The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-28
RIVERSIDE AVENUE.
Report Of the Examining Committee on
the Contract Work.
SPECIFICATIONS NOT COMPLIED With
Indifferent Construction and Alleged Use
of inferior Materials.
THE SUPERVISING ENGINEER CENSURED

1t will be remembered that some time ago differ
ences arose between the contractors for Riverside
and the Department Of Public Parks in refer
to the execution of the work. and that the for
mer claimed that the then experimenting engineer.
James G.. Aldrich required them to do work not
called for in the contract and specification. This
trouble resulted in the removal Of Mr. Aldrich
and the appointment in his place of Mr..
Thomas Franklin, on March 49, 1873. Com
missioner Lane at that time protested against
the appointment Of Mr. Franklin until the latter gen.
tleman had presented to the Board testimonials Of
his experience and professional standing, which
luton was voted down by his three colleagues in the
Board. On the 4th of December three civil en-
gineers appointed "to examine the work done
under the contract between the Department Of Public
Parks and the contractors Messrs. Decker and Quin
tard" and report the present condition of the work
and in what respects it is done in conformity with
the contract and in what respects it is not done."
Charles H. Haswell, by the Comptroller; William L.
Worthen. by the Mayor and John Bogart by the De-
partmcnt of Public Parks, were appointed such
commission The following is their report, sub
mitted yesterday
Tho commission Of civil engineers appointed in
accordance with resolution of the Department of
Public Parks of the Goth ult, to examine the work
done under contract between the Department Of
Public Parks and Messrs Decker and Quintard for the
improvement and construction OF Riverside avenue,
herewith report.
That il has examined the materials furnished and
work done upon the Riverside avenue thoroughly
practicable in the time at it's disposal, and
without material injury in tearing down portions Of
1t has been furnished with copies of the contract
and with the original drawings maps plans and pro-
files, which exhibited ut the letting and
ferred to in the contract.
y has received from the experimenting engineer
of the work, Mr.. Thomas Franklin and his assistant
detailed information in reference to It,
1t has examined the former engineers and other
persons cognizant OF the work during it's progress.
In making report upon the subject it has thought
best follow the order of the contract and specihca
tions and to consider each item in that order.
The resolution under which the commission acts
asks for statement of the present condition OF the
work and in what respects it is done in accordance
with the contract and in what respects it is not SO
done.
The opinion Of the commission is herewith given
upon each of the various items Of work.
First-The preliminary clause and the sections A
and of the contract describe the area embraced in
it as being the avenue known as Riverside avenue. in
the city OF New York. as laid out under the second
section chapter $50, OF the Laws Of 1873 and shown
upon certain map filed February %, 1875
done outside the limits OF the avenue above de-
scribed-namely, excavation of material from the
Riverside Park, which material has been brought
therefrom and used in the filling Of the avenue
The amount Of this material is estimated as 25 500
cubic yards. 1t has been included in the monthly
estimates of work done excavation of earth. In
the opinion of this commission this amount should
have been paid for only as embankment under this
contract.
.Secoad-Most OF the trees have been cut down
within the lines Of the avenue and upon the slopes
and enclosed between tho drive lines. which
areas are designed to be grass surfaced.
The experimenting engineer states that none have
been cut which he was directed to save.
DISPOSITION OF TOP SOIL
TirdA large portion Of the top soil seems to have
been disposed Of already in some manner, although
of the specifications makes special provision for the
preservation Of this top soil for future Use upon the
slopes, and this should be done to preserve their
parklike character. Section S3 also provides that
spaces for trees and planting shall be filled to the
established grades with good SOIL
That which has been done however the superih-
tending engineer states, has been in accordance with
his directions.
EXCAVATION OF EARTH.
F0urth-The largest part Of the earth to be exca-
waited has been removed and estimated hut the slopes
have not been shaped, and as this final shaping of
slopes will be expensive to the contractors than
the previous earth excavation the approximate esti
mates should have been made with reference to this
point.
EXCAVATION OF ROCK.
Fyh-Nearly all OF this has been finished
EsfRANKMI.Nr
,Sirth-This has been ut many points, stated by
the experimenting engineer made Of Large stone"
At tho points where this was in progress when
examined by the commission, proper attention was
not being given to that clause of the contract (section
y providing for filling the interstices OF with
earth. At several other points the upper surfaces
have settled. Water has carried with it, at some
places the surface filling into the lower parts Of the
entertainments forming holes, and into these the
edging, gutter and walk areas have settled.
The larger part Of the enhancement is made. The
commission reports that its present condition is
ton of the walks, drives &C., upon it special meas
should be taken to prevent their future sub
sidence, which will certainly occur unless this pre-
caution Is taken.
| Serenth-The total OF dry wall now estimated
done and to be done is much less than that Of the
original estimate This Is due to the change in extc-
rior lines and the substitution in places of earth and
rock slope for retaining walls by the direction of the
present experimenting engineer OF this total al
most the entire amount il composed Of retaining
walls and their foundation walls and they substan
dimensions comply
terms of the contract and the faces better
than shown in the original drawings exhibited by
the department at the time Of the letting.
PARAPET WALL.
Eighm-Thc totals Of parapet wall estpatcd and to
be estimated would also have been less than the orig
nal but by the direction of the present superntcnd
ing engineer foot has beon added to its height
inches. rs first designed aud exhibited ON the
original drawings. by tho terIhs of the
to- hssbf 81 ome OF lw0 stons un n
be of full Dimensions Of the parapet in each direc-
ton, no centre vertical points being allowed. of
two courses in height, of the to BIO the
full width Of the wall and tho other may have centre
vertical joint this Joint not to exceed inch in
thickness neither of the to be less than
inches in height. To be laid inll in cement with well
jointcd joints. not to exceed quarter OF inch.
None of this work is built of a single course of
stone Thore are generally two courses and III some
cases three. No course icll below inches i'll
height. When in two courses neither of them are of
the full width of the wall both almost invariably
stretchers, with very few headers, and tie centre
vertical joints much exceed the limit OF
one Inch III tincknesss we nave measured
some of six inches, and no has been taken to
keep this joint IN any way uniform. At the ends the
stones usually slack and the face Joints have but
little depth. The vertical joints filled in with
spawls with the inerstices inperfcctly filled with
cement In its character the wall different from
that expressed by the contract that the Commission
considers 1t direct and entire violation OF it.
COPING.
NintA-Thc coping ID good and complies with tho
contract except that the chisel drafts of not less
than onc-half inch along the top and bottom of each
stone on the outside face have been omitted
cont for nhpn On md fapf Tbr fpfa
lie that OF the dry masonry is less than that OF the
original estimate, and for the reason.
RUBBIE MASONRY, LIME CEMENT.
TenDt-Complics substantially with the contract;
most Of IL copcd the dry retaining wall and it's face
Is of the character. Under the heading
included the masonry Of the abutmcnt of the bridge
Eighty sixth street; the face of this masonry is
superior to that under which 1t Is classed aud much
better than that called for by the contract.
sroNE FILLED REAR or WALL.
ElercuM-Ths has in cases not been done where in
the Judgment OF this commission IT would have been