New-York tribune., 1874-12-05
ROTTEN RING WORK.
WORTHLESS SEWERS AND PAvEMENTS IN
WASHINGTON.

ACCORDANCE WITH CONTRACTS-THElR WORIH-
LEssNEss-TaICKs OF THE CONTRACroRs-coS-
DTTION OF THE PAvEMENTs IN THE CITY-EsTI-
MATES FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
frRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIrB rRrDUNE.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.-Tho report of Lieut..
T. L. Hoxe. Chief Engineer for the District OF Column
bs upon whom has devolved since July last the import
ant executive duties heretofore exercised by the Vice
President OF the Board OF Pablo Works. has just been
submitted to tho Commissioners. Ho says that when nc
assumed control tho contractors and others CLAIMING
contracts at work with view to establish claims
The 365 bonds provided for meeting the existing obi
cations Of tho District had apparently Induced many
who had long before abandoned their work to resume IL
without authority or directions They were WORKING "
random without plans or SUPERVISION
The last re ports Of tho Snpenendents OF tho Board
OF Public Works show that 20 contracts were In opera
ton on June 30, 1874. On July ., says Lieut.. Hoho'
found AZ In operation Including the main sewer con-
tracts Under general order OF July II all OF TINS
work was suspended except the work upon tho main
sewers In order to admit OF preliminary survey ana
measurement aud an, examination OF the cohuacts
under which tho right to proceed was claimed
strict Interpretation OF the lay would have required
simply that should begin with the work where found
IL and incur no responsibility for that which had been
already done but the necessity for settlement Win
contractors work upon unfinished contracts In order
to enable them to proceed. compelled mo to undertake
specng all such work. as 1T was desirable to continue
Owing TO the imperfect state OF the records and ac
counts OF the Engineers Office Of the Board OF Public
Works each OF these examinations has been task OF
considerable magnitude but both have been made in
zach case I'm which the order to revoke the suspension
has been given and the work allowed to proceed.
While the general character OF the improvements de-
signed be mado In accordance with definite plans
details Of the plans had not been worked out nor
provided for sudden rush Of claims for contracts
which had lain dormant while work was unprohtable
was made at the outset and while some OF these claims
were found TO be without foundation, others brought
TO notice. as did tho applications for improve
ments unfinished contract work and contracts upon
which additional work was very much needed.
SHAMEFUL CHARACTER OF THE WORK.
Noting condition OF the sewerage the report states
that the sx-foot sewer Eghthst, beginning at the
gravel pit and running through Eighth to st., built by
George FOansbce, has, after cafeful Inspection been
condemned for its entire length The arch has fallen In
aud 1t is dangerous throughout The fault lies both In
bad workmanship and bad plan. II tworing sewer,
and should been Of three rings The invcrt Is laid
without support upon bad ground. No back spandril
appears to have used aud the inver has ltened
letting arch and spreading IL at the springng
ne The key OF the arch Is cracked, bent inward or
fallen at almost point and indicates the speedy
destruction OF the entire ne Very little Of the present
sewer should be allowed to rematn. Tho rebuilding
The Ninthst is defective. About 80 feet OF the
arch is cracked and will require rebuilding The crack.
ing caused by the settling and spreading OF the nvort
but the workmanship not good aud the arch should be
rebuilt next Summer.
The main Tlber Creek sewer was intended to be OF
brick eemicrcular section 20 feet In diameter,
fat reversed arch lnver About 600 feet OF side walls
were built without bond stones and with worthless
cement. and the bricks on hand found to be OF
nsarior i,v nj nnt for L
demncd the side walls aud the material on hand
changed the location OF the from Ost to the bed
of the creek shortening the limo by about 297 feet re-
duciDg the about t2s 0O) O1e hundred and twenty
feet only have been built, and the work should DO at
put the hands OF other parties for completion
the construction OF tie lower end OF this section by
Bartlett Williams the specifications Of the contract
have been complied with, brick nvert having been
substituted for the stones and tho mater usod is not
I'D to the requirements Tue capacity of this
greater and the at invert Is objection
able with its present fall OF six inches In lo' feet
as it facilitates the accumulation OF deposlts Ihe
work Is advancing very slowly.
WORTHLESS SEWERS
In the lower section the main Tber sewer bullt by
Gaher & Loane, the specifications have not been
piled with In respect to the skewback course OF brick
and have made deduction in the price OF the work
With the construction Of tho Boundaryst. intcrceptng
sewer which drains LOO acres, the question OF capacity
of the Tber Creek has been set at rest but great
deal Of trouble will be experienced In keeping it clean
Sand accumulates rapidly In this section. and the
contractors for cleaning 1t nave not done their work
The outlet at james Creek canal has been placed III the
hands Of Nesnh Vance, and the work OF the original
contractors have cOndemned beng so badly done that
fall into the canal when the latter dredged 10
the locality, and have substituted wall OF rnbble-
stone masonry. with concrete backing, dispensing with
timber The cost ia Increased from s3 80 TO SIT 80 per
nea foot payable IN 365 bonds Below the ARSENAL the
work Is not advancing fayorably upon the retaining
Tue Boundaryst intercepting sewer, built IN three
this season. Tapping the walls OF tho lower section
that the invert is laid without any cement except
two rings Of bricks have been used the arch. TIE
B-st north. nerccpting sewer extending from Seventh
the whole Of which contains paved streets The upper
portion OF this sewer has diameter OF hve feot six
Inches which increases TO II feet at the outlet Tie
sole OF the at Seventhst Is two Zee; Six inches
nd at outlet Is four feet Six Inches below mean high
acient although the majority OF the complaints
account from the tide.locked section OF the city
south of Pcnnsy The sewer has been recently
cleaned, and a careful investigation OF the complaints
hereafter will be sufficient TO determine the question OF
lis capacity. The only OF relief for those who
reside upon low ground in the vicinity OF the sewer
is to the recommendation OF the Board OF Public
Works and make use Of flood valves Inc system OF
main be considered as estaDilshed and the
work upon them IS nearly colnpietGdi Inc lateral
work in cases has been badly done but sewerage
facilities having been widely extended. the necessity
for further extension has been established;
CONDITION OF THE CITY PAvEMeNTs.
Lieut.. Hoxie says that the streets and avenues are
generally paved. parked, and lighted where such i'm
provements Immediately necessary, and a gradual
extension by moderate annual outlay will enable the
improvements to keep pace with the requirements The
pavement OF in the business part Of the
city blocks trap rock, and granite, adapted
TO heavy traffic and In part irregular blocks offblue
stone. He recommends that the latter, well
cobbe stone be gradually replaced by improved pave
Inents tho amount OF travel over them Increases.
When streets have but little heavy travel the carriage
way Is OF bitumin0us concrete, aud wood aud
and as these approach the boundary they give place TO
gravel Some OF the cOncretes make excellent pave.
nent and worthless. The repair the latter
will involve large outays, but the former, with such
have been suggested will have solved
the problem Of payements for localities at least which
dispense with stone blocks and yet require some