The New York Herald Newspaper, June 28, 1871, Page 4

HELL GATE. Gnawing the Rocks Twenty Years. tor What the Government Did and What the People Did. Maillefort’s Beginning and Uncle Sam’s Finishing. A Review of the Operations, Past and Present. It is now nearly a quarter of @ century since the HERALD, with a far-seeing policy for building up the great city of New York, presented to the public an elaborate article on the condition of the channel through the Sound, and editorially demanded the combined action of the general government, the State government and the merchants of the city in an effort to remove the obstructions at Hell Gate, ‘which had yearly caused so much disaster to our shipping. Since shat time it has not ceased to call the attention of Congress to the matter through five administrations, commencing with President Fill- more’s. Aside from the considerations of safety for the lives aud property of those in tne coasting trade and others who sought this, the most direct route to oar harbor, and which it would be criminal as well 8 unwise on the part of our government to negiect any effort to secure, 1t showed repeatedly and con- clusively that the sailing distance from European ports to New York would be shortened by fifty miles, nd vessels would arrive here at least one day earlier than by the passage through the Narrrows ana lower bay. In addition to economy of time and distance, the importance of ‘which can only be fully understood by merchants, Who oiten find the profit or loas of a venture de- cided by the arrival or non-arrival of a vessel within twenty-four hours, there was also to be taken into consideration the saving of ‘one hundred miles of outside navigation, and the lessened chances of disaster and shipwreck at that period of the year when annually scores of ves- sels are driven out of their course and cast upon the beach between Montauk Point and Rockaway. ‘Touching the military and naval importance of the ‘Improvements demanded, it is a well known fact that Commodore Decatur barely escaped the most fatal disasters in taking his squadron through the channel, and that a feet of frigates were blockaded by reason of the danger attending Its passage in New York harbor during the war of 1612-16. During twenty years the subject was agitated at ‘Washington, but without success, for, through COAXING AND CURSING, CONGRESS was only prevailed upon to contribute in all that time $105,000, Within a short time the government has taken a sort of spasmodic action, which promises good results, and to explain ‘to those interested ‘What that action 1s, as well as what has been accom- plished by other and to some extent private means, the following review of operations from their com- ‘mencement is given, By ald of the chart accom. Panying this article the whole can be easily under- Mood if prefaced by saying that the Frying Pan Rock, Pot Kock, Way’s Reef and Shell Drake Reef, ‘With the outlines showing soundings, appear as they were belore any operations had commenced upon them. In 1847-8 the obstructions at Hell Gate were ex- amined by Lieutenant Charles H. Davis, United States Navy, who, on the 15th of February of the iat- ter year, macde a report to the supermtendent of the Coast Survey, and by Lieutenant (now Admiral) David D. Porter, who mae a subsequent report to Professor Bache, on the S0th of October following. Just one year later, in October, 1849, the HERALD having again editoriatly striven to awaken Congress to the importance of imimediate action mn clearing the channel, M. Matilefort, a French submarine engi- neer, then employed in removing channel obstruc- tions on the Isiand of New Providence, saw the article, and, believing that action would at once be taken, came on to New York. He announced his willingness to undertake the removal of the rocks and STARTLED THE SCIENTIFIC GENTLEMEN with whom he came in contract by the statement of his simple and ingenious method of performing the work—a method which he assured them had been unqualifiediy successful in different parts of the world where he had used it, The plan was simply to lower a tin can, containing 125 pounds of powder, till it rested on the rock bencath the body of water, then to fire 1t by an electric spark. ‘The water acted asa fulcrum, and the rock was torn to fragments. The Chamber oi Commerce, to the members of which M. Mailiefort was introduced while they were 1u session, being fuliy able to master ‘the details of this easy method of engineering, and having faith in its feasipility, severally and unant- mously endorsed it. Early in December, 1849, a memorial was presented to Congress asking an appropriation to defray the expense of removing some of theanost dangerous rocks. It was referred to the Commitiee on Com- merce in the House, and before this committee and Colonel Abert, Chief of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers, M. Majliefort appeared and explained his “discovery. The commitvee reported in | favor of an appropriation of $30,000, including | the sum a 4 specific appropriation in the | River ana Harbor bill, which passed the House but failed in the Senate, on the last day of the session, for Want of time to act upou tt. From that time till June, 1851, hough Mr. Henry B. Grinnell offered to contribute $5,000 toward the removal of Pot Rock,. the money to be paid when the depth of twenty and twenty-four feet was attained at mean low water, and others professed their willingness to atd the work by advasces or subscriptions, nothing had been accompiished. In June a meeting was heid at | the Merchants’ Bank, at which Mr. James G. King presided, with John Faiconer as secretary, and Mr. | Mailefort made 4 formal proposal to remove three of the MOST DANGEROUS ROCKS IN MELL GATE for the sum of $15,500. ‘the proposition was re- duced toa writien form of agreement and placed in the hands of a committee, of which Walter R. Jones, President of the Lie-Saving Association, was chairman. In accordance with tals agreement Work commenced upon POT ROCK. By referring to the Char! at the head of the page it will be seem that two rocks stop up the channel of entrauce to the sound—Frying Pan and Pot Rocks, ‘These rocks formed together a barrier of 450 feet 10 length, each of them covering an area of about 9% by 245 feot. Pot Rock at its highest point reacned ‘wituin § feot of the surface at mean low water, with 0 feet em Ou One side and 62 feet on the other. Ite height was therefore 5% feet. A vessel striking it and sinking would go down In 10 fathoms of water, and as irom 30010 400 vessels, many ot them steamers carrying hundreds of passengers, assed through the narrow channel between aud Frying Pan dwily, and were driven @t 4 great velocity by the rapid cur- rent, Ss formidable and threatening nature ‘Was manifest. This was the fret rock selected uy. Malliefort ior tis operations. He began about the 1st of August, 1581, to make preparations for the Work, and, aided by & smasi number of men, on she ‘19th of the month fired the first charge. Catertu- mately, through Jack of skill on the part of his assiet- ante, the canister was broken in the process of Jowerlpg upon the rock, aud when fired the charge @id no execntion. On the following day, however, August 20, between three and four o'clock P. M., he Jowered upov the rock two canisters, each con- eighty pounds of powder, and a few oments aiter tired them by means of a galvanic tery from # meval Hoat movred sixty leet south of Zhe rock. When the explosion took place the water was thrown Ia a column w a height of thirty-five feet, and the cylinders of the float sounded as if struck by & cannon ball. The sides of a metailic life- ‘Doat stationed 300 feet from the rock were similarly jected. On sounuing it was found that FEPT OF ROCK HAD BERN REMOVED vy explosion. Up to the loth of the following October eighty-five charges bad been fired; of these NEW YORK HERALD, WE EAST DNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1871.—-TRIPLE SHEET, RIVER HARBOR OBSTRUCTIONS. Map Showing the Rocks Obstructing the Passage of Mell Gate---Their Locality--- Depth of the Water. A.—The east channel. B.—The main ship channel. ©.—The middle channel. The figures represent six, twelve and eighteen feet soundings. @ aya. OHDAN ' oid NZNDIHDBNAH . nd0u a0 MO TIN 4v3ND 490u8 378VL ef nva omnes &) “ ae ©2028 lod 8 @. oon axO0N saniow GNV1Si REFERENCES. Currents.—The current In the main ship channel is at the rate of two and one-half knots, in the mid- die channel four knots, and in the east channel eignt and one-half knots. The circle with radiating marks off Hallett’s Point represents the place of the submarine tun- nelling. ‘The locality of the Gridiron Rocks is marked at tounper end ofthe group oy small dots. None of ‘hese rocks, however, show themselves above the surface of the water, with the exception of Flood Rock, and, at ebb tide, the Negro Head. the 16th of October) sixteen feet, and added that he | knew of no method, other than that of Maillefort's, by which that rock could have been reduced. From the 17th of October to the 12th of December 149 | charges of 128 pounds each were fired, consuming 13,625 pounds of powder. Some sixty or | more charges were fired in water of more | than twenty feet in depth. with. a view to | te removal of the rock to twenty-four feet. A TROKOUGH SURVEY WAS MADE in January, 1852, and 866 soundings were taken. Of these only eight, at the highest point of the rock, gave nineteen tect of water, while 107 gave {rom Twenty-four to thirty feet at mean low water. Up | to this ime the total expense attending the removal | oi Pot Rock was about $6,000. Maillefort resumed operations at Pot Rock on Monday, the 2d of Feb- raary, 1852, and conttuued blasting whenever the weather would permit until the 26th of the follow- ing March. On that day he took up his position on the Hloat and prepared the baitery, while he seut three of his men to lower a canister upon the rock. They soon returned, and his principal assistant handed him from the boat the wire to be conneeted | with the battery. Matliefort said, ‘Is 1 ail right?” “Ai right,” repited the man; but at that instant Maillietort’s quick eye detected the misplacemeat of the Canister, and, pointing to the oat, “DO YOU GALL THAT ALL RIGHT?” he asked. The men then rowed back, and to save time drew upthe canister under their boat and lowered another. feturning to whe float the same | questions were asked and auiswers returned, and the Next instant the boat and part of the float were aud a full and rather humorous account of the vicissitudes encountered was on each occa- sion given. Malliefort had also been a bidder, and afier some delay the contract was then awarded | tohim. He was required to complete his work 80 as to give twenty-six feet soundings by the Ist of De- cember. In case he failed to do this he was not to receive @ cent. Through repeated and vexatious delays, arising from causes over which he had no control, the beginning of the undertaking Was post- | poued trom week to week, and though when he did | get at work he reduced the rock with astonishing | rapidity, he could only show on the Ist of Decem- ber, 