The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-02
CIT Y N E w S !.
THE TENTH AVENUE SEWER.


Crsvss against the Conmon Couasii, son-
tanUed.
EmHrH DAY-TuEsDAY, JUNE q.
PrUsent-Alderman Tiemann Gin the chair), and
Aldermen Brsley, Boyce and Sturtevant.
Mr.. Edwin Smith recalled. and cross examination
continued.-Last question repeated-Witness did
not rece eot saying he would net 60 on or let the
contractor 10 on with il If he had been Mr.. Craven
the sewer In Roosevelt street laid the upper part
In ime, and the lower in cement, two hundred feet
up from the river the tide came up as far as Chat
ham street.
Direct resumed by Mr. Tillou-His estimate as to
how soon the grading could be done in March was
based en- the calculation Of its being fine weather.
bad weather would be lost time; did net recollect
what weather there really was in March.
To Mr. Craven-There between 5000 and
$500 cubic feet Of rock to be blasted out between
and forty sixth streets; it would DO pretty
expeditions work to do II in a month.
James Harrott, builder and mason called ana
swom.-Had been in the business all his life was
now nearly sixty two would not say he was well
acquainted with hydraulic masonry or cement;
used it occasionally; visited the Tenth avenue
sewer, and saw il where it was opened In two
places, in the month of April; examined care
fully what he saw of it; there was man with
crowbar there, and they,got him TO take out some
Of the bricke, and they found both them and the
mortar COED; the work appeared well put together
ms far they could the holes were the length
of block apart up, about Fsrty. fifth street;
the mortar appeared set; man took the 0lowbar
to get brick out and it broke the brick before the
ment the work was well and skilfully done, and
with good materials.
Cross examined by Mr. willard-There were not
more than one or two bricks taken out at each
place; if the mortar bad been soft, they could have
got them out without sparring them; most of the
mortar came away; he broke piece Of it, to try
If it was hard; IL was not so hard as the piece
produced. (Specmen handed up.)
Mr.. Craven, in answer to the Chairman, informed
him it had been laid upwards of ten years in the
Forty second street sewer
Witness contnued-He did not know great deal
about hydraulic cement, but should think the Tenth
avenue work. in ten years. might set as hard as the
specimen.
Joseph Tucker examined-Had been mason for
forty years. accompanied the last witness to the ex-
animation of the sewer; corroborates Mr.. Harriots
statement rs to how they found it, and concurred in
bis opinions.
(The committee here took recess for an hour)
On re-assembling, Mr. S. r. Smith, Inspector
General Of Sewers, was recalled by Mr.. Tillou-He
was present at the examination before the committee
on the Tenth avenue sewer; the clerk Mr. Dodge, the
messenger, John Van Burck. Mr. James Pollock, the
contractor, the inspector, Mr. CoLnor, Mr.. Edwin
Smith, and the Street Commissioner also there;
the committee were Aldermen Denman and Barr;
laid before them relating to other sewers; did not
think anything was said about the Delaney street
basins that day; hydraulic cement will not harden
In three months as much as it will in ten years; it
will not to its perfection in three months; in
his judgment the work they examined, laid after
the first of December, was about the same as that
he had observed done before; the work equally
good as in others he had examined done after the
hrst OF December, by permission; one OF these de-
termined direction being given to me to examine
it) to 60 and ascertain whether could tell which
work was done in summer and which in winter;
went carefully through the whole and could not dis
Germ any difference, until had passed the place
done in winter then came to the work which had
been resumed in the spring; there found the NOR
tar little softer; coming TO man hole, enquired
up to the Inspector whether had arrived Mt the
n he infO m had mas
ed 1t some way at the back then came out of the
sewer ana asked him to show me where it was. and
after his pointing it out to me he informed the
contractor, who was present, that had there not
been dispute about its being done in winter he
could not give him certificate as the sewer had
settled and the arch was considerably cracked
it was the sewer in Thirty seventh street: had
said to Mr.. Craven, of the Tenth avenue sewer,
that he was sorry the contractor had not opened it
in two places, as they would have had better op-
portunity Of testing the cement done before and a
ter the frost; he replied that that would make no
difference, without giving any reason that he re.
membered.
Cross.examined by Mr. Craven.-Aftcr the CON-
mittee had met, Alderman Denman said, "Mr.
Dodge, what is there about that Tenth avenue sew
err" Mr. Dodge, without any reply, handed them
the papers. Alderman Barr remarked, Yes, that
man must be paid. Alderman Denman only asked
who the surveyor was. and whether he could be OBJ
tanned Odd you not tell me that the game
up, from the way in which Alderman Barr spoke
that they had predetermined the thing? Ans.-I
said thought from the way he spoke the sewer
would 60 through; Mr. Dodge told them who the
surveyor was; the boy Van Burck was first sent af-
ter Mr.. Smith; que son was asked OF the witness;
was quite confident nothing was said about the De-
lancy street basin; examined the sewer in Thirty
seventh street, by feeling the cement with his fin
gers the work passably well done, and he could
not discern the difference; did not think it the
best hydraulic eement nor is it, in his opinion, got
In sewers; Mr. Craven stated the masonry in the Sc
cond avenue sewer would compare with any hydrau-
lie masonry this country.
Witness-To Alderman Denman.-Mr. Craven had
said in his hearing, that perhaps the Tenth avenue
was as good or better than half the work that
was accepted
To Mr.. Craven.-At the time he spoke, he (wit-
ness) was down in the hole, and did not pay atten-
tion to anything more did not hear him say that
1t might be as good as many he was obliged to ac-
cept from the reports OF inspectors, as he could not
inspect all personally, but as he had this one
be could not conscientiously accept it
Mr. Charles III. Wheeler recalled HE had finish
ed up sewer between Forty-second and Forty
sixth streets, about the Doth OF 9th November,
1861, and asked Mr.. Denman whether he could get
loan on the Thirty seventh street sewer Mr..
Denman spoke to Mr. Robinson, Of Westchester
county, who gave the money, and Mr.. Denman
loaned it to witness, as MIR Robinson did not wish
to take the trouble of an assignment of his work,
which he gave to Mr. Denman for the loan, $4,000;
the assignment had been cancelled SO far as Mr..
Denman was concerned, though the papers remain
In the Street Commissioners office, the assessment
not having been confirmed the agreement to can
Gel il was about the Esd or oath May; Mr.. Denman
had no interest, direct indirect. impledor under
stoed, in that contract did he pay him
one penny consideration bonus for procuring the
Joan; such a thing was never thought Of or men
tioned.
Cross examined.-Had seen Mr.. Robinson; did
not know him: did not converse with him about this
money; had his information from Mr.. Denman;
witness met Mr.. DeDman and Mr.. Robinson at the
corner Of Wall and Broad streets by appointment,
and they AL went into the Mechanics Exchange, up
tairs where the transaction took place, Mr. Robin
Ton speaking apart with Mr.. Denman; he thought
OR. u did from friendship or kindness forhim had
no connections with Mr. ID but business connections;
he money had been paid, part at that time (23d
law. &c reason why the agreement was cancelled
'Pefore the money was paid was, he wanted to raise
Money on his contract, and for that purpose to get
* clear; gave Mr.. Denman $500 at that time, and
lis own notes, with collateral security, for the re-
iainder; the notes were given in June; could not