The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-30

would fall within year. He said the recent rain
storms had undoubtedly weakened the structure.
earth on the hips of the arch before the crown
properly weighted had caused the latter 10 bulge up,
thereby breaking the arch
caused by the breathless inquiries OF man who was
certain that his brother mus have been buried IN the
RUNS, but 10 almost certain that he was mistaken
II was however, common remark IN the ncixhoor-
hood that It was fortunate the accident DID not occur
In the evening, as many residents OF that popuous
district have been habit OF going under the arch
toward dark to catch the evening breeze, and the
children nave played around tho place In great num-
bers
INTERVIEW WITH COMMISSIONERS cAMrsELL
Commissioner OF Public orks Allan Campbell was
busily engaged in conversation with Engineer John
q. Campbell when the HERALD reporter caliod ut his
residence In Lexington avenue during the evening.
The Commissioner at once asked the reporter 70 DO
seated, they just convcrsing ABOUT the fallen
arch. In reply to the question whether It was true
these only put together WITH little wet sand,
Commissioner Campbell saId-"Now that Is all non
sense. Who can testify to such act except an
expert after the bricks have fallenp You know the
affair occurred al TOO late an hour in the afternoon
10 permit OF thorough Investigation, ana thoush
there may have been bad quality OF mortar,
too small quantity Of H. u Is arrant nonsense TO say
.Ssre %as nn no mss nn,n ssr informs mo that
the centres wooden supports) had been lowered
during the past i've days, SO it could not have been
tho sudden withdrawal OF tho supports thut caused
"what, them do you consider to have boon the
cause 7" asked the reporter
W rs difficult to tell as yet. That Is subject which
We will thoroughly investigate
Engineer Campbell here Interrupted the Commits
sioner said lit may have been tho load
ing at the top OF tbs arch. mean TO say that too
great quantity Of SAND may have been heaped on one
Of the arcn without being distributed equally over
THE BUILDING OF THE ARCH.
Commissions Campbell hero resumed his remarks
and sad 81 do not pretend TO that the removal
OF the supports may not have bcen the cause. Even
IL they lowered. mr.. OBrien, the inspector,
tells mo, 1--WE days ago the question OF time has
nothing to do with the TACT that II the arch was un-
withdrawal Of supports; but their sudden With
drawai as you perceive, has not been the cause OF
that OF the $50 feet constructs 100 eettne eastern
wing--rcmaln intact Fifty Ieet ony-tho third d.
vlson.has fallen showing that some part Of me inc
which Is being built in Forty street Is 10
be $50 feet long and was being budt in sections Of
fifty ieeL 1t Is only one of these secons-thc last
one compisted-wnch has fallen In.
who is this contractor Byron?" asked tic re-
"Ho appears to be doing his work well,' replied the
Commissioner. "Irue, he never aid much work Tor
the department BEFORE but is highly spoken Of by
those ier whom he has worked these many years past
He Is from Mount Vernon, and his BID being the low
asst hts securities being approved aud hrs work pro-
crossing satisfactorily, no fault could be found with
him. In TACT the manner IN which be has completed
the masonry work OF the first section Of the arch
shows that no does his work quite conscicntlously."
NOT A SUSPICIOUS FACT.
Did It not look suspicious to you al the outset that
he should bid SO, 900 less than anybody elso ~
"No, it did not THIS occurs almost every day In
the department. The option does not lie with us.
W. can nrss, nep ,S nuns and sDecsca.
tons the law compeis w to take the lowest bidder.
II is foolish law, but we have no choice IN me mat.
ter lou know the Comptroller approves the sure
ties and the Commissioner has the right 10 stop the
work any time II !, is Dot progressing in accord.
with specifications; but contractor bidding
several thousand dollars less than others that does not
raise the least inquiry on our par II every thng
HAS mis- Forty second street job, where the
cident took place, beer carefully waschsdf"
O'EKIEN, THE INSPECTOR
IA haab ee chad v Mr