1869, NINETEEN FEET SOUNDINGS on Way’s Reef and 17 7-10 on Shell Drake. He asked for an extension of time, and kept at work @ wmile longer, but no notice was taken of his ap- plication. In January, 189, there was published in the HERALD, Jn addition to several lengthy articles on this subject, a report showing the number of vessels passing through Hell Gate, witn carefully collected data in regard to the number of passengefs and value of cargoes, both average and aggregate. The report was based upon the government record kept at Execution Light. From August 1 to December 80, 1868, there passed 2,432 sleamers, § ships, 22 barks, 436 brigs, 11,859 schooners and 4,649 sloops, The daily average of passengers and crews gave 12,000 souls. ‘The tots! value of vessels possing in four Months was $736,926,000, or an average of $6,141,600 daily, while freight to the value of $9,000,000 passed through cach day on steamers blown to atoms. Tne man had misplaced the wire: and given to Maillefort the one attached to the can- nister under is own boat. Three men were kilied. One had both arms, both legs and his head blown eff, another had one lung blown away, but lived jong enough to expiain tow he had made the mis- take; the third was never found. As for Maillefort, he bale rescued, but remaimed totally blind for three months. ‘This accident put a stop Jor some time to work at Heit Gate, but when a year or more had elapsed Maillefort began to yearn for action, and finding it impossibie to procure aid from sources that spouid have been eager to iurnish it, he begau irom time to time operations wich he carried on at his own ex- pense. In this way he blasted out Diamond Reef from 160 feet so as to leave only three disunct and Small rocks, or “boulders,” and later removed # por- | ton of Rylander’s Reci, on the New York shore, be- low Ninety-second strcet ferry. On the 22d of January, 1555, & proposition was Presented to the Legisiature by Messrs. Husted & Kroent containing the tolowing points of interest: — ‘They proposed to remove al the rocks in Hell Gate, with the exception of Great Mill Rock (which being a small island (hey regarded as useful for a light house), untii a depth of ten feet at mean low water should be reached, ‘The time demandea for the exe- cution of thelr project Was ten years, to commence on the Ist of April, 1850. They proposed to deiray the expeuse vy TAXING THE VESSELS passing through the Gate during said ten years half pulotage rates. They further estimated that in case the rocks were not removed the accumulation of annual losses at the end of ten years would amount 0, and the tax, they Aided, Would still bé jotage. By acceptin, to ve cleared, and, of tas 8 pro. position fell dead. in January, 1807, General Newton, who was as- signed in July of the previous year to the doty of exampning liéli Gate, mude hia report te the Secre- tary of War, He had been imstracted to make the examination with @ view to improvement for the purpose of bavigauon, and it was to be so snili- cient im detail as to enable him to present a plan and estimate for the necessary operations. General Newton prefaces fils paper by gluncing at the reports of his predecessors, Lieutenants Davies, Porter, Craven, &c., and reiers to iheir generai Agreement upon the necessity of the removal of Pot Kock, F' Pan, Wa5's Keef, Sheli Drake and other rocks bearer slore—namely, the rock: Negro’s Point, rocks near Wooisey’s bath hou; ind Biack- well’s Rock, together with portions of Hallett's Point and Sealy Kock, the recommendation by some of the building of sea walls on the Gridiron, Hog’ Back and on the Bread and Cheese, and the erec- on of & stone beacon on Kylander’s eel, He then said:—To the sea walls may be added one upon Rylander’s Reef and another along the seventeen feet curve of tne “Great Mill” on the side of the middle channel. ‘The reefa in the middle of biord Flood Rock, Ne- gro Head, the Gridiron and Great and Little Mill rocks, have been Jittle noticed in any scheme of tu- provement, notwithstanding they form TRE GREAT OBSTACLE to the pass of Hell Gate bee converted into a high- way for commerce. .The middie 1s narrow and is ren dered dangerous by the projection of Negro :ead into its lower outlet, He then recommeniled the re- moval of Negro Head and tie wideniug of the mid. dle channe! to about 340 feet. Estimates for three different projects were submitted with the report, + In October, 1867, the merchants of New York hi titloped Congress to make a suitable propriation for the removal of these obstructions, and they set forth the following reasons why such appropriation should be made:— Fird—That the actual annual Josa to the commerce of the couutey by the obstructions amounted to between 1,500,100 und # . ‘Secon@—That the jonas occurred during the years when Prosperity of the counter fo the dangerous nav: Thin on. of the obstructions, besides saving would, by allowing and other foreign ters of the Sound, be remov: Jone the above mentioned amount, vessels from Eastern States or Canadis ports to avail themseives of the peacetul shorten the delay and lessen te riske of ocean navigation. Fourth- As ab appest to faise economists :~ These obstruc- tions can be removed, a8 your petitioners believe, at an out- lay not at all proportioned to the amount which would be saved to the Commercial aud other interests of the country. In its winter session of 1567-'68 Congress appro- twenty-seven were of 74 pounds and fifiy-eight were ¢ 128 yoanas, being in all 9,356 pounds of powder. arly this month the Chevaiier Steen De Bille, Chargé d'Afaires