The New York Herald Newspaper, September 20, 1876, Page 3

{ ? al THE GREAT MINE. Precautions Taken to Guard Against All Accidents. RENDING THE ROCK. How the Columns and the Roof Rock Will Be Destroyed. FLOODING THE MINE. The Operation ‘Performed bv Means of a Siphon. THE BATTERY BOMBPROOF. Boxing the Wires Leading Through the Headings. OF OPINIONS ENGINEERS. low the Astorians Regard the Approaching Big Blast. The destruction of every part of Hallott’s Pcint reef above the lovel of twenty-eight feet soundings by the tinfultancous explosion of several thousand holes filled with heavy charges of nitro-glycerine and dynamite ts an undertaking that nocossitates the utmost precaution to guard against accidents and failure. With regard to the provisions against the former they must be con- sidered in two classes, Jocal and general, and as such they will be explained iu tho prosent article. The first care of tho enginecrs is to protect the exploding Spparatus from injury by any parts of the rock that may be projected from the reot by tho ‘orce of the explosion. This they have accomplished in the manner hereimafter described, In a large mass of atratitied rock such as that of Hallett’s Point reef, which bus been excavated with tunnols and transverse galler- fea, the effects prodaced by equal charges of explosives {nm all tho holes will differ very much in character. It mast be romembered that the resitance offered by # & mass of rock to the lorco of the explosion is meus- ured by the shortest distance from tho contre of tne bharge to the free surface and by the cohesiveness of the atoms of which the rock is formed, Tho first is termed the line of least resistance, or that along which the energy of the expanding gas generated by the combustion of tho explosive finds the loast ob- stacle to its force. It a hollow sphere of tron, a shell, for instanco, with eccontric interior and exterior cir- ‘umferences, is charged with powder and fred, the ‘vacture will take place where the shell 18 thinnest, and wbowl shaped portion will remain unbroken. In like manner, iia cubical block of stone is perforated ob- Iiquely to the plano of its sides, so as to leave a greater mass of the stono on vno sido of the hole Moan the other, the weaker portion will bo whattored to pieces by the explosion of the sharge, while the heavier and stronger part will be only cracked intopreces, Now, if the density Of the gnoiss rock at Hallett’s Point was equal through- but the entire mass it would be the easiest thing pos- wble for experienced mining engineers to calculate and, indeed, to regulate, the effects that would bo pro- Quced by the explosion, ‘They could graduate their sharges both as to strength and regulate thom as to lo- cation im oxuct accordance with the necessities of the case, and feel contident in the rosuits being as they desired to produce them. But. with a forma- tion variable in its naturc, and this varia- on being = complicated = by _stratification, am! iarther by the peculiar directions of the galleries 04 headings with relation to the lino of stratification, the difficalty of determining positive rosults increases hundred fold. Tho axis of the roof in this instance {s coincident witn its stratification—that is, it projects tnto the channel in the aume direction as the altun- ment of the layers of rock, and, consequently, somo of the headings have been driven at right angles with this line, and across the stratification, While, therefore, the explosion will split some of the supporting columns ‘mto regular bigcks of the same thickness of the several strata, the effort of the force in others «will be to} §=tear =the —roek across what might be called iis grain. To mako this a Ittle clearer, let us supposo two blocks of wood cut from the same piece, and with the same character of fibre. Now, one of these ts simply split by the action of a wedge with comparatively little effort, while if we try to toar tho other end from end the resistance will be immense. In the same way the explosives will operate at Hallott’s Pout reef on tho rock columns that support the rool. To overcome the differ. ence inthe resistanco of the rock the enginoers have made careful calculations by which they determined the requirements for each column sopa- rately. Perfect diagrams of the mass were made, giv- ing its variations of outline at several heights trom tbe ground line to where it connoets with the roof, The stratification was indicated on these, together with the peculiar dogree of cohesiveness in tho ies of cach sirgtum, so that in reality the graduation of the charge i made to depend on local conditions, each set of cartridges having a specified amount of work to porform on a given mass of rock. If the utmost foresight, therefore, cau so- taro the best results, so far as the destruction of tho columns is concerned, the operations at Hallott’s Point promise to be eminently successtul. With rogard to the root rock or the untouched shell of the reef, all the varying conditions @escribod in the’ columns exist in it also, with the additional complication of its arch- Nike “shape which makes it almost self sustaining. Could the columns be removed from under this rocky ‘shell the probabiuity ts that it would not fail to sustain tts own weight aud that of the supertncumbent water, In dealing, therefore, with the roof, General Newton has wisely limitod is prospective results to a general frac- ture of the sbeli with mwoderaie charges introduced @t considerabio intervals. These charges being fired ultaneously with those that shatter and rend the columns beneath are intended to assist in break- ing up the root, while it subsides on the débris of the co! intention whatever to blow t! i$ in sinall pieces will be found the value of this plun as a local precaution Against accident. «In order that any portion of the shattered columns should bo thrown by the force of the explosion wo uw great distance it should first be blown througn a covering of ten feat thick of rock which immediately overlies it with & foree that could not be imparted by a monster rifled gun, Kven though an opening iarg: ough to per quit the passage through of such ing column of water mi deep, would so retard its motion as to cause Wt to rise but 4 few feet above the river surface. In ordinary blasting Operations, such ax those commonly witnessed in tho work of street grading and sewer cutting up town, it ls saat to cover the joaded hole betore tring with a number of logs chained together, $0 a4 to prevent tho stone from souttering