New-York tribune., 1874-05-18
CAVSF OF THE CALAMITY.

THE WILLIAMSBURG RESERVOIR NEVER, UNTIL RE-
Gently, CONSIDERED sAFE-sTATEMENIs BY
THE GATEKEEPER AND AN OLD REsIDENT-THE
WORK DONE IN sLovENLY MANNER-sPECULA-
TIoNs AS TO THE DIRECT CAUSE OF THE BREAK.
SPRINGFIELD, May 17.-lt fappears that serious
doubts a. TO the safety of the reservoir have been
entertained ever since it was built nine years ago.
The gatekeeper has several times expressed fears to
his employers calling special attention once to the
poiut where the break occurred; but the examiner
always reported everything safe. Vastly more I'M
portant testimony than this of the gatekeeper how
ever, is that furnished by Mr.. Lewis Bodman, life
long and well known resident of Williamsburg
and for many years connected with Its manutactur-
ing interests. Mr.. Bodman is thoroughly familiar
with the reservoir, which he helped to pay for,
being at that time the owner OF the James mll
which he sold to Mr.. James six years ago re-
porter of The Springfield Republican had an interview
with Mr. Bodman Saturday evening. lie gave his
opinions with great frankness. He says
that the propretors were not satIs-
fed with the reservoir when IL
was built and felt that it was not safe. Mr. Bodman
ACCOMPANIED the late Lieut.-Gov. Hayden, when the
reservoir was first filled, which was not until the
sprng of 1866 and says that they both expected to
soc a break at that first trial. 1t manifested no
special weakness, however, and at various tunes
subseouently il was strengthened the most import
ON, of such operations and one of the most recent
being the "rip-rapping"
Mr.. Bodman. however, confesses that he never felt
orite satisfied with the reservoir during the three
wears of its history when he was mill proprietor,
ord 60 mart owner of it, Since then he has main
,oned his interest in the manufacturing enterprises
so flIv a. 70 keep himself well informed Of the con-
dtion Of the reservoir and he says that he has be-
oorne better satisfied with it, though II nc
had been asked tne Gay before the disaster
whether he considered it safe, he would
have unhesitatingly replied in the affirmative.
Indeed. Mr.. Bodman did thus assure townsman,
wis univ a week ago, as if with some admonltloh
of the fate that overlook him on Saturday parucu-
la,,v ouestioned him as to whether there was not
dono.r that the reservoir would give way. lhis
on;n;on of its safety Mr.. Bodman says was com
c;ded with by all the manufacturers, who he re-
marked had the most reason to feel anxiety IL 'eie
wore anv grounds for it, having most al STAKE III
I the matter.
Ivpon being more closely questioned as TO MS
opnon of the contractor of the reservoir, MI bod-
man gave an opinion which fully confirmed the III
preston that the reporter had received from WISH
TO the ruins namely, that the work. as whoe, was
not satisfactory and that the upper third OF the
wall was built in a slovenly manner lie says lna,
when the contractor nau TedCucu inns o'"eN 'N~
getting late in the Fall and cold weather was com
ing ON. The engineer was sick some OF the time ana
did not exercise so constant and close supervision
as his position demanded and the contractors
hrr,;.a nm their work as rapidly as possible, with
TOO litts regard Mr. Bodman thinks, to the quality
of their work. Notwithstanding, however Mr.. Bod
mans confession. that both he aud the other pro-
pretors of the reservoir were dissatisfied with the
stle of construction il was examined and accepted
Inv the Commissioners of Hampden County, who
bav. also. since then, more than once examined 1t
| and advised as to repairs upon 1t.
| The direct cause Of the disaster aside from the
| general weakness Of the dams, must remain a suo
| ect of speculation. The gate-keeper detected no
| s;gn Of danger when he made an examination at
early dawn and what the last straw was that broke
| the great back of the reservoir can never be
definitely known. Perhaps AZ satisfactory theory
AZ any is the one advanced by a man familiar with
| the case that the frosts had started the
| earth 10 that the water had found numerous
little courses through II, which finally tarfied Oh