of Denmark, wade appilcauon to Professor he, at Washinyton, for information for the use of his governmentin regard tw the success oi Maillefort’s operations, and was referred wo Feeeenaal Bartiest, of the Coast Survey, then sta- toned at Heli Gate, In reply to inguiries addressed fo him, Lieutenant Bartiett stated that the sound. Mies on, Kes ce MUMS JOW Water Were Wen priated $86,000, in addition to & former appropria- Uon of $20,000 paid to Mailiefort avout tnree yeara beiore, and advertised to let the work by contract to the lowest bidder. Mr. J. Sheibourne received the contract, and began ACTIVE OPERATIONS on the 14th of Jauuary, 1868, After many unsuc- cessful eiforts, in which he employed a diver and a stam drill ana tried to fasten the vessel on Hog's Back Rock, be gave up the undertaking. He was American commerce was ati.l iaboring under the war-blignt, and that it would fucrease in the sume ratio as the trade and | and the bumber of ver exposed and $1,000,000 was carried through on satling ‘vessels. In 1869, Congress having made an appropriation of $1,000,000 towards harbor and river improve- ments at large, the Secretary of War apportioned $178,200 to ue Hell Gate work, and in November of that year Major General John Newton began a sys- tem Of operations to behall of the United States gov- ment for demolishing the tongue of rock three bun- dred feet in length, extending out mio the bend of the channel at Hallett’s Pou! At once a WAR OF WORDS ensued in certain quarters, and the most damaging statements in reference to all interested parties and thelr plans were circulated. The old pilots and wreckers living in the vicinity of the “Gate” swore roundly tat 1: Hallett’s point was removed the tide would set into Pot Cove, and throw every vessel Uhat passed through the channel at ebb tide directly and certainly on the Gridiron rocks. ‘Then there were many Just and kindly people who lived in the vicinity, Aud who knew how Matllefort had come there possessed of a small competence, earned as A “TOULER OF THE SEA,” * in raising wrecks of vessels at Nassau and biastin; reefs in Newfonndland; how earnestly and hope- fully he went at the work; how month after month, and year after year, government delays and lack of ready assistance ice Aw anerobania had Worn him out, and how, after tifs, an ie accident of » he, with M. Rassaloff, then @ civil engineer of this city, now General and Minister of War of the kingdom of Denmark, persisted in de- imolishing smalicr and dangerous rocks till pearly | every doliar he had in the world had been spent. | It was in this way “Bald Headed Billy” disappeared, | with several other rocks, These good and honest i} pore alluded too were never tired of sounding | Matilefort’s praise, which was perhaps right, and they often eydeavored to connect his embarrass- ments with General Newion’s plans, which was positively wrong. In this last effort they received | powerfel aid from the pilots and wreckers, and | their stories and opiuions, tangled and out | of tune, found vent now and then in the preas of the city in a batch of communications jrom “Indignant,” ‘Justice,’ “Fair Play,” and all those well known anonymous characters who are ever ready to wield & free lance, That there Is very littie ditvference of opinion and probably much less personal fecling between these two gen- Uemen (who are @ach working for a common end) than is generally supposed, the following statements, made by each of them to WO writer, within a week past, wiil suiiciently indicate:— GENERAL NEWTON'S STATEMENT OF OPRRATIONS AT HALLETT’S POINT, The F bdedea tec sald General Newton, hag adopted a system of tunnelling for the removal of the rocks at Hallett’s Point, considering it cheaper, better and more safe than to attempt to blast the Tocks from the surface of the water. Radiating tun- nels are run out to Lhe full extent of the rock to be removed, and at intervais cross galicries are formed connecting them. ‘The intervening plers will be re- 1moved to the smallest diameter, or if 1t is found that it may be done with safety they will be en‘irely re- moved by dry blasting. A roof or rock covering will be left over atl, and will remain intact for about nine or ten feet in thickness. The depth now reached be- jow low water mark 18 thirty-two feet, and if, as believed, the piers can be removed without hazard to the rock arch, further excavation to an additional depth of twelve feet will be made, by explosion the shell of rock overhead will then be precipitated in the basin hollowed out to receive it, leaving the low water depth atleast twenty-six feet, It is proposed TO REMOVE THR GRIDIRON in the same manner. The government has now a steam drilling apparatus tn operation on Coenties Reef, By ti the surface of Diamond Keef has been broken up. None o! the rock, six or seven hundred yards, has been removed as yet, but can be taken Away'at any ume. The rock is drilled with this ma- chine to a dep.h of six or seven feet, and charges of aitro-glycerine are used in blasting. Probably by this machine the remainder of Frying Pan, Pot Rock, Way's Keef aud Shell Drake in Heil Gate will be removed, as well a# the channol rocks in the East river. After some incidental conversation, Generai Newton stated that no estimate had as yet been formed of the Lime required for the completion of the work at Hallett’s Point, MAILLEFORT'S SYATEMENT REGARDING THE PAST AND PRESENT. M. Maillefort, who has for nearly a year been ab- sent from the city and engaged in removing obstruc- tions under contract from the James river tn Vir- ginia, returned