with the shock of the explosion. Now, tho roof rock at Haliett’s Point acts in the vory fame Way on tho | uvily loaded columns, and will pre- vent any danger froin arising when the latter are being blasted, FLOODING THE WORKINGS, The imtroduction of water into every part of tho works betore firing must also be regarded as a local precaution of two-fold valine. In the firat place tt What ts called tanps the great mine in the most per- fect manner by filling it with @ powerful eceastant to the escape Of ihe gaves betore they have accompished their work. In the absence of tamping the line of least tevistanee would be alung the axis of the blast howe tselt und, thereiore, rounding rock, ‘explosion pass off through the bole as it does through the barrel of agun, In « louded rife, for tnstance, tho ballet aces as & partial Lamping dor the churge, inclosing it 60 ts to concentrate the energy of the explosion. But as the resistance offered by the bullet is very much lest shad that oltered by the barrel itself, the jie of leass ferisiance i in the direction of the ballet and along the barrel, If the bullet was tightly wedged in the gun, Ko that the expiosion could not dislodge it quickly, the gun Would burst iike the rock when the charge ix exploded. Bus it will be asked, and Very natarally, how water will offer as much Matance ju the depths of the Hallett’s Port mine she rock that surrodads the cartridge, Water, when iuclosed in 4 circumseribes place and without any thunce of moving, becomes ns inert us stono Its pres- pure increaes im direct proportion to ity depth, 50 twat at (he bottom of the shalt, say thirty-six fect be- low igh water lovel at the time of the explosion, each square foot of surtace at that would be pressed on with a weight equal toubout 1,250 pounda, ora Kittle more than ittecn poufids per square inch, ‘NEW YORK HERALD; ‘WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1876.~TRIPLE SHEET. ‘ and as the water could not weld fre went ot eral Newton will send invitattome thither as soon as be considerable. But anothor pomt mast be remem! io this connection, and that is the rapidity of combustion hie ity of the explostvos used. Water resists a sudden applica- tion of pressure but yields easily toa slow one. This is very simply illustrated by droppings stone into a pond f great he and ropeating the operation it a stone is thrown off the 10; vacant the resistance offered to the foree of caplenien will the water with great force, causing a break in tho sur- face of tho river, which could only occur through tho water offering a powerful resistance to the of the stone. The stone then sinks to the bottom with a ratively slow deseent. Now, take anothef stone old it only one foot above the surtace of the water, Drop 11, and 1¢ will enter the water without causing any considerable disturbance, and will reach the bottom in the same time as did the stone dropped trom the great beight. It shows, therefore, that when a powerful blow is suddenly administ to a water surface, t) resistance will be in proportion to the energy of 11 shoek, and in this way it is possible to show that water jorms a greater obstacle to the expansion of the gases from the exploding cartridges than the rock itself that surrounds them, the resistance of the latter being un- variable, while that of the former is augmented, as explained above. ith the cavernous chambers then filled with water it will be impossible for the charges to fail in destroying the rock columns completely, provided the former are properly located and of the necessary strength. Regarding the flooding of the workings as a measure of precaution against the projection of of rock itcan be reauily seen that it will prove effectual, It bas been stated by some engincers that be- cause masses of rock were thrown upward from great depths of water by the force of explosions that there necessarily danger to be apprehended at Hallets’s Point, but the circomstances that surround this unique work difler wholly from those attendant on ordinary submarine blasting. Ithas been shown that the roof rock acts as 4 guard ugainst the dying rd of pieces from the columus; it has aiso been n that water resists pressure tn proportion to the of that proseure. It may be also stated that a Dody moving through water, either siowly or rapidly, tends to tuliow the line of least resistance, which would be a line perpendicular to tho surlace, Therefore a miss of rock flying from the ccatre of expiosion sbould first overcome the resistance of the water, which would tend to decrease its motion; second, it would be stopped by the descending weight of the roof rock; and, third, even if newher of these influences acted decidedly on its movement, its course should of neces- sity be upward {n'a perpendicular line, and ite full naiurally in the exactly opposite dircetion, No one ever suw a piece of stove blown out of deep water ina direction at jess than a mght angle with its surface, therefore all fear of flying ne of Tock reaching New York, Astoria or Ward’s i might be dismissed as abeurd, | When all the other, pt tions are completed the operation of filling the workings will be accomplished by means of a siphon which ig arranged to pass through the cotfer dam and admit the water with an easily regulated flow, We present a diagram of the syphon and its mode of operation with the present article. When ready to be used and tho tide at the full height tho inlet valve will be opened on the top of the sypbon, on which the water will once flow in and expel the air from the entire. iongth of the AB tide falls below the level of the top of the tube the flow will cease to depend on gravitation, aud will assume the charac- ter peculiar to siphenic action The water will bo drawn up into the tube by the difference of pressuro of the atmosphere on the surface at the short end from that on the water onthe longend. This can be ¢: difference betwoen the weights of 1 jong and the short columns of water, the operation of the syphon being dependent on a disturbance of the equilibrium of pressure, When the excavation is fillod to the river level the cofler dam will be partially re- moved, so as to admit of alree flow of water in and out, according as the tide rises and falla. ‘TH BOMB PROOY SURLTRR YOR THK BATTERIES. As ap extraordinary precaution against accidents General Newton bas caused to be built a stout bomb proot building for sheltering the butteries during tho explosion. Tho structure, of which a sketch ts givea herewith, is a solid framowork of heavy