An old engraving showing submarine excavations and the tunnels at Hell Gate under the East River at Hallett’s Point, New York City, USA It is from a Victorian book of the 1880s. In 1851, to aid navigation, the US Army Corps of Engineers began to clear the great obstruction for ships called Hallett's Point. Operations for removing the reef here were begun in 1869. A shaft was sunk and ten tunnels were dug. Numerous holes drilled into the reef which were then to be packed with explosives. Here the steam-powered machine is drilling out holes in which the explosives are then packed.
An old engraving showing submarine excavations and the tunnels under the East River at Hallett’s Point, New York City, USA It is from a Victorian mechanical engineering book of the 1880s. In 1851, to aid navigation, the US Army Corps of Engineers led by General John Newton began to clear obstacles from Hell Gate, a strait in the East River, with explosives. The operation would last 70 years. The great obstruction for ships was located at a promontory of Long Island called Hallett's Point. Operations for removing the reef here were begun in 1869. A shaft was sunk to a depth of thirty-three feet below water level, and the heads of ten tunnels were dug to distances up to 126 feet. The total length of tunnels and galleries then amounted to 6,780 feet. Newton’s plan for blowing up the reef was for numerous holes to be drilled into the reef which were then to be packed with explosives. The co-ordinated explosions would demolish the obstruction but not endanger life or property. Here the steam-powered machine drilling out holes in which the explosives are packed is seen at the end of one of the tunnels.
Size: 4134px × 3655px
Location: Hallett's Point, Long Island, New York, USA
Photo credit: © M&N / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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