to his home in Astoria last week. In accordance with ® previously made ar- rangement the writer called upon him at an eariy moment, and in 4 lengthy conversation M, Mailleiort made plain much concerning the past and present of Hell Gate, First of all, in Fegard to General Newton's operations at Hallett’s Point he said, ‘They will be unquestion- abiy of very great penetit, and the statements that accompauied on each trial by a HERALD revorter, lave been made to the contrary supply absurd, Imvself advocated the removal of the Point and sought to accomplish it twenty yearsago. Any one should see ata glance the effects which will follow the removal of the rocks, jutting out as they do 300 feet beyond the shore and direcily across the line vessels would properly steer in passing through the channel between the main shore and the Gridiron. A Vessel cannot be steered with the purpose of just avoiding the reef. Jt must have room for errors, and an allowance of fifty feet at least will be made. in passing up through the Gate at ebb tide (and the current In the east channel 1s eight knots and a hatt), if tho vessel is run too close in towards the point it will scrike tt, aud if loo great an allow- ance 1s made it will be thrown by the current, set- ting down upon the Gridiron group, ‘her into the middle channel or upon those dreaded rocks. I noticed as I came over in the ferryboat not long sinee a tig thrown upon them in this way, and now lying a wreck high out of water. ‘That ‘alone is a silent but strong argument for the NECESSITY OF THE OPERATIONS now progreasing under General Newton, The simple widening of the channel that wlil be effected by unis work will in itself be of great importance. The channel is now about six hundred ieet in With the removal of the Point 1t will width. be nine hundred fect, and the velocity of the current will be dimtinishea in propor- tion to the widening. My removal of Pot Rock, Way's Reef and perhaps otner rocks at that point,had an indtrect effect and reduced the current from eleven knots to eight and a half, its present velocity. ishould judge that the removal of Haliety’s Point will dimintsh it to probably six knots.”” M. Maillefort then entered into a general account of his opera- tions on Pot Rock, Way’s Reef and Shell Drake, and incidentally recounted the particulars of the explo- sion by which he lost his sight, and which bas been referred to above, In depioring the loss of tme oc- casioned by the accident he suddenly brightened up with the remark that the shock had forever CURED THE RHEUMATISM, with which he had previously been much troubled, and with a grim smile advised the writer alinple remedy in case he ever had an attack of the disease, Speaking of Shell Drake, said he, ‘I reduced its size trom sixty by ninety feet to thirteen by forty, and had the government generously extended my time [ should soon have removed every vestige of it. I have ad much of misiortune to encounter in my twenty years’ efforts to get aid in the removal of these rocka, and finally had to go away and undertake distant operations to better my own fortune. which I sunk out there in the river pro bono ymbiico, At odd times aud independently 1 worked at the DIAMOND REEF and reduced it from 160 feet to three distinct boulders, and, do you know, I had to laugh when 1 some time since saw a report made years ago to the Secretary of War by General Newton, im which he stated that mistakes must have occurred in the re- ports made by the government engineers and sur- veyors some years since, or else that an immense amount of rock had been removed from Diamond Reef for which no one ciaimed credit.” In speaking of the Gridiron M. Matilefort sald:—“Tf the same course is pursued there a3 upon Hallett’s Point and the demolition of the rock is sought to be effected by tunnelling I can only claim this—I could blast it out by surface biasting before the necessary cofler dams could be erected and the main’ operations com- menced."” PRESENT APPEARANCE OF THE MINE AY HALLEIT'S POINT, Landing from the fertyboat to Astoria, which leaves the foot of Ninety-second street, and turning up @ eountry road to the left and thence tarough a lane, you approacn the scene of the government works for the demolition of the reef at Hallett’s Point. Along causeway formed of planks resting on wooden bents leads across a marsh or low Meadow, covered with rauk grass, to the buildings used as an engineer's office, the office of the Super- intendent of Mining and the smithy. Arriving in front of these you find them enclosed by a high [hai fence, and upon the gate before you a notice hat no person Is allowed to enter the works except on basiness, Looking back then, you observe a huge pile of broken fragments of rocks extendin; away over the meadow in a direction parallel wi the causeway. These rocks are irom THE MiNE UNDER THE POINT. If you have in your possession @ pass from Major General Newton, the officer in charge of the govern- ment operations, you pass through tne enclosure and are shown to the office of G, C. Reitheimer, the superiptendent. He is an affable gentieman, of considerable expertence in conducting mining ope- rations, having been in France and with De ps on the Suez Canal, a8 well as employed as superin- tendent of mining on the works at Holyhead, in Wales. In company with the superintendent you proceed some bundred yards towards the extremity of the point, and arrive at the mouth of the shaft, which is sunk with a rough triaugular outline, hav- ing a greatest measurement of 106 by 95 feet, with @ depth of 42 feet below