New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-21
DEFECTIVE DOCK WALLS.


EXAMINING WORK on THE NORTH RIVER
PRELIMINARY REPORT or The ENGINEEEs' CON-
MITTEE APPOINTED BY TIKI MAYoR-THk MODS
OF CONSTRUCTION UNCERTAIN IN ITS RESULTS
DETECTS IN ruE BULKnEAD WALLS AT CANAL
AND KING-STs.
The Committee appointed by Mayor Wick
ham September last 10 investigate the condition 0f the
bukhead walls ut the foot of Canal and kfngsts North
River has submitted preliminary report After tho
appointment OF Henry +. Dimock and Salem H. wales az
Dock Commissioners. the Board resolved upon an exam
nation Of the wall of the docks. which had been
constructed under the supervision OF Gen. Charles n
Graham Chief Engineer Of the Department, upon plans
which had altered by the Board from those used by
Gen George b. Mcclellan. Gen. Crab m soon afterward
resigned and George s. Greene r was apPointe1 10 sue
ceed him. On Sept 16 Engineer Greene reported tho r
suits OF his examination Of the bulkhead walls at King and
Canasts stating that he had found the walls crunbng
away in many places and that the facts ascerained In
dcated clearly the plan OF building the wall Of con-
creto placed under the water pdsSe could not no
relied upon to produce permanent stable and desirable
wall" few days later the Mayor appointed commit
tee OF engineers investigate the walls still further,
and the following the preliminary report they submit;
To ne Commissioners Of Docks, New York city
GENTLEMEN: We have the honor To submit tbis pro
lmlnary report with respect to the condition OF inc ok
head walls at the foot o. Canal sn1 kns'" North
On tho receipt OF the Mayors communicaton we
examination Of the Kng-.t and Canal-st bkheads the
Department OF Docks having previously SUNK smart In
placed threesided caissOn against Its face. We have
now with the aid OF two divers, made a thorough
examination OF all the exposed faces Of both bukheads
tbc examination of important points being by divers
al different times thereby checking their reports. Tho
OF King-st.. and have made personal examination OF
the exterior face and center OF the wall W. have also
mad shaft sunk in the center OF the Canalst wall and
have had a caisson constructed there. In when
We making trial Of concrete construction
aarfN
as those under which the bulkhead was made;
in fact model on large scale OF she wall Itself When
will be raised aud the condition or tue concrete can be
made Of the Comparative set and strength o. concrete
OF Portland and Rosendae cements In the position and
the bukhead All these experiments require time for the
setting OF the cement, and are at present incomplete
We cannot therefore, at present give full answer to all
the queries proposed but in to first inter-
rogatory the facts to the conditions Of such sruc
durability" we would respectfully report that. from all
our examinations, 1nt that the mode Of construction
afo ted connection with the details, appliances. and
materials used IL uncertain in its suits
We have found that the component parts OF the con-
portions of cement that the broken stone and sand are
In excess the bottom Of layer and the cement at the
top; that the cement has washed 9nt ana deposited
itself as laaRce, in combination with the soil In the
ance OF seams between the different layers Of concrete
pockets In spaces IN the concrete Many portions
almost invariably weak and the imperfect; but
do not find any the slightest settlement dognment
increase to injurious unstly extent while tne
bulkbeads remain under their present conditions. with
ont back-hng But before the eaTth-hiliDg il put
behind the walls, should propose some further
lection against the thrust outward OF the embankment
Whatever OF weakness there may he in the present
structures think 1t may be Temeded without any
noyal of structure any large expenditure. We would
propose TO leave IL rs 1t Is for the present
We do not wish to be understood as condemning az
system the method of constructing submarine masonry
by passing freshly mixed concrete through AM Deposit
ing 10 the water. On the contrary, Ii ~ well known
that excellent work can be executed in that manner
under suitable precautions in respect TO the quality OF
the cement used the proportions or the cement to tho
coarse ingredients, the KIND OF apparatus employed
laying it, and the with which IL il operated Our
criticisms will be fully set forth in ina report
and will refer the details OF the method OF
ton adopted for the Canal and kingst. sections our
final report, which will give IN ul ali the facts obtained
in our examinations with the results ~ our experiments
will be completed within the coming month. In it We
will endeayOr TO give satisfactory answers to all the in
terrogatOns submitted and suggest that nothing
be done the time toward completing those
Ons OF the walls for which the pile foundation has been
wholly partially prepared Very respectfully your
Obedirnt servants john NEWTON,
e. :. GILMORE.
Nerr YORK, Dec IL, 1873. Nm. f. WOKIHHH.