New-York tribune., 1874-09-11
A HARBOR EYE-SORE.
THE BATTERY sEA-wALL CRUMBLING AwAY-IHI
YAIIlE oF TMEED's CONTRACTS.

TIP BATTFRY sEA-wAIL CRUMBLING AwAY-THE
VALUE OF TwEED's CONTRACTS.
The wall of what is called the Battery en-
areement extending from Pier No J. N H. to the boat
landing below the Staten Island ferry is crumong to
pieces Although there is immediate danger OF It's
fan vet il is unsghty in appearance and fails to answer
its purpose OF proper river wall. Many OF the cap
ttones have become displaced, and project three
or four inches beyond the line TO which tney
were laid. The whole wall seems to nave
been wrenched out OF position and the stone pillars set
IN the top OF consequently unshaPely some lean
ing inward and others outward The concrete pavement
at the top has shrunk away from the WALL or the wall
has fallen away from it, so that gap from one 10 three
inches wide left between them along the whole edge
Of the Battery plaza In many places TINS nooring mas
been ground powder. and in Others II is full OF holes
The face Of the wall is in very bad eond
uon Stones are dropping out in many places,
and Ion cracks two or three inches wide appear be-
tween the layers. In some cases the wall has sunk
several inches account OF defects IN the foundaoh
The "riprap" or broken-sOne foundation extends 20
feet beyond the foot OF the wall and is laid bare az low
water so that, prominent engineer remarked yes
terday, the wall is more like farmers stone renee
than a river wall" From the same gentleman the fol-
lowing facts we're learned The contract for building
the wall was awarded in 1906 when Tweed was Street
Commissioner the Battery being in charge OF the Street
Department at that time. 1t was one OF Tweeds first
jobs man named Drew was the first contractor but
SONS According TO competent engineers. the spechcs-
tops for the work we're somewhat defective but the
WAY in which they were carried out to have been
worse Instead of granite, the wall was built except the
coping OF North River limestone, which Is said to be
unrt for the purpose. The joints were to have been
tbree-eghths Of inch, whereas they are
three inches ia width, aud very irregular.
In short the whole work was constructed careessy,
and like other Jobs OF the Ring it had no proper super
-,isiop The engneerin-ebiet was Gen. Yele, and be
seems 10 have done his duty Col j. Mechan, First AS
ssant Engineer OF the Dock Department was appointed
TO ay out the line of the wall according to the require
ments of the Harbor Commission. The legal line, as
stone foundatien, still existing, thus leaving bad
foreshore; and while the specifications required
the base, diminishing to two feet at the
top. in some places the wall was constructed perpen-
Mechan and other engineers expressed regret at the
lime that the requirements of the law obliged them to
place the line Of the wall far back as 10 leave fore
shore which bare at low tide, and Is covered with all
ssTs Tl She %a carried out to the ne BY
which the foreshore would have been avoided.
covered with water is the case with the new Pier
Mol 1,N.R. T.. .,
A prominent engineer said yesterday, IN conversation
with TRIBUSR reporter. that this wall was scarcely
worth repairing in ITS present PAGE ~Hua, @ ,ons ne
have entirely rebuilt In sty similar 70 tnat OF he
10000 The recent appropriation OF $500 would
more than pay for psshns up ,emPorsr l wa;
that permanent repairs would be impossible. AS Gen.
Mcclellan said at the time II was built 1t
has suggested that If it must be repaired
fhe best way do IL would be TO I'LL the holes and inter
.fices with concrete which could be done for C000
N 500 Col Mechan has also suggested that curtain"
OF could be placed With advantage at the foot
are illed by Cat high tide, which loosens the
sonndstion This "curtain7' might save the wall The
undstion I'm s good the chief defects Of the work
being the shabbiness Of the wall and Its position 40
Ter bark from the line 1t ought to follow.
A n Aldermanlc committee waited on Col Mechan re-
eently and with him examined the wall with reference
so having il repaired Col Mechan told them that ne
Thought il hardly worth repairing but suggested that
me use of concrete was the most feasible plan 70 be
for that purpose The matter Is entreiy Ia tne
hands Of the Dock Commissioners and members OF the
Commisson that account retceDt In regard 10 ~
MT Newman remarked that 1880 would 80 only niue
Way toward repairs, but he thought that good wal
could be made for 10000 Geo. g. Green, Engineer OF
Ehe Dock Department, declined 70 express an opinion
saxsndine the BAtAry wall yesterdAY. sAyiEs that he