the shore line. Descending into this shaft by means of a huge ladder, over which three or four might clamber abreast at the same time, you Soon reach the bottom, and take at once A LONG BREATA AND A 100K ABOUT You. You hear the constant champing of drilis and sharp blows of tie hammers, mingled with the trickling and splashing soandas of water. In the face of the two angles furthest from you you see the moutus of ten tunnels, and now and then the ae wet figure of a miner enters or emerges rom them. These are all Cornish miners, and there are two hundred of them, bronght from the copper mines of Lake Superior and from the silver mines of Colorado, Nevada and Idaho, Other miners have been tried, but no men save those from Corn. wail can be found long to withstand the effects of wet mining on the system—the rheumatism, the ague and the other results of confinement tn low, damp atmospheres and amid constantly dripping and oozing water. Like all miners, they are stiper- stittous, aud will not work in a tunnel which Is not named in honor of some [tae ge op ol As saints are very rare in America most of the tunnels bear THR NAMES OF SINNERS. Howover, they have been given the benefit of auch of the former as we have ana of any doubt where it exists. First of all, over tunnel No. 1 they were given the name ot Fi t, and over the others respectively the names of Sherman, Jeferson, Madi- sou, Jackson, Humphrey, Frankl rant, Hoffman and McCiellan, As you look upward where these names are inscribed ‘you are struck by the peculiar siatidoation of the rogk. Wile the norgh sid9 of about two the reef shows a pwriectly horizontal stratification, the prevaient rock being mica neavily interspersed with quartz Veins, sometimes three fect in thick- ness AT THE SALIENT POINT; and toward the east and northeast it changes toa Vertical stratification ot the hardest gneiss rock. It may be as well to state here that tue floor line of the shaft is thirty-two feet below mean low water. ‘The distance from the entrance to the tunnels to the extreme point of rock to be demolished 1s three hundred feet. The greatest distance reached so far 1s one hundred and twenty fee’ under the river, the remaining tunnels being im tengta from sixty feet upwards, They are sixteen ieet in width and twenty-three feet in hetght, and are to be intersected al regular distances by seven galleries, one of which is now completed, With the exception of the piers fifteen feet im thickness left standing at each end. Two otner galleries are now tm progress. BXPLOSIVES USED. For opening the line of resistance blasting powder and for benching forwaru giant powder 1s used, in haif pound charges. For cutting the elliptic arches of the different galleries nitro-glycerine, in charges: of one ounce, is used exclusively, Owing to its capa- bility of cutting the material up in small fractions. Samples of thamber stone are exhibited, snowing the hardest gneiss decomposed aimost to the condi- tion of chalk by the action of nitro-glycerine in ex- plosion. Adal the explosives are manufactured at the works, effecting @ saving for the government, 1t 1s stated, Of at least 250 per cent. The tools used in drilling are also manufactured on the spot, from the best American and English steel, and vary in gauge from one inch to an inch and three-fourtus, Advancing aiong one of the tunnels, at the end of which one can just perceive the dusky forms of the miners DRILLING FOR A BLAST, and having for their only ight asmall tallow candie fastened to the rock by a lump of clay, you see the water running past you ina small stream. A cre- vice in the rock nas been struck in blasting, and through it the water pours in from the river over head. Thus in tunnel No. 5 an open seam having been struck the water came in at one time at the rate of thirty gallons ‘per minute. The remedy ap- plied was co drive in oak wedges with plenty of oakum and Roman cement. This is called doctormg. Sometimes an inundation 1s suddenly vhreatened from other causes. For in- stance, some twenty-eight days ago the workmen in tunnel No, 8, while fring forward in the face of the tunnel, struck upon a seam ef decomposed mica twenty-one inches in thickness, After the fring the water rushed in at the rate of SIXTY GALLONS PER MINUTE. This seam was docwored by driving in 200 oak wedges, and by building up a poweriul shield lined With oakum and Roman cement, This treatment ‘Was so successful that the flow of water was reduced to four gallons per minute, ‘ihe face of this tunnel has now, Nowever, to be “worked by gravity,” as it 13 technically catied, or from underneath instead of by benching. In regard to the final explosion the Superintendent sald:—“The elliptic arches will be destroyed by drill- ilg from thirty to thirty-six holes in each arch, the holes to be two feet six inches in depth, one inch in diameter, and drilled at an angie oi forty-five de- grees, These will then be chargod with nitro-gly- cerine, and dired simultaneously by electricity. in case tt is found to be unsafe to cut out the piers they will be blown up by drilling through each a gallery Bix feet high by four feet broad. This gailery wilt be charged with nitroglycerine, the elliptic arches will then be exploded, the water will rush in, and tne explosion of the piers will take eae beneath the surface.” As the writer turned away from the sha& and sought the ferry there was a misty effect in the atmosphere from the drizzling rain. Through this mist the dreaded Gridiron could be located to the mind’s eye by aid of the dark Flood Rock near it, The Great Mill and