timbers braced supported in the most substantial manner and sheoted over with pine boards firmly spiked to the framing, Over all this is built a cover- ing of dry masonry many feos thick and strong enough to resist the assaults of artillery, Wathin the building aro placed the two large batterios and other apparatus that are requirod for the explosion. Although this precaution was begins it is certain that no injury would have reached the batteries or their connections, THM GEXMRAL K¥FRCT OF THR EXPLOSION. Although mach alarm exists 1g the effect of the explosion of so much nitro-glycerine and dynamite witbin a contracted space, it 1s wholly groundiess waen tested by tho conditions which are believed to be its exciting cause. The rok columus, which will really she largest share of the explosives, can only transmit a downward shock to their bases, bocause tney are wholly isolated trom eactrother by the sur- rounding water, and the roof rock through which a shock might be transmitted tothe permaneot = portion of tho rect will be seporated trom it at tho same moment that the columns are rout. A heavy blow that will be folt more at a distance from than close up to the explosion will cortainly result, but 1t will not be of r to cause serious alarm. The thi ot Gon ‘ton regarding the eflect of the ‘blow up’? is perfectly peerecky Ret wena AaCtne the efforts of the alarmists that seek to subvert it, ‘The yeneral procautions taken by the official works and the police will prevent any accide: curring to over adventurous persons who may desire to inspect the scene prematurely. Such being the case the public will await the day fixed on for the Groat ovent with the utmost confidence, ot the THE EXCITEMENT OVER THE COMING EXPLO- SION—SCARE AMONG THE PROPLE OF AsTO- RIA—A MAY MORNING If SEPTEMBER—LOOK OUT YOR THIEVES—THE WORK APPROACHING COMPLETION. “No dynamite !’’ was still the cry at the government works at Hell Gato yesterday, and consequently the workmen were “busy doing nothing,’’ as tho foreman expressed it, In other words they were moving sca(- folding inthe tunnels, carrying off implements no longer required in the mine, and doing whatever could bo founa to-Keep them out of mischief and in working order ready to handle the anxiously looked for material when it should arrive. Carpenters were employed all day in building and getting into place a serics of buxes made of one inch pine plank, each about twelve feet long and une foot square inthe clear. These will be joined together endwise to form a continuous trough or case which will run from the bottom of the shaft up to the surface of the ground and thence across to the vombproof structure containing the battery. Ra- diating from the end of this box, which rests upon the floor of the shaft, will be smaller boxes of a similar character, one leading to the mouth of each heading. * Through each of these smaller ones the ox- ploding wires {rom its own heading will be thrust in order to keep them from injury trom falling bodies or othor causes, All tho wires trom the entire 189 groups will thus converge in the larger box or pipe and puss through it to tho battery, The siphon, already de- scribed, was also completed yesterday. _ THE DYNAMITE COMING, Late in the afternoon a message was received trom the contractors stating that tho dynamite was theo veing shipped and would be delivered at an early hour this morning. Should itarrive without acciaeat, tho work of charging the holes, which is not yet com- Pleted, will at once be proceeded with and at the same time the Gilling of the primers or explodent cartridges ‘will go on in the littie temporary sheds erected for that purpose at four different points upon the grounds. Snould nothing unexpected happen, the charg- tug, putting in the primers and flooding tho exeuvation will probably all be completed by | Saturday night In that case the expiosion will occur on Sanday next, as General Newton will not permit the mino to remain one moment longer than is necessary after the arrangomenss shall have been com- pleted. The Goneral hasbeen much annoyed by let- ters [rom persons seeking to verity the correctness of statements made by newspapers to the eifect that tho | “big blast’ would occur on certain days He has never been able to do more than conjecture the timo himself, aud bis guesses have all been thrown out of jowst by the delays of the contractors referred to. Should th tmateriat arrive this morning, # the blast will occur on Sunday, uf Monday at furthest. Notwithstanding the wide adver- Lisement given to the fact that mo visitors are admitted, hundreds visited the piace yesterday, and all U Vigilance of the one-armed guardian of the spot was required to keep them from scaling the low fence which shuw in the grounds. Among the sightseers were nota few ladios, who, despite the Gangerous character of tho locality, wero exceedingly disappointed im not being able to gain admittance. ‘The pleas on which admission if asked are varied as they amusing, but the instructions of the watch. mun are peremptory, aod Do one passes bim who has not the special perwission of Generai Newton or Cap- tain Mereur. WHEN THE EXPLOSION WILL MAVPEX. Notice of the time of the explosion will be given by the ollicials’ just as soon as they with any degroe of certainty can tell when tt will occur. It will be udver- tised in the newspapers and notices will be posted up at prominent points in the viewity. Porsons living very close to the reefwiil be notified by men sent -ectly to their houses, Arrangements for the preser- vation of order on tie oceasion i been almost com- pleted. On the shore a t of some fifty oldie: Irow the fortifications in the harbor will be drawn ap to hoe short distance irom the shalt to keep at proper distanee the. throng ut curious people who will doubtless be on bund. Police Captain Woods of Long Isiand City will also de- tail about thirty policemen to aseivs the military, On the river red flags will be waved to notify vessels of tho danger and when the river opposite the mine is treed of ali cratt four steamboats, exch with w States troops on board, will block the cl uid two below the line ot t York Harbor police and the Steamboat Squad will be detailed vo the scene and w no doubt, do good service in preventing the two near a proach of the hundreds ot small boats whieh will convey wightseors to the vicinity of the explosion, The tour ateainboats reterred to Will have on board persons in- vitod by the government officials vo witness the blast. It is expected that many prominent officials trom Washington will be present on the occasion, as Gen- the time for the event can be fixed. The stoamboata will cach leave a different pier on tho Kast River on the of the explosion with the invited guesia A limited number of tickets have been printed for the occasion, and they will be judiciously distributed, Fi Ala ted on fine cardboard, and read as fol- jows:— EXPLOSION AT HELL GATE, September —, 1876. 