of
removing rock upon the basis Of which all the
contracts were made was entirely too great, is
q good practical consequence Of the govern
ment operating with Its own engineers and on
its own plans, and by acting on the hint that
this experience gives the work may be carried
to completion with great saving at once Of
time and money.
Year: 1870

Mr.. Ramsey has presented bill in the Sem
ate to establish postal telegraph system and
to incorporate the United States Postal Tele-
graph Company. This bill puts the matter in
clear light. It shows forth the benefits that
can be derived from postal telegraph system.
1t proposes to tx the rate Of telcgraphing so
low that the mass of the people can use the
system, and thus 1t brings the benefits
of 1t home to them. Better still for
all, 1t opens up way for the en-
reimbursement Of the press by providing for a
rate of press telegraphing that shall not exceed
that charged by the Western Union monopoly
1t proposes feasible plan for putting the
telegraph lines into the possession of the gov
ernment by giving the company to be incorpo-
rated, which comprises some of the solid men
Of all parts OF the Union, lease or contract
for ten years, the Postmaster General to have
the privilege of purchasing the property and
franchises at a reasonable valuation any time
after five years from its organization.


Mr.. Ramsey has struck the right key in
thus providing way in which the people and
the press may become free of the overbearing
monopoly that has SO stingily parcelled out
the use of the telegraph. He has of late had
occasion to study our present postal system
during his special mission to France, and he
has rightly comprehended how the telegraph
can be made serviceable in performing part
of the functions Of the Post Office. Let him
now head off the monopoly's lobby and push
his bill.
Year: 1870

CARE You THERE, OLD TRUEPENNY ?"-
They are at it, hammer and tongs, at Albany.
They are making the fur fly in every direction
and are laying out splendid foundation for
democratic spoils and plunder. Conspicuous
among the bills introduced in the Senate yes
terday was one by Mr.. Creamer to create, or
rather to recreate, the Metropolitan Police
district and to provide for the election of three
Police Commissioners. Mr.. Creamer has now
only to provide for the election Of the policemen
30 many for each ward, by popular vote, and
he will have police system that will suit ''the
boys" exactly.
Year: 1870

A NEW WHIsKEY WAR.-An account Of
how Alderman Barker was arrested, charged
as defaulting distiller, to be found in another
column, discloses the fact that there are rings
of informers as dishonest and grasping as the
old whiskey rings of which we used to hear 80
much A professional informer who makes
his money. or, for that matter, depends for his
living, on nosing ont charges against whiskey
dealers, is very apt to urge on job where
business is dull The afidavits of such
against respectable dealers should be taken
with many grains of allowance.
Year: 1870

ANOTHER JoB.-There seems to be just
now a mania for removing everything, and the
last institution that it is proposed to carry
away to new quarters is the State Prison at
Sing Sing. If that institution is to be pulled
down the public will regret it all the less
because it was loosely built establishment
and one that prisoners slipped through very
easily. We hope the new location will answer
to the same condition that Is required of a
new site for the navy yard-that it may be
''easy of access" from this city. tits said that
Commodore Vanderbilt wants the site Of the
prison for an immense railroad improvement.
Is that the reason for the,proposed removala
Year: 1870

THAT AFORESAID AIR LINE RAILROAD
Every now and then we hear of the air line
road between this city and the national capital.
We like to hear Of it. It is pleasant to hear
of the possibilities of improvement-and even
the widest dream of progress has certain
charm. We would like to hear even more of
this air line railroad than we do for it leads
the thought to dwell on two grand hopes.
One Of these is that we may some time have a
direct and excellent means of transit between
this city and Washington; the other is that
some day the government may assume it's
proper authority in the construction of rail
roads.
Year: 1870

THE DIPLOMATIC Sc NsATToN in regard to
young Lopez and Minister Garcia, Of the
Argentine Confederation, which at first blush
seemed likely to threaten a disruption Of
friendly relations between the Argentines and
this country, turns out now to have been a
woman's quarrel Let this untoward ending
OF it warn embryo Helens to avoid the uncer'
tain paths of suffrage and politics.
Year: 1870

Tho Asitatien for Now Stock Fxchange.