the Little Mill rocks seemed to rise into.an unnatu- ral prominence, and, ag the mind wandered back over this story of twenty years of unsatisfied and unsatisfactory labor, the question quietly intruded itself, Will not these phantoms, many of them, still haunt the scene when twenty years more have passed, and prove the same terror to a coming gene- ration of mariners that they have been to past ones Case of Geverner Butler—His it—Corruption in the State Gov. TreMont, Nebraska, June 20, 1871. ‘The Constiqational Convention has been in session at Lincoin fof a week, including tts adjournments. It is composed of fifty-two members, and 1s sald to include a good proportion of the able men of the State. Owing to the recent developments and proceed- ings here regarding the impeachment and removal from office of Governor Butler, by a Senate and House of Representatives of his own political atripe, @great Interest is felt in the subject of a new con- stitution, and the best that can be arrived at will no doubt be adopted, It seems to be admitted on all hands that the affatrs of this State have been for some time very loosely conducted, and although public lands, the grant of the national government, have been sold to build the public buildings for the use of the State it is said that these buildings have actually cost the State more than they are worth, Governor Butier’s participation in this business has been brought home to him, but it is very doubtful if he is the only man that ought to suffer. Secretary Adams 1s now acting Governor, and tt is supposed the new constitution will be made to provide for aa election at as early @ date as possible. The height of the Missourt River has greatly inter- fered with the of the freight trains for the Union Pacific Railroad for some weeks past, and stimulates the desire to have the omaha bridge completed. The shore ends are gow nearly to ‘the river’s edge, and all the piers above high water fre in place, 80 that the logk of the thing ig quite encouraging. KU KLUX KLAN CLATTER. A Peep Behind the Scones—How the Old Thing ‘Was Worked—Amusing Contrivances to Scare Poor Sambo—Raw Head and Bloody Bones Strategy—A Word About the ° Crops and Piscioultare. SAVANNAH, Ga., June 20, 1871. Ihave found one at last, A REAL, LIVE, GENUINE KU KLUX: at least he used to be one. I met him on the cara yesterday morning—a tall, six foot four young man, of about twenty-two years of age, and with a new mustache and soft brown eyes, In the course of a general conversation (and it has struck mie as somewhat singular that the people down South almost invariably introduce this subject In speaking to strangers) the subject of the Ku Klux was brought forward. I ventured to express some doubts as to there ever having been AN ORGAINZED BAND OF KU KLUX. My soft-eyed companion smiled a fascinating smile and suld he thought J was mistaken, “In fact,’ said he, “1was once a Ku Klux myself,” and the soft eyes shot a gleam or two that seemed to indicate that he would very much enjoy being a Ku Kiux ' again. He went on to say:—“1t was two years or 40 ago when I nved in Montgomery, Ala.,/ that ten’ of ua all young men, organized a Ku Klux Klan. We ORGANIZED TO PRIGHTEN THE NEGRORS and to have some fun, Doubtless you saw in the papers of that time long accounts of our mysterious doings. We trst thought of the organization to scare the negroes froin the Loyal League meetings, There was a young medical student among our numa ber who had TAR SKELETON OF A MANs We frightened more negroes with this skeleton than in any other way, Taking it out on the road toward where there was a large negro settlement We would attach a small, strong cord to tt, and put it over a limb overhanging the road. We would then get securely back, and whenever a negro came along the skeleton would be gradually let down ur front of him. If it was too dark for tim to see tt he: Wouid feel tne coid, hard bones, aud if he could aee ivit never fauted to frighten him half to death, and iether case the negro ran as hard as he could, yelling ‘MURDER! ‘GHOSTS! AND ‘KU KLUX! And, sir, [tell you the negro that wouidn’t ‘nol. fer’ when that skeleton touched him wasn’t tn the neighborhood of Montgomery.’ And the soft eyea were closed in their owner’s Keen relish of the tong- ago iright of the negroes, $ wasn’t there danger in your peculiar way of ENOUGH DANGER TO MAKE IT ENJOYABLE, We were fired at several times, but none of us were ever tit Tue darkies, you know, are very super- stittons, and firmg at us so often and never bringi! down any game, they grew more and more terrifle: atthe tall white appariuons that would suddeny confront them in the dark woods. You seed am very tall myseif; well, two of us, with white sheeta thrown over us, would get on the side of tho road, and, getting one on the shouiders of the other, squat as low down as possible, Then wnen the negroes came along we would slowly rise up, getting taller and taller, antil the negroes would swear we were KU KLUX FORTY FEET HIGH,” “Did you never shoot back at the negroes?” “Oh, no. We never used the least bit of violence during the continuance or our organization. There ‘Was one ume when we were all pretty badly fright- ened. There was a large negro meeting of some kind being held in front of the State House one even- ing. We got about two pounds of this stuff they make blue lights with in the theatres and put it around the gateway to the Capitol, When the meet- ing got pretty weil under headway we TOUCHED OFF OUR LITTLE HELL, and Ite you hell was to pay then, sure enough. We had put enough of