The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-28

lace stones. with here and there stone running
through the wall. These face stones nre not OF
full thickness but are generally thin slabs. with
space between thcm Of Ave or six inches. and
sometimes more. In order that the slabs should
not fall out they have been bound together with
anchors OF iron. ana this has been done ut tho
expense OF the contractors ns they have found
supply stone Of proper thickness. In the spaco
between the slabs small stones have been in
the cavities. The result Of this manner OF con-
struction is an unsubstantial wall OF fair seem
ing on the outside. but full OF rottenness within.
CHANGE OF DEs1GS-wID1H OF WALKS.
The walk in tho lower section, being designed
wide. Tho engineer has reduced the width TO
IS feet. tho dimension Of II fair sidewalk. and
These alterations ofthe design have been made
by the engineer without the authority the De-
partment OF Parks. and without even consulting
the Counsel to the Corporation to the effect that
such variations from the terms OF the contract
were not legal.
Tho contract made special provision for tho
preservation OF top soil. to DO used in nm
soil Il is difficult to procure in large guam
titles Accordingly. under tho supervision
9i the first engipeer al ihat was s han;
for this special use. During, tho past year.
however. little or none OF this top soil
10y the contractors for filing in embnnkment.
This material was convenient and comparative
~ inexpensive for them. and enabled them moro
eXpedtiously and economically TO increase tho
amount OF their award at the close OF the month.
EMBANKMENTs.
In the construction OF the cmbankment. the
contract provides that when embankments
shall be deposited with the stone as shall be
sufficient TO I'll the ntcrstces thereof" Tho
uuruose Of this was to make the cmhankmcnt
So firm and solid MS to supply good founda-
ton for the roadways and wal ks to be construct
cd upon IT, The contractors have neglected the
~ tla I'm.
tween the large stones. and as n consequence
the earth that has boon deposited upon these
holes have been formed. Throwing more earth
into these holes will be only Il temporary REM
edv. The occurrence OF rains Will again wash
down the soil and holes will be formed in other
places. There will exist the necessity OF con-
slant repairs of this kind for an indefinitely
long period to come and the cost of such re-
pairs will in the end. be greater than the cost
Of taking the work all up now and replacing II
in n substantial manner.
DRAINAGE.
The contract provides that in rcnlllne the
trenches over drain and sewer pipes the filing
shall he carefully packed and rammed by
trusty persons under and around II the pipe!
with proper material and with proper tools = and
IL also reiterates that the earth must be care
fully laid in 40 as not to disturb the pipes. and
be tamped and solidly rammed down under and
around them" The object OF all this care Is to
preserve the pipes from breaking or from being
forced out OF correct inclination by tho une-
quail pressure OF tho earth carclessly thrown
into the trenches. II is certain that to repair
buried work like this Is about rs costly M to
lay i anew But Ii is much more expensive to
lay pipes In accordance with these specifications
than to dump the earth into the trenches and
cover them up out OF sight. Tho earth therefore
WIS thrown in by the contractors without any OF
the tamping and solid ramming down pro-
vded for, II is not practicable now 10 ascer-
aged or pushed out Of line. This discovery will
be made some day, when the pipes become
choked up with sand and debris ana the drain
or sewer has become useless.
The specification provided that the road beds
are to be shaped to the lines and grades " and
then rolled with rollers to compact the ma
tcrial;" that the stones for the foundation were
not to exceed specified size. and " are 10 be
laid TO the depth OF seven TO ten Inches and
evenly adjusted so as 10 FORM pavement IN
together" and upon the top Of these stones
are to be- spread finer rubble and quarry chips
sufficient to I'LL and smooth over the intersticts
OF the surface - with this material Is 10 be in:
termiNed q quantity OF gtaNelly earth or hard
sprinking. is TO be rolled" 4 conformity with
these provisions would produce n firm, durable
ruadbrd with a cellular character beneath to
facilitate drainage. and compact surface upon
which TO lay tho superstructurs Of the roadway.
But no roller has yet been used; stones OF tho
| size indicated. hut many OF them OF poor DUAL
| ity. have been dumped upon tho ground. and
spread out. but without any care 10 bring II 10 a
! level of seven to ten inches as required; upon
| this quarry chips and finer rubbe have been
deposited. aud then earth and sand have been
spread over all. The sprinkling and rolling
| been entirely ON tied. and the consequence Is
! that the earth and sand have washed through
| 70 the larger stones ~ the bottom choKing w
| open to facilitate the drainage; and thus the
whole structure lacks the ilrmness and stability
| OF "A differentiated and durable roadbed.
CUTTERS
These are required 10 be OF quarry stones Of q
! Specified size TO be heddcd upon we'll
rnmmed layer Of gravel. snnd. line quarry chips
| or coal ashes not less than one foot in depth
! They are to be- laid by hand truly and evenly
| and rammed TO a firm bed 30 that their surince
| shall conform 10 the lines and curves directed
| The purpose OF prescribing so much care In the
| construction Of cutters is obvious. They have
| 10 carry swift currents OF water. and must b,
| even and smooth. and Of correct inclination
| About two miles OF cutters have been laid
| They ARE roughly done; are not well set or il
any regular lines do not carry on tho water
and utterly fail TO conform TO the requirements
CURB AND EDGISGs.
The contract provides that tho curbstonc.
for the walks and tho edglngs for the plot
should be Of hrst,class qualify, and should b
clean sandy material or clean coal ashes. free
from clay or lonm. md well rammed." TIT
stones furnished and set arc not in accordanc,
with the specification. as to size, shape, and cut
ting. They have been set in some cases so murl
In advance Of the constipation OF the roadbed
the required backing, clay and loan beinl
mixed with the sand, that the backing has beef
washed out, and tho curbs and edigings nav
settled so as 10 be very much out OF line. Thu
they will require 10 be reset.
TLAGGING.
The contract calls for tagging Mt least q
inches thick AT every point. Of specified dimcn
sions and " to be bedded in four inches Of ceal
gritty earth or clean coal ashes. free from ella
or loan :" that is. n firm. durable sidewalk. Blu
many Of the nagstones furnished are Of les
than the required thickness, which has occa
stoned the breakage Of some Of those Hlread
laid and the tagging has been laid by the con
tractors in the bedding that was most conve
nently at hand. When this happened to b
gravey earth. the tagging contOrmed in som
measure to the specification, but when IL hap
pened 10 be- clay or loan. that material was used
and tho specification was violated.
II these wretched Jobs were yet 10 be paid foI
the remedy might be "A simple one. But tn
contractors have succeeded by the negligenc
Of the engineer and with the ncqulescence a
the Park Department. in securing 10 per cent
OF their price for the work. the other 80 pc
cent. remaining int the hands Of the Comptroller
TO be paid at the close Of the contract. Are the
to be allowed TO prosecute the work this yea
and to be paid for II in the same fashion Their
Is something to hone for in the appointment q
Mr.. McAlpine 10 the post Of superintend
ing engineer, Mr.. franklin having been re
lieved from duty on riverside avenue and re-
warded for his faithfuness 10y IN appointment
in another bureau at n handsome SALARY
| Mr.. McAlpine will prove TO be- a firm man. I'm
deed If he can Withstand the Establishment
and tho hulldozing" Of the contractors. n
well as the commanding pressure from thos
Park Commissioners whose financial and pOllt
zeal interests may be linked with those OF tn
contractors. An engineer should be sustnine