The question Of removing the Stock Ex-
change has been revived within . few days
and the old committee has been discharged for
one more friendly to the change The old
committee canvassed the merits of the prOpo-
sition and came to the conclusion that 1t was
best to keep the present site. We think the
committee has acted for the best. The
removal Of the Stock Exchange TO st. PauPs,
to the old HERALD building, or to the vicinity Of
the City Hall Park, would of course be to our
advantage, enhancing, as 1t would the value OF
all the property near by. But there is such
thing as being too progressive. Those who
favor the removal should remember that we
have taken grand stride toward fixing the
business centre Of the city, If indeed we have
not determined it already. We cannot be
always shifting about. The expenditure of
capital has been enormous in those portions of
the city which are comprised in the ''centre."
II the ''bulls" and shears" take new situa-
tiOn they viii exchange commodious and
appropriate Offices for such quarters as they
can extemporize from the buildings near the
new edidce. 1t is due to the capital already
laid out in Wall street that the financial centre
should remain there.


But we doubt If the present movement can
effect anything. London for a century has
undergone little or no change in the concen-
tration Of its business people The business
centre of New York is now fixed. The word
cannot be applied in its mathematical sense Of
point, but in the sense Of space. The busi-
ness centre Of New York is that portion of the
city bounded by Whitehall and Canal streets
and by the East and North rivers. Wall street
is in that centre, and the Stock Exchange
could not be more conveniently located. Let
any one glance at map Of New York and
envrons, the latter being the dwelling place of q
large proportion of our business men, and he will
be struck with the fact that between Staten
Island and Westchester, and between Long
Island and New Jersey, the point of fcompromise
is Wall street. IT. as they propose, the Jersey
men abolish taxation on personal property, we
shall soon see great commercial district
across the Hudson within few minutes by
ferry of the lower portion of the city. Before
the new committee Of the Stock Exchange
decide on removal let it be thoroughly evident
that more convenient situation can be had.
Year: 1870

SOCIAL DRPRAvITY. murder and small
pox, social depravity appears likely to be
prevailing epidemic soon. In addition to the
beastly disclosures In Ellen Utt's trial, re-
ported day or two ago, we have to recount
to-day two cases, in one of which man of forty
found his wife of seventeen in bagnio, and in
the other bald-headed old villain seems to
have been writing obscene letters to girl of
fourteen. We are getting to be almost as bad
as Chicago, and if the thing continues we may
even sink to her level in the divorce line.
Year: 1870

GAs.-It is proposed in the Board of Health
TO present eill e TIC LssislsstnFe defining
exactly how gas should be maze s:oof use In TINS
city and Brooklyn. There seems to De no
other mes9s to get at the gas cop;scanles anu
to insure that the gas shall be Of brops.
quality and the making of it not be nuisance.
The bill should be drawn and should pass.
Year: 1870

master Of France. After him, however, we
can see no restoration-nO chance for the
Count do Chambord or the Count de Paris
After Bonapartism must come the republic.
Meanwhile we await the approaching trials
with more than ordinary interest.
Year: 1870

ANOTHER MOUNTAIN AND ANOTHER MOUSSE
They propose to tunnel the Catskill Noun
tains-a labor that may prove well nigh
equal to the tunnelling Of Mount Cenis-and
for what? Not to facilitate communication
between two such nations as France and Italy,
but only to open way to daylight for the fell
lows behind the mountains who just now arc
shooting bears. That tunnel will not pay.
Year: 1870

LOPEZ AGAIN AT THE HEAD OF AN ARMY
The news published in another column from
Rio Janeiro by way of London is startling.
Lopez has again made his appearance, accord
ing to the information received; but this time
he presents bold front at the head Of an
army of twenty thousand men, composed Of
Eve thousand whites and fifteen thousand
Indians. With this force at his command he
has assumed the offensive and has stopped the
advance Of the Brazilian army. If this
report proves true it would appear that
the sudden disappearance and fight Of Lopez
were only mere devices thrown oat to
deceive the enemy while he recuperated his
followers and reorganized and strengthened
his army. He is certainly daring enough to
attempt move Of this kind, and if he has the
men at his command that he is reported to
have 1t is probable he has met the Brazilian
army ere this. Time will tell.