2 Steamer will leave yor Fast River, at 3 —PM Show this curd at the boat. 3 ONCOL OC ELE LETT TELE EEL OEE EIOL DE OEE LED 2 ‘The place of departure and the date, :t will bo ob- served, are left blank, and will be filled in with pen and ink when the time and place shail have been de- cided upon. The jolly Teuton who dispenses beer just outside the grounds exclaimed yesterday :— “Mine Gott, I hope dey blow it up on Larsen, g de@ growd vill all goom om Sunday, und 1 vill s hoondred kegs of peer !'’ AMXIRTY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. The forthcoming explosion of Hulles’s ont Reef be- ing the all-absorbing topic at the present time, & is but natural to infer that those residing in its immediate vieinity should feel very uneasy a8 to its probable effects. Thero 18 no exaggeration in saying that in and around Astoria there is a widespread fear of danger, and no eassurances from General Newton will in the least tend to allay that ‘fear. The expressed opinions of many engineers that the fect will be vastly different irom what Gon ton prediets seem to have taken deep hold o ple in general, aud ail aro making preparations to ert as far as poasible the expected demolition of Property. . Den ell a SAVE THE CHIMNEYS. An old gentleman whose dweliing, somewhat remoto from the scene of the expected explosion, boasts of a rather high chimney, was yesterday seon taking down v useiul appendage, lifting off the bricks one by one and piling them up in hts garden. 1t was bettor, ho said, to take them down safely than bavo them thrown down, and mayhap crush through the roof of uis house in their fail. Within the grounds on which the government work- shops stand, avd but 100 feet from the mine, stands a neat two story brick dwelling, with pitch roof, occupied by Thomas Code, night’ watchman, and bis family, consisting ‘of & Wife and ten children. Beto the land was leased vy the government, seven yours the house was occupied by the watchman oi tory which stagd upon the land, id when it was vacated General Newton permitted Code, whom he then employed as wateh- man, to occupy it rent free, It would be too much to expect this building to withstand tne shock, and the General has notiticd Thomas that he must romove this week. The poor fellow was on the lookout through Astoria zorterdey for another dwelling, and the toars stood in his eyes as he spoke of having to leave the tasteful little edifice he has spent so many years in. ON THR NEW YORK sHoRE. Right across trom the reef to be demolished, modern society, and the careloss disposition of various household articles indicated the unrestrained bubits of athougbiess bachelor. Upon a shelf uailod sguinst the wall in one corner was strewo somo straw, which ovidently verved for u bed, & gonb was playfully butting its horns against the weather boarding in the ,rear wall of the mansion, a troop of ducks waddled promiscuously aboat the floor givimg vent to their peculiar ery, and seated near a small pine table gazing at thom with acaleulat- ing alr was the man of the house. Ho w: out ity yoars old and attired ina blue flannel shirt much the ree for wear, and a pair of blue overalls, while bis feet, encased in lime barned brogaus, were elevaied upon the table. Ho y upon the reporter throagh the whifls of smoke emitted from a pipe which breathed odors not ambrosial, as it be were an old ace quaintance, fect happiness and sel{-satistaction. “Woll, old man,’? said the scribe, ‘when do you ex- peet to be biown up?” “Aw, begorra, that’s all done with,” said he, phil- osophically, “1 berrid ber last week.” “Buried what, whet “Th? ould ooinan. Ye weren't at the wa! ‘The reporter stated that he now learned for the first time of the decease of the old gentleman’s partner and roveeded to ask whether ho expected any datage to Bis house from the big blast across the river. “Ob, divil a bare,’ betwoen whills at the pipe. “Tho ——a cornish ivi knock off anyway.” Looking ubout for the invisible cornices alladed to, the reporter eaw 4 twinkling of fun in the old tellow’s eye “Weill, [don’t know,” he ventured; ‘you will get a hard shake here.” “T wouldn't doubt it. Begorra, everybody shakes me since I got bounced off the big pipes.’ You're right ob the line of the reet and the rock is solid. It’s gueiss, you know."” “Nico, is it? [don’t care u traneen what it is iv it Keeps its distance av me.” ‘There was clearly nothing to be elicited here, and the reporter departed, !eaving the old mau pulling com- placently at his pipe. In Ninety-second street, near tho river, a frame house, two stories high. beams along the iniddie of the street up toward Second avenue. in Eighty-fitth street, also, a small ho Doing tnoved in the same direction. ‘Ou, mon,’ claimed a Hibernian car driver yesterda: the workinen sliding the buildings along, “they're get- tin’ frightened, and no mistako, when they're movin’ the houses out av the way av the blaast!”? WHAT AN EXPERT THINKS OF THE nt Professor B. Muillefert, who was engayed by the merchants of New York to remove some ol the Hell Gate obstructions as long ago as 1851, and who, by his own method of surlace blasting, suc much reducing the height of Pot Rock, Frying Pan Rock, Way’s Reef and halt a dozen others, returned aboot two weeks since Irom Charleston, 5. C., whore be has been onguged in removing obstructions from the bar- bor. He lives m a neat cottage on the airect line of the reef to be blasted and only about 200 feet from the shalt. Asked by a Hxnatp reporter yesterday whether he thought there was any danger to 37. HELL GATE. No. 1—Section of the Main Shaft Showing the Syphon in Position. No. 2—Bombproof Shelter for the Exploding Batteries. the river in $ tho lofty brick building beer. Besides presenting a side six stories high to tne mine, the structure has three stories under ground filled with barreis of beer. The upper story of the wing running parallel with the river is used us on ice house. In winter time ice js stured here in huge poured ivto the chinks until the mass freezes into one solid block of ice, 200 feot long, 75 leet wi foet thick. During the summer