The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-16
RIVERSIDE IMPROVEMENT

ENGINEER FRAsELIN's REPLY TO THE CHARGES
MADE by THE COMMISSION OF ENeINEELs AP.
POINTED TO EXAMINE THE WORK.
experimenting Engineer Thomas Franklin, OF tho
Riverside improvement. furnished to the
missoners OF the Park Department yesterday MI ac-
count of his stewardship. This action was taken III
accordance with resolution offered by President
Wennan q few weeks ago, calling upon Mr.. Franklin
to show why lie should not he removed from
his position for alleged neglect of duty. will be
remembered that Commissioner Lane brought charges
against the contractors OF riverside avenue, and
mission OF three engineers appointed to examine
and report upon the worknanoly, AIessrs. Bogart.
Worthen and Haswell. This report was rendered
three weeks ago. and adverse to the contractors
and reelected severely upon Engineer Franklin.
TIE SPECIFICATIONS CRITICISED.
Mr.. Franklin opens his exhaustive defence by
stating that he charge tho work on Riverside
the 18th of March, 1873. II received the
specifications accompanying the contract my guide
in experimenting the work These specifications I
found to be crude in their character. confused in
statement and verbose to extrome degree. In adj
diton to this the Typographical surveys upon which
the plans and specifications based were inaccu-
rate making II a matter OF mpossibiity to conform
the work to the lines laid down the plan while
the details OF the plan itseif left i'll large
measure underlined and obscure In fact, the con-
tract could not have been carried out ut all had
it not been for the saving clause in the
agreement between the contractors and the depart.
inent. by which II was agreed upon by both parties
that the engineer appointed by the department.
should in all cases determine the amount or the
quality OF the several kinds OF work to be paid
under the contract. and determine all questions in
relation to lines, levels and dimensions work.
A SHOT AT rfiE ExAMIssIs.
Mr.. FRANKLIN next carticises the report of the
Commission OF Civil Engineers, with the prefa-
tory remark that they unduly influenced in
their action by Commissioner Lane "Out of tia
22i paragraphs contained in the contract he says.
twenty seven is tine total number referred to lin
the report of the enlneers) leaving nearly two hum
dred paragraphs that they had not time ut
they assume to have examined about half meet with
their unqualified approval"
Mr. FRANKLIN ISDon,ED.
Mr.. Franklin next takes up serintim the several
clauses mentioned in the Examining Engineers re-
port and defends himself from the structures of the
says, "that the whole business should be clearly un
derstood by the public, requested that some dis-
terested parties should select from the American So
cety or Civn Engineers many OF the most
members of that organization was deemed neccs-
sary to examine this work II person. with spec-
Cations and the report OF experts before thom and
press candid opinion Mn. franklin then proceeds
to call attention to tire reports OF these gentlemen
Ono or them, Mr.. j. r. Bacon, says the work we'll
done and 'in accordance with the latitude of the
specifications" The other two report follows:-
NEW YonH Oct IA, 1877.
sia-Tilc undersigned requested 20 examine the
of Riverside avcnuc work done IN pursuance OF
that contract under the supervision ngneer Thomas
the material furnished for the construction
side and also their opinion tho stab ty aud
spirit of contract and specifications have
been carried by the engineer In his of
work
The undersigned having daily examined tho work 30 f.
ms the inauspicious state OF the weather would permit
THAT TO their examination necessarily coni-h
to what was in sight above ground tho pro.
venting any examination Of founaatonand having also
examined the plans under which the work originally
for and also the changes which in the
OF his discretion the neer has tit make in the
| In
formed themselves by inquiries made the
work 10 the ana methods of
and the of the estimates
work done and materials furnished by eng-
submit the following tho result their
tion -
They fluid that neither in the materials furnished nor in
the work done has the engineer regarded workas
pieted but n the unfinished condition OF the
to have left ample in the estimates provide
for resetns, refining, resyn replacing inn
perfect materuis. which, the o
posed it will bc to the elements
before ve accepted finished in accordance with tho
terms of the there where
any needed improvements or changes that may become
completed WORK in accordance with the terms OF tho
trsc
The changes made In tho original design of the parapos
wall considered judcous and apparently made In
the exercise OF sound discretion and in tho
of the contractors.
The wang whore approaching completion a. stable
and permanent character view OF tho original do
expected to be. IL Is in unfinished aud
tceted state aud 10 great disadvantage and little defects
worx without entans any injury 10 Its pernianencc
stability Tho stone afforded BY tnc excavation is Of
into the contract bu ITS allowed by the specifics
lions
tcrsls furnished every suited make good aud
permanent work in accordance with tho spirit of con-
INV NV York. jan H. 1879 %liLisN j. MeAi.fIyE.
The report was received and ordered TO be printed
in pamphlet form. and copy presented to each
missioner.