that stuif there to have lasted Niblo’s Garden for twelve months, ‘The flames— blue, devilish looking Names—snot up about fifty fect. Lhe fire pells were rung, the whole police force ordered out and the negroes were nea! frightened to death. ‘They rushed out into the stree and as nearly EVERY ONE OF THEM WAS ARMED, they fired their pistols indiscriminately in every di- rection, We kept the negroes thoroughly fright ened around Moutgomery for some time. if remem- ber, on anotner occasion, we had inserted In the morning papers a notice to the eifect tuat the K. K. K, would MEET AT THE DEN OF DEATH at the sound of the earthquake. That evening wa got about thirty pounds of powder and went out toward the cemetery, where there was an old piece of artillery. This we cleaned up, loaded it to the muzzle, put @ slow match to it and got out of the way. And when that gun went off you can bet there Was a little earthquake, sure enough.” “How long did you keep up this INNOCENT AND RECHERCHE PASTIME ?"" “Well, after awhile the boys got tired of it, and when bad mon commenced to do mischief under the name of Ku Kiux we disbanded our organization.’? Soon after the soft-eyed Ku Klux (who is the son of a clergyman of some note) took his depart and so came and went the first Ku Klux 1 have been able to discover bodily. THR CROP PROSPECTS IN GEORGIA are more flattering than in Alabama or Mississip) The crops are not so forward. and, consequently, have not been so badiy damaged by the rains, Both corn and cotton are smail, and have a pale, sickly look, but are in a good state of cultivation. ‘In Ala- bama and Mississippi—the latter State especially— the crops are almost overgrown with grass and Weeds, and here the fields are clean and appear well ihe Ne of the S grad fhe people of the South are ually learnt lessons that evidently will convince then that the North was not alone their victor in the late war. Just before leaving Alabama I visited yet ae ONLY FISH NURSERY IN THE SOUTH, yet another evidence that the le are turnit their attention to new sources of internal nn} vo ment. The nursery belongs to Colunel wie Penn Yonge, and 1s located in Lee county, about seven miles from Opelika. Before the commence- ment of ihe war Colonel Yonge laid out a park in front of his residence of about thirty acres. At the foot of this park he built a lake of about ten acres, beautifying it with bays, inlets and isiands, and rare shrubs and flowers. The lake 1s fed by thirty-one ditferent springs, rising within the space of one and a half acres at the upper part of the park. The war brought its reverses and dis- asters, and that which was built for ornament an pleasure became the means of support and profi Jolonel Yonge discovered after the war that with- ont any efort of his own his pond had become stocked with TROUT, PERCH AND VARIOUS OTHER FISH. He then conceived the {dea of entering into the bus- iness of pisciculture, Smaller ponds were built in the streams leading from the diferent streams for the growing of diferent kinds of fish, and now his fish, nursery is attracting much attention. The State of Alabama has interested itself enough in the subject to appoint turee commissioners on pisciculture, and members of the Legislatures of other States have expressed their intention to call the attcation of their respective bodies to the subject. yel CRIME IN NORTH CAROLINA, A Remarkable Dream Vorifed=A Lady Mardered und Her House Robbed—A Husband’s Vongeanco—The Murderers Shot. kroHMOND, Va., June 27, 1871. The Whig of to-day has an account of a brutal murder committed across the border, in Wilkes county, North Carolina, a few days since, and the circumstances of which are not litwe remarkaole. The account ig as follows:—“It appears that a gen- tleman, residing in that county, a few days previcus to the marder, sold to a neighbor a tract of land, for which he received $1,000 In cash. Business catl- ing him away from home soon after, he left the money with his wife, and on re turning he stopped over night with a fmend living some ten or twelve miles distant from his home. In the night he dreamed that some men had entered his house, murdered mie’ wile and two children, stolen his woney and de- stroyed his property, Knowing that he had left the money with his wife he became uneasy and restless, atter his dream and requested a pedier who wee stopping at the house with him to accompany hi at once to his home, for he feared there was a realli in the dream. On arriving at his home to his horror he found fis wife murderedand two men sitting at a table counting owt the money he had left with hia wife, He and the pedier being armed, immedi fired upon the men and killed them, who turned out to be the man to whom he had sold the land and from whom he had received the $1,000 and his son.. ‘This is one of the most astrocious murders upon record, and shows what foul decds money wil'¥ a men to commit,” CATHOLIC CHURCH TROUBLES. Misunderstanding Among the Cat Hwison—A Priest Shat Out of His Church by Fils Congregation. Hopson, N. Y., June 27, 1871. A long growing disaffection between the Cathollo Priest in this city and his congregation cult last Sunday morning by about two hundred of the latter forming around the church entrance and denying the priest admittance when he appeared at the morning mass. After come altercation tha priest retired without holding service. This morn- ing he appeared at the police court for forty war- rants for arrest, but as yet no person competent has been found to endorse the warrants, It Logks o8 16 the trouble Would become serious,