months this, o! melts pretty irecly and becomes much reduced in size. ‘The block room weighs about 5,000 tons, and it bi space of four or five feet interven: the building allaround. The proprietor is very much excited over the proposed blast, which he thinks may cause such a concussion of air as will shake the wails of his building; and should the immense imass of ice described be given even a «light impetus, there is no doubs that it would slide across the floor and tearing throagh the walls of the building, 'y destraction im its path like a miniature aya- Bhepberd, at the foot of Ninetieth street, built ona rock nearly opposite Hallett’s Point, might naturally feel alarmed, it was visited by the reporter, who saw , Mother Magdalen, She said she being assured by General Newton, who calied there last June, that whe and her charge might restin perfect peace of mind. The Genera! toid her that beyond the throwing up of a volume of water, with #mail fragments of rock, noth- ing would be seen, and that the vibration would be scarcely perceptible. Her only cause of anyihing + in the shapo of fear was about that portion of iho building known a@ St Joseph's class, occupied vy the Junior delinquents, and which was found to be erected onacloft in the rock. Except for that all felt per- tectly secure. Passing across the avenue to St Joseph’s (German) Orphan Asyium, the reverend Mother stated that they, too, felt no anxiety; indeed, so tittle tear had they that io time of recreation some of the Sisters would indulge in jokes about the matwer, one saying e would ascend to the roof as the most socure place, aud another descend to the cellar, so that 10 tho event of tho tall of the building’ she would savo them the trouble of burial Asa measure re yard, Mr. Long- wireet, superintendent of the Harlem boats, asked |. Brown, proprietor of the restaurant at tho Ninety- third street ferry, to find bim a suitable place for deburk- ing ugers in the ueighborbood on that day. He was given a landing close to the forry, and intenus putting ve boats, This point commands one of the tinest views to be found, aud Brown will avail bimsel! of the opportunity by having reserved seats on ri olsewhere for nis patrons wad friends. A poiice force of 100 mon will be dota! A MAX WHO 8 NOT The reporter wandered up the slope by Ninety-third street, and seeing the door of a somewhat dilapidated one stery habitation standing opon, bo approached it and looked within. Every bing around betokened the home of one free from tue silly conventionslities of viocks until the piace is filled, aud then water is | between it aod the walls of | be apprehended from the explosion he replied most emphaticaily in the negative. Since his return he says he has gone down into tho tunnels and carotully exain- sned every detail, aud he is fully satistied that the work will be a great success, He was much impressed with the evidences of extreme carefulness on every hand, and 40 coniident des ho ec! that the shock will not cre- ate any damage that he has not removed even the wost fragile furniture from bis house, although itis much closer wo the mine than any ot When questioned as to whether the blast would produce anything in the way of au exhibition for the curious M. Mailleiert de- clared that it would doubtless be a grand and impres- sive sight. He thinks that from the centre of the cavern & shalt of water and broken rocks will shoot up mito the air a weight of 125 feet or more, This mass, however, be believes, will fall back ito its place without damaging anythirg. Questioned about the effect of the explosion on the cofler dam which rests upon the reet to bo domolished the geutlemau said its fragments would bo thrown a-considerable distance, but provably im an up- ward direction #0 98 to hurt nothing. ‘The reporter asi M. Mailietert whether he would remain ta his house when the blast was exploded, and he replied that be was not afraid to do xo but it was understood that the government officials would not permit any one, in- doors or out, within the cordon of military und police on that day. AW RSGINEER'S PRARS Mr. W. H. Nanne, late supermtendent of the Costa Rica Railway, who is living im thia city at present, said — “T don’t think it possible for any one to even approx. imately estimate the force and extent of a shock irom the explosion of a mine of such magnitude, for it has | never been tried. The blowing up of Blossom Rock, in San Francisco bay, is no nore to be compared to 16 than # fire cracker toa bomb; 45,000 pounds of giant powder wore used on it, at Hallott’s Point about 45,000 pounds of an explosive ten times as poweriul is dis- tributed through the 3,680 drill holes." “You seem to think, then, sir, that tho experiment will be a dangerous one ?"’ “That L would uot bike to ray. but I certainly shail take care not to bo in auy tail house up town wien the mine ts sprung.” “Then you think it dangerous ?”” “Weil” —hesitating for « motwent—"I don't wi but, to speak candidly, | do! vere shock?” sto n cnvelupo with & this i# Hailett’s Point, which 18 simply the ng Ota lead of guciss rock which extends Astoria, under and across the river, und under a section of upper New York. In the heart of this reef, upon which all Astoria and # large section ot two wards in New York Ix founded, it 8 proposed to simu. late an earthquake. Do you know the cousequences of iden disturbance of tho foundations of tail #light that disturbance really may “Well, fit your knowledge to my theory and reflect on it. We are asked to believe that a quarter of a milo of earth, which has been converted into a colossal bat- tery charged with the most powerful explosives known, will cramble tuto fragments without a convulsion. La uch @ theory anatural one? Ask any one who has ‘The man was evidently in a mood of per- | 18 being moved on sliding | er orked in mines, whero oven powder juces a severe concussion, Or let mu give you a bint from my own experiences. “While bridging the Matina River, on tho Atlantic section of the Costa Rica Railroad, & favorite mothod of fishing with us was the explosion of eight ounce cartridges of dynamite in the river, The con- cussion resulting from the firing of three of these ges tied together was sufficient to stun all tho hin an area of a quarter of a mile squ and send them floating helplessly down stream into our nets, My tent was pitched on a lead of rock trom the edge of which the cartridges were usually thrown into the river, und every explos:on lollowed by a vere she Kueh time « charge was exploded, too, a shower of water und small stones were thrown up from the river bed, which was In that place, AT LRAST TWELVE FEET WKLOW THE SURFACK.”