The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-06-23
mover adhere. ii the brick was dry, with the brick

dust upon it,
Cross exsmined-He had boon Inspector General
OF sewers for three years this fall; Che clause for
bidding the carrying work after the LIST Of De-
ccmbcr had been introduced into the contracts dur
ing the two past years. never heard Of IL previous
t. that; previous to that time fifty miles OF sewers
might have been laid, for aught he knew within The
city; moant to say il customary 10 60 on, aud
build sewers in the winter: n sewer in Tenth street,
twenty one hundred and sixty six feet @ 1863 long
was. al built in the winter, IN tie year 1876;
should suppose tho hole re had mentioned had been
opened that day: thought they made the examina-
ton in the month Of April: would not swear posi-
lively; could not state how the weather had been
previously; they found a good deal of mud in goinr
up ihere. could not say how long the brick work
had been dOne as matter of Judgment, he should
say not over three months; the appearance of the
work was very good; should think it was through
| rocky excavation; should think the crown was A
little over six feet below the level or surface of the
street; down in the depth of that trench where the
mason work was put, it is not SO cold, he should
think, az on the surface; in the winter they
cover the earth over the Of tie arch as soon
as possible.
work. Q.aughter)
!, WITNESS did not know whether this was done in
that ease # it was all covered the frost would not
affect It: II was Necessary leave an end exposed.
The part covered would not be affected: should moi
THINK there was great many passing at that time:
| \ tho contractor had complied with his contract,
! the avenue would have been more passabe; he
| meant h supposed so did not observe two large
! rocks; he did not know anything Of the avenue
previous; did not know there contract out at
That time with the same gentlemen, for grading it,
| thought the mortar was good--not as hard as II
should have been in the time, but fair mortar: the
bricks were good; did not examine the form OF the
sewer; only space on the top: did not 90 in
side at ALL did not make q hole through; it was
two bricks thick, and they only took cut the
upper ones
Direct resumed Meant by fair mortar that it
was not the best nor the worst; the specification
I.n uttlip
not have been that but he remarked at the time
il was Dot so hard as it should be; the cause might
be the weather, or the quality: the majority of the
old sewers built before this regulation, that do fail
failed for want Of good mortar; was employed in
the cleaning and repairing Of sewers: they seldom
iail IN the bottom; it is in the top; the condition Of
the one IN Delaney street near Sheriff, is very bad
and dangerous now.
TO the CHAIRMAN.-Tbe Eighth street sewer
failed which was built before this order; also, the
Delaney street one; they failed because there was
not lime enough; they used lime then, and not
cement; some made from lime now as hard as
any, and the brick would give before tho mortar:
the sewer in Thrty-seventh street. between De-
lancy street and Fifth avenue, built since the
order failed: the contractor gave him (wtness)
notice 10 inspect and that it all ready; when |
he got there he found the in the bottom; it /
had fallen down; believed the cause was there not
being sufficient cement used to make good mortar:
did not remember the name OF the inspector; wit.
ness did not reckon it any difference whether it was
cement or lime, where the work is properly done:
NHit ne OF the sewer DlllIt by Mr. Pollock
ne would think there WAS no danger OF its falling
Direct rcsumed--lt was in the fall of the Year
he inspected the sewer in Thirty-seventh street, it
was not accepted by Mr.. Craven.
Mr., DEAN, President Of the Cro.on Aoucduct De- /
nartment. examined.-Ncycr summoned before
the Sewer Committee with respect to the Tenth
avenue sewer or consulted except semi ofcialy; on
the subject OF the exception TO the sewer in contro-
yersy, Alderman DenInan, being in my office, Incl
dentally asked what was the difficulty with regard
to II, to which replied, in substance that it was
built IN contrayention to special clause in the
tract. and could not be accepted, and that was, /
Think the substance of all that ever passed; witness
would here be glad to state, that up to that time, /
and subsequently, he was not aware that Mr.. James
Pollock was the contractor supposed il was Ed /
ward: was not aware there was such an inyestira- I
ton going on BY the committees the first notice he
had of i by reading the report Of the proceed
iBgs of the Common Council
Q.-N Ill you state what was the condition of the /
department when you took charge OF il
Mr.. TILLoU would ask whether this not too /
general But he had no objection, if The cominitee
thought Git to 90 into it,
Mr.. DEAN wished to be thoroughly understood,
that he thought the public and the Common Council
would be benefited by the information, but in what
he SAID he made no personal illusions to any one I
whatever
The committee and counsel concurring TO 60 into
the matter, Mr. DEAN proceeded In July 1919, I
when we took possession, of the Croton Aqueduct
Department, found the whole system, with re- !
gard to the contracts for sewers very bad we found
the contracts detective III form, and very defective
IN partieuiality: these contracts were amplcd and
extended, and made TO contain clauses which we
deemed necessary for the protection Of the public
and the parties to be assessed; early in the ensuing
fall ! addressed communication to the Common |
Council, expressing, in substance, the almost uni |
versal complaints, throtgh the press and otherwise,
that had been made, IN consequence of such work |
being done IN the winter, and stating that the de-
partment had determined to stop all work on the |
first day Of December. and the trenches to be filled
in SC; uIon this no official action was taken, but |
ii met the approval of such members as Iheardspea
Of it. and was commended by the public press sub
sequent experience and Investigation oft have not
established the wisdom Of the measure and have dis
closed the fact that large part OF the work for
mcrly done on sewers has not only been badly done,
but in direct violation Of the contracts under which
they built; to Illustrate this fact, state that
by IN ordinance of the Common Council and an APP
propIiation of thousands of dollars from the
public treasury the sewer in Twentieth street, be-
tween the Filth and Sixth avenues. has been rebuilt
entirely, and the same sewer from Fifth avenue to
Broadway in that case, il was found that the con-
tractor. instead Of continuing the sewer on the
grade he commenced on, wherever he came
TO imTedment-a rock, large boulder |
had built his sewer on the top Of it, instead
Of blasting il out. The remarks made /
in relation TO this sewer, apply also to one in the
Second avenue. between Twenty third and Twenty |
fourth streets, which has also been rebuilt at the
expense Of the public treasury. In the latter case,
it has b.en suggested that the fault lay behind the
contracorin the grade of the street, by which the
wong eTd Of the sewer the highest. Another |
cause Of defective construction is found in the for
mer mode Of laying part Of the bottom and side,
dry, without mortar Of any kind, on the alleged
principle Of receiving through the interstices tho |
moisture Of the adjoining soil, pursuing the same |
principle down 10 the bulkhcads where the water
is discharged into the river forgetting apparently
that the How Of tic tide in such river would newt
ably FIJI the adjoining cellars, q circumstance which
did frequently occur, and from which the city GOV
eminent have been made to pay heavy damages
This had led alrcay to the rebuilding ofthe sewer in
Oliver street, from bulkhead 10 Water street. ut a
cost TO the public treasury Of $780, and there are
others that VIII have TO be rebuilt for other defects
andurs1lful construction Jumy enumeration ofsew-
ers rebuilt, have to add that ID Seventh street. from
avenue TO G. il was entirely deficient in capacity.
unable to do its work. At the earliest moment that
the Common Council viii provide funds the sewer
in Twelfth street. from second TO Fourth avenue,
must also be rebuilt for deficiency in size Among !
other defects in the old sewers may be mentioned the