838 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



dikes of a height not to exceed that of high water. 2. The dredging 

 of the loose and movable material from the bottom. 3. The direction 

 of the channel as defined by the dikes to be as straight as possible, and 

 the changes of direction to be made by easy curves. 4. A gradual in- 

 crease in width of the channel from Troy to New Baltimore as being 

 more favorable for a higher rise of tides. 5. The closing of the side- 

 passes generally, but leaving an opening for the influx of the flood. 6. 

 Revetting of island-shores and river-banks where exposed to abrasion. 

 7. The limits of the encroachment on the river-bed to be defined and 

 enforced by proper authority. 8. Deposition of dredged material be- 

 yond the action of currents. 9. The abandonment of the idea of ob- 

 taining a scouring effect by the height of the dikes. In fine, dikes are 

 advocated with the view to give direction to the freshet, flood, and ebb 

 currents ; to prevent cross-currents, and consequent filling up of the 

 channel ; to lead and bring up a greater volume of tidal waters ; and, 

 consistently with these objects, the dikes should be constructed as low 

 as possible, in order to allow the freshet- water to spread. Estimates 

 were made for the work, to be completed in five years ; it is still not 

 complete, nor has the work been carried on without opposition from 

 steamboat-men and parties judging that they were to be pecuniarily 

 injured. Near Coeyman's this opposition was very strong, but, since 

 construction, the opponents have acknowledged that their apprehen- 

 sions of inconvenient results were erroneous, and have been satisfied 

 with General Newton's engineering. 



Gradually with the extension of navigation improvements General 

 Newton reported on all the channels and harbors in the vicinity of 

 New York, from Lake Champlain on the north to the Raritan and 

 Arthur's Kill on the south, superintending constructions where appro- 

 priations had been granted. He was also one of the commissioners 

 for the improvement of the harbor of Montreal. 



But the great construction with which General Newton's name is 

 identified is the improvement of the Hell-Gate Channel, the important 

 water-way between Long Island Sound and East River, of New York 

 city. His first examinations for the improvement of Hell-Gate, and 

 the report, with cost of constructions, were made to Congress February 

 12, 1867. The first propositions were merely tentative. The plan rec- 

 ommended for the removal of reefs was by holes drilled from a plat- 

 form above water. A contract was given to Maillefert & Co. to re- 

 move Pot Rock and some other like obstructions by depositing ex- 

 plosives on the surface of the rock and firing them. This was found 

 to be very expensive and tedious, and the contractor who undertook 

 to drill from above the water was not successful. 



In June, 1869, General Newton submitted a report for the removal 

 of Hallet's Point by sinking shafts on the shore-side to a sufficient 

 depth, and from the bottom of these shafts running galleries under 

 the rock to be removed, the opening below being calculated to be 