? “Po you contemplate avy casualty in the vicinity of the explosion itself, Mr, Nan??? “None, unless people in boats are incautious enough to venture near euough to the mine to be struck by the Iragments which are certain to be thrown up. Tho danger, in in the convulsion certain to be reef, ‘The theory of a tidal i» preposterous. There will, of course, be an up- beaval of water over the mine, trom which #certain swell will arise, bat it will subside as quickly os 16 orig- mated.”? ' “Do you think the explosion will be a success?” “It cannot fail to be; why, you could almost blow a mountan down with the same amount and quality of materi It will be the end of the rock—and a good many houses which stand on the lead, You may be bound if Towne’ a house in Astoria I would begin to move out to-day. Loss OF The thing that must PE ON THE WoRK, rike wil who are familiar with the magnitude of the undertaking is the comparatively small sacrifice of human life. Up to the present but six lives were lost, and all through carclessneys—two by entering before a biast went off, one by a rock fall- jug through the roof of a shed which he was frequently forbidden to enter, aud the three others om the drill seow lately, The watchful cure and supervision of General Newton and his assistants had much to do with this, yet many there say that the pablic would have felt very un- easy bad they but known the gross carelossness or recklessness on the part of some pf the employés, and the inanner in which they handled the most dangerous explosives. It was but a few days ago that a car- tridge fell from the bauda of one of the men while charging. Not long since a sloop, having a supply of explosives on board, Was anchored at night ip Hallet’s Cove, betwoen the Astoria ferry and the steamboat lunding at Ravens- wood, In the morning as two men in a rowboat were towing her to the works she was forced by the current into the ferry dock, where abe got stuck, anda tug had to be sicnalled to take her up to the works, The passengers on the various boats may notice on Little sul Rock a small wooden shed built’ on the rock, in shape like @ tent, and tunocently covered with an advertisement of the “Rising Sun Stove Polish; yet imside that simple and apparealy harmless stricture 38 stored, immediately over the water, a quantity of mitro-glycerine. The bowsprit of a vessel coming in contact With it might result im an experience of 18 explosive or mon-explasive qualities. Tho lettering of the advertisement was at one time used us bull’s-eyes for a rifle unui the marksman was informed of its contents A MICTERESQUE SCRNK, No more striking or picturesque scone can pe found than that presented by the works upon a fair day, Down within the gloomy portais ol the tunnel one catches glimpses of dark, gnome-like figures moving busily to and fro by the flickering light emitted trom tiny lamps attached to their heads, like the tra- Gitional stars upon the brows of fairies Flashing through the darkness now and then comes a gleam re- ilected trom one of the tin cartridge casos being dis- posed in the rock, and which, by some cu- tious alchemy of the lamps, seem into a bar of burnished gold G one almost believes he 1s looking upon a Wagner's famous trilogy, and that the figures below are those of the “Nibelimgon” heaping up their gold beneath the bed of the Riune. Th illusion ts hohe ened when the spectator raises his eyes to tho biue river flowing above, and turning toward where Big Mill Rock proudly rises wvove the Water he.ulmost expocts to see the nymphs gracetuily reclining upon its verdant slopes and mocking the dwaris below. The clouds above are reflected on the bosom of the sparkling river. Sailing toand tro over the gloomy depths pleasu yachts, with glistening white sais, cleave their Way and iil tho air with music from the bands upon their mighty Sound steamboats, with the tags of uty rom their spars, noble ships, und rieking littic tugboats move by in Here und there on the bright sur- turned endless panorama, face twinkle Little whirlpooia which mark the presence of treacherous rocks below, und near the further shore a long ridge of boiling toum “projecting toward the middle ol the river marks the live of the perilous “Gridiron.” Beyond tho brilliant blue belt of river thus diversilied rises in gentle slope Ward’s Islana, tts vivid verduro forming a beautital contrast of color with the doep blue of the river on one side, and waking on the other a fit- Ung setting for the bright red brick buildings with which tiscrowned. Above all these stripes of contrasting color—the blackuess of the Geheuna-like mine, the ray root rock over it, the blue river above, and sull higher the green slopes and the bright red buridings— stretches a sky usuaily of sombre hue, which forms a charming background for the picture, and against which even the finest tapered minuret and the sliinmest lightuing rod on the buildings is outlined as it drawa with a pencil. 4 VISIT TO THE UEADINGR Descending into the cavern, at first tho tunnels are bigh and of a good width, From the pillars project jagged. masses of rock down which the water from the river abovo leaks in a constant stream, AS one advances further the darkness becomes so dense us to seem palpablo, the tunacls accommodating themselves to the dip of the reef above become steeper and steeper in their doscent, until the inghtonod visitor imagines he 18 going por- peudicularly down into the biack gulf, in the gioom of which he can soe now in tho distance a uny, starlike gleam of light where tue mon aro tolling. ‘The foot slips constantly in a deposit of mud at the bottom of the tunnel, acd plash! It isa of up to the kuce! The extended hands touch on either walls of the rapidly parrowing tunnel, cold and el! and the head strikes the jagged masses of stone project from the root, which becomes lower and as One advances into the gloomy deep. Jots of water invisible tn the darkness, fall through the ecrovices above aud make their presence known by drenching one to the skin. Suddenly a sound hke the distant roar of artillery breaks the deuthlike silence aud roverberates through the hollow deep. The workmen are driving a plug back into a holo through which the water shot torty feet wi the wooucn stopper was removed, Twinkling in the heavy atmos- puere, and retracted by the tailing spray between tht ights, the men seem miles y down in