Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1898 — What Divers Are Called Upon to Do [ARTICLE]

What Divers Are Called Upon to Do

James Cassidy contributes an article to the St. Nicholas, entitled “Under the Sea: The Dress and Apparatus of a. Modern Diver.” Mr. Cassidy says: Every large vessel is now built of iron, and, in order to keep up the requisite speed, her bottoms require frequent cleaning, also, should the screw become fouled or deranged, from various causes, the diver can always put it in working order. Should the anchor become fouled with the cable chain of another vessel, the diver can go down and free it, and so avoid the loss of the anchor. In many other cases a diver supplied with the necessary outfit may be instrumental in saving a valuable vessel and cargo by repairing leaks from collisions and other accidents. Our diver may also be' employed in the laying and inspection of mooringchains, the clearing of dock-gates and sluice-valves, in inspecting the founda-. tion of bridges, removing obstructions in rivers, entering shafts of mines overflowed with water to clear the outlets, and In the repairing of the pumps. Should a well-pump under water need repairing, a competent diver understanding this branch of engineering can accomplish the repairs with as much ease as though he were on dry land. He can lay tubes and pipes for waterworks under the beds of rivers, enter into and repair gas-holders, descend into dangerous places where foul air and noxious gases have collected, such as the fire-damp in mines or gases in old wells. Of course, a man undertaking such work must not only be a good diver, but he must also understand his trade—engineering, masonry, carpentery, wellsinking, or bridge-building. In opensea work he must necessarily be a good seaman. The sponge, pearl, coral, and amber fisheries, as you may imagine, demand the labors of a large staff of expert divers.