, 1874-11-08
The Sorrows Of the Fullerton ave-
nue. SeWer-C0ntractors.
Difficulties Met with in Carrying Out
the Work.
They Want to Be Paid a Third More,
Or They Say They Will Be Bank
rupted.

Since the main river and tne ooutn O4aneA
have been, happily for tho health Of tho CITY,
greatly purified by the operation OF the "aeep
cut" which allows the waters OF the lake 10 10"
southward toward the ulinois hlSer, she people
who liye co nyepient to what is known as the
North Branch Of our anything but classic stream
have been eager to receive roleff for their oefao-
| tories by some powerful engineering experiment
Consequently the work known as the Fullerton
avenue conduit was projected and undeitaken-
work Of great importance. requiring q very
largo outlay and excellent skil1- The sewer,
which hsa an inside diameter Of II and outside
! diameter OF Is feet, being perfectly circular, ls
designed to run east and west, following the Line
! of Fullerton avenue, running under TINT thor
| ouchfare from river to lake, being distance OF
about II, 900 foet-
| THE FIRST KsTIMATEs
| made Of this work By City-Engneer Cheaorouen
amounted TO nearly $500, 900, and the Board OF
| Public Works, soon afterward, advertised for
bids. which, to the number of about twenty, were
| sent in. The winners OF the contract were tha
| firm OF George F. Norris j. Co., who bid SS45-
600. about $4,000 less than the sum PANIED IN
any other proposition sent to the Board Ihey
! were accordingly awarded the work, and COM
| menced operations in the beginning Of last July.
The partners OF the firm are Messrs Norris aud
| Cameron. who are both very well known clt'-
/ zens.
| They divided the work into two sections, the
| westward Que of which comprises about 5000
| feet. and the eastward 5000. Operations were
begun On the westward section, commencing
about the middle, and digging both ways- At
! the present writing about 3,200 feet are COM
pleted. thoroughly bricked and cemented me
! brick is lald in four rings, which makes very
strong nrch and the - bora is capable OF carry
ing of an immense volume OF water
| in the western division Of the first sectlon,-
about 800 feet tho soil Il light clay. easily Dug
ont and firm as to the sides Of the embank-
| ment. It is necessary to sink only - teet from
the surface to the bottom segment OF the tunnel
circle, 80 that the digging is comparatively easy,
and the work can be rapidly pushed. But, AZ
the working parties tend TOWARD toe lake,
| THE so1LDEEPESs;
there is great depression, requiring % lees o.
excayation in most places, before the brlck can
be- lad This, however, is not tho chief dith-
culty. The quality Of the soil. as the men dig
dseper. alters from thick, tough clay to
| nLAcK sASD,
which is thoroughly impreguatel with water
| rendering it matter Of almost utter impoas1-
| hi}ity to keep the steep banks from cav1ns III
nnoI the exposed wo1kmcn. So great is the
| danger that the carpenters hnye been compelled
to dam ths entire extent OF the second part OF
the first section with oak plankiug, four inches
thick, before foot OF excavation eau ne made
Nor ls .5 - rom three to eight tiers OF
,;d snG ss,ns = inches souare at Intervals OF
sol'a oaA ots tranaj .1.;,,st Tia n1an;inc by lack
eight leeI ~ t1rr sra hacked bS cast.,ron
Screws taas ~n,e11 IL - t. ,ncbes in thickness.
p'9ses, 'lJn ~ tLa.e ,1ecant1ons as Iho work aa-
Win - - tat.nd
7ances, IL ~ uoss1p1v tvuuu ~ PROP up THE BAsIs.
| 49, -r;t1,;r tha last air weeks. there bave been
ana "1.ntd .hsn 7 thr.a tremaDdoua laud-slides.
breakmr tic iack-screws aud driving the fz1l
bas.,a e.,.ar, fect into tho opposite emtf.a-
oeant7 &C so1aa,;mes these siides occur without
naens. .,+ss .srnng and TINS the WORK men have
oe na "ara9.t rarv narrov escanes. The contract
hao severn, ~ tha.e sdes ,re dead loss to
oLs asse1n r,an anA, ratard tha wor discourage the
tnem, an95 anS hread General demoraii2ation.
ganss' ano tn ole'1 nrasent time. ali the
up 10 +tat tnt 1--we occnrred have
pleaks nu1s h,,t oi,atsc,ea ses1n to mu1tiply
oedn lePAe atsn mada nd tawarj the lake terminus
saa exetf m tb sI1p tn9er md dculy Of the enter
aoas hse Tr .rs comnel1ed to is short sections
: Nv $50 - . ~ r,sL tha 7;vea of Tho work