the vowels ol the carth. The air is heavy with vapor and thick with the smoke of the lamps, whieh, finding no escape, rolis in a dun cloud ulong the roof, so that ove breathes with difficulty. In another minute the lights which scetned 50 far away are close at band, and their gleam turns the spray irom tho dripping roof into diamonds, and causes the tricking walls te glitter in rusaet and silvor, striped where oxide of iron oc- curs with oritliant bands of carmine, while they throw tho forms ot miners in grotesque shadows upon the pool below, Now a sullen roar iv- dicates the passage overhead of some massive steamer whose revolving paddles cause the thirty-tour foes of superincumbent water to tremble throughout its entire depth. Far within (he numerous holes periorated in the rocky sides of the heading, which either elbow touches, the ends of the deadly eartridges glean faintly asthe lights are borne to and fro, The men, standing kuee deep in water and drenched to the skin, are about to fill whole. One brawny fellow, whose livid, though masay, jaw implies that the wholesome sun hever falls where he toils, seizes a long pole and thrusts its entire length into the orifice, Withe drawing it he names the mze of cartridge re- quired, and, hie assistant selecting one from a boxful close ‘ab it is thrust into the hole endwise and quickly pushed tnto ie at the inner extremity, Another, Uiled with a less powerful compound, follows the trst, and so on until the shining ond of the last curtridge shows that the hole is filled almost up to the fuce of the rock, Then a pine plug is tuserted, bearing the numbor of the hole, and the workmen plash through the water to the next, A more weird and im- pressive secne can hardly be imagined, and ite effoct upon the visitor is rendered tot less intense by the realization of the terrible force compressed around him, which 18 $0 soou to crumble the solid rock which hus withstood the storms of thousands of years into fragments, and which ight by the turn of 4 caroioss workman's hand launch him and all those about him into eternity so quickly that they would not know that it bad come. DELAY IN DRLIVERING THE DYNAMITB, A roporter of the Hkkatp callodat the office of the Atlantic Giant Powder Company, at the corner of Park place and Church strect, last evening, and thero saw Mr. Varnoy, the bead of the frm. He was asked by the reporter what was the cause of the dolay of the company in. delivering dynamite to the Hallett Point works, Mr. Varney said that there was ho delay Whatever in the delivery more than was neces- sury in tbe course of ordinary preparation to deliver the dybamice, General Newton bad ordered 20,000 pounds of dynamite on the 20th of Jaly, aud all of that had been delivered; butin delivering wh been ordered Since, On lust Saturday, there bad been a little delay, ae there was not cartridges enough sent to them, and they could not send the stuif until 1 was piaced in the carifiages. he agreement, oF contract, rea: that the dynamite should be delivered between August 15 and tember 1, with two weeks of @ margin on any probabie dolay that might occur from the government's propositions, Large quantities of the dyvanite could wot be kept at the manufactory tn bulk with avy great degree of safety, The factory was some filty tniles away, at Drakesville, neur Dover, N. J. General Newton came on Saturday and ordered’ 16,000 poun more, and of this amount 2318 pounds had alreagy been delivered, and Mr. Var said that 6,000 of 6,000° pounds additional were being shipped yesterday to the = Haliett's Poiwst works, od there would, no doubt, be a delivery of that amount by this (Wednesday) morning- So far the delay lad been merely irom the lack of cartridges and way uot the fault of any persun in par- tieular, Mr, Varnoy said that they could 1 groat quantities of the dypamive on band al sapply which would suggest themselves to any intelligent person, CLEANING OUT THE SLUMS. Captain Byrnes, of the Viltceath precinct, last night raided the house No. 26 West Fourth street, kept by Jon Bernascotti, alias Tarabaldi, and arrested the proprietor and seven females, all of whom were locked up in the Mercer sti stution house, The place has Jung been notorious as a vile bawdy house, hut the pro- privior has managed to keep clear of the pohee. Ip eflecting the raid Captain Byrnes was obliged to rosort to v0 Little degree of strategy \a order 10 get inside the house, The prisoners wiil morning, 3 WASHINGTON. Saannnneaniemeneed Trial of General Babcock for the Safe Burglary Conspiracy, —_—-—__—_ CHARACTER OF THE JURY EMPANELLED Republican Fears for the Result in Ohio. FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT. Wasuixorton, Sept. 19, 1876, THE SAVE BURGLARY CONSPIWACY--TEIAL OF GENERAL BABCOCK COMMENCED—A JURY WHICH I5 LIKELY TO DISAGREE—MR. ALEX- ANDER ON THE CONSPIRACY AND EX-CHIEV WHITELEY ON THE TESTIMONY, We have entered upon the second series of the murky plotting and counterplotting of detectives, outsiae law- yers and witnesses which bas marked all the phases of the safe burglary trial heretofore and the consequent idictinent of General 0. Babcock, the President’a late private secretary, From tho firet the game bas been on ono sido or the other to reduce the testimony and witnesses to inextricable contusion and ineredibility. Most admirably have they succeeded, 1+ amounts almost to art and has all the outlines of adaptability to the construction at least of stage ruscality anu intricacy. The first part of the farce, for such it is, was to-day consummated in the selection of aso calied jury. The government was handicapped by the provisions of luw beyond which the presiding Judge, Humphreys, could not ga in the aliowance of but three challenges, whilo the defence were allowed four. At first counsel claimed that they were entitled to eight challenges each, but the Court ruled not. These wero soon exhausted, and some, though not objectionable, yet certainly not the most acceptabie, jurors were selected. The frst who was sworn in and passed, if not in bad taste, would, ordinarily, at least, have put impartiality to the blush, for he proved to be no other than Walker Lewts, colored steward at the clubhouse where the conspirators in the safe burglary assombied on the night of April 23, 1874, of which conclusive tes timony has been tuken beforo tho Congressional com- mittee, Noxt was John W. Freeman, colored, who has worked under General Babcock ou the public grounds, and last was William Ferguson, who, in tho estimation of uuprejudiced lookers-on, was sure to nang tho jury ashe scemed anxious to got on it atall hazards for the sake of the revenue it brought Mr. Columbus Alexander, the person most interested in the trial, and who was most affected by tho dlieged conspiracy, was interviewed in regard to the jury. Ho 1s an old citizen of Washington, but says Le does not know them and appeared very much dissatisfied with tho'different cloments composing it, So far ag thets probable bias 1s concerned he apprehends even now that tho jury will disagree and has almost inade bi mind up to it, He tried hard to keop colored men off, as be thinks they would not be likely to decide under- standingly on tho evidence. What he expects to prove in regard to General Babcock's guilt is that he was in- terested in preaking him down by destroying his cred- ibility during tho investigations which wore made by Congress into District affairs, in which Mr, Alexandes and bis friends were important and persistent wit- esses against the thon existing Board of Publie Works, of which General Babcoek was Super- vising Engincer in the matter of measuring the improvements made about the public buildings and grounds It appears that they were Striving to show falso measurements on the part of General Babcock, und also that le was drawing money from the Trousury before tho work was actually done. Mr, Alexander says:—‘Wo were tracing tho corrupt paymont of $97,000 by a firm of contractors named DoGolyor & McClellan, and we followed up to ex» Governor Shepherd’s office, whero a partuer of his ro- coived a large amount of the money. it was necessary thon,’ he adda, ‘to strike mo down, and hence thoy gotup the safo burglary business to show the com- mittee what sort of aman Iwas, and an effort was made to break down tho investigation, but I turned too quickly én thom by going into the safo burglary matter, which the committce took up at once, and thore we beat them.” The most important witness wili be Mr. H. H. Q, Whitley, lato Chief of tho Treasury Department socrot Service, who is chargod with patting up the whole con, spiracy job, He said to Mr, Alexander want to clear mysolf and want to toll the wholo trath, I wag employed to work itup. I was not to bo benefited, but I was doing it for the mon who wero to be pene= fited.”” General Babcock’s complicity is charged to have con- sisted principally in baving caused ex-Solicitor Ban- field of tho Treasury Department to telegraph to Whitley in offect the following :— “B, wants to 800 you. Come over,’” “Somerville, a New York lawyor, also on trial, pres pared the depositions of Michael Hayes and of Wiliam Benton, alias Walter Brown, now in jail, to convict me,’ suid Mr. Alexander, foclingly, as ho turned over the pages of printed evidence, and pointed to thoir lengthy depositions in the case. One of the worst fea tures of the present by-play is the activity of a Mr. A, B, Williams, a lawyer, who is supposed to have fixed up the jury in the Green trial and who is charged with manipulating juries for counsel He was indicted ag ono of the conspirators, and was with Chief Detestire Clarvoo and Major Richards, Superintendent of Police, on tho night of the safe burglary, and, with ex-District Attorney Harrington, followed up the irglars te Columbus Alexander’s house. he principal Lan ya) pame was Benton. Mr. Williams hes boon busy all day gotting up a list of and looking after the jury. District Attoraey Wells, on being asked whether all the witnesses tor the government were subpa said thoy were not. Ho expresses himseif as boi entirely satisfod with the jury, and thinks, all things considered, they havea very fair lot. He turther an- nounced bis opinion of the trial by saying, ‘It will be ‘® quick, strong trial on both sides.” Mr. Whitley wag later engaged with him privately in the preparation of questions Which are to clicit his testimony in the caso. Tho triai has created a great doul of excitement in high quarters, and is ramifications will be found to extead to some notable ex-oilicials if not cireumseribed by counsel or the Hatting out of witnesses, Attorney General it is understood to be busily engaged to-night in giving his personal attention to the careful preparation of the safe burglary trial so as te sev that the goverpmeat will not m any way be af fault vor overlook anything which should properly be done by it to protect its interests and secure a full and Jair trial by bringing out ail the testimony which should be developed by it REPUBLICAN FEARS OF THE RESULT IN OHTO— A CRY FOR MORE MONEY—CORPORBATIONS TO SEND THY REQUIRED BARREL, A great deal of solicitude is manifested hero among ropublicans in rogard to tho campaign in Ohia, “Among those who have watched {ts conduct there closest as wellas what is dono here there is apprebension fel, that everything is notall right and that a weakness Provails in the management of t 1m some importang respect. In support of this it ig recalled by those most conversant with tho history of the thing that last year, when Obio had become the most important Stato in the elections, there was some difficulty about providing for tho campaign expenses, and until near election day the Chairman of the State Executive committce continued unreinforced with sufficiont funds for the campaign, Considerable dissatisfaction -Ansistant Secretary Interior Department, was charged with being the obstacle to Ubio's thrifty conaition, When the charge was le directly to him he acknowledged that he did not think Obio ought to have any more mouey, as she already had $10,000, and when he w Execul Commitioe, tbat was fun the = campaign. Upen being remind that @ change had taken place the tine ot her election that Oh had thea tho of Pennsylvania first time argued ai diiticulty that his own State should have more money which was given and Olio was barely carried by 7,000 majority, almost after #he had been given up her friends. Though it ts claimed she bas a republican majority ranging trom 25,000 to 50,000, it 18 feared by {he republicans that some such thing is now at © 1» great danger tho election will be ‘2 democrats may carry it by & bo gyre a Chairman of the State ta to bo inadi went to mi 1 the requiroments ef a otic canvass But there aro persons Who Oppose it Because they are imter- the other States more large! bio, The National Executive Commitice ure with doing more for Indiana than Otro, and with hav. ing signified to the jeaders iu the latter State that she be arraigned at court thie | eadteomane Strong enough to helo herself through,