The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-16
CONSTRUCTING RIyERsIDE AVENUE
Civil Engineer Thomas FrankIIn Answerisg
Criticisms on the Work.

Riverside avenue is driveway, or road,
laid out on the westerly side OF this city. Extend
ing from Soventy-socond street. North River. to
130th street. in Manhattanvillo. and is about
three miles in length It is not straight. but
follows tho curves and bends OF the bank OF tho
river. crosses numerous ravines. and winds
around several considerable elevations. The
contract for building the road was awarded to
Decker 4 Quintard. on Oct 81, 1876, and work
was begun on Nov 10. OF that year under the
superintendent Of James C. Aldrich. civil en-
Gncer. who. on March 10. 1878. was superseded
by Thomas franklin. under whose direction tho
work has been progressing since.
In accordance with resolution passed by tho
Board OF Commissioners OF the Department Of
Parks. John Bogart. Esq. civil engineer. was
appointed on Dec. to examine the work dono
in Riverside avenue by the contractors to re-
port lis present condition. and whether or not it
same resolution William +. Worthen, Esq, civil
engineer. was appointed by tho Mayor. and
Charles II. Haswell, ESD. civil engineer. was
Bogart. WV '''''',' 49, wa,
These gentlemen mado their rcport and mp
proved OF much OF tho work. especially that
which was the most important, most expensive,
and most difficult but they also criticised somo-
what freely. speaking in disapprOyal OF the re-
moval OF certain amount Of material from tho
ground adjoining the drivo; Of the cutting
down Of trees Of there having been no cnre in
the preservation OF the top soil OF the manner
in which the interstices between large stones in
the embankments were filled: OF the fact that
the parapet wall had been increased In height
by ono foot: OF tho pavcmens OF the drive. ride.
and walk not having been prepared with a
roller; OF the substitution OF bluestone for
granite inthe curb angles. and Of few other
inOr matters.
Engineer Thomas Franklin was called upon
to answer this report, and has sent In his COM
munication TO the Board He sets forth that the
specifications Of the contract wcrc crude in
thcir character. and evidently not the produc-
ton OF person who had clear conception OF
the work to be done. They consisted Of 22i
paragraphs. Of which CO were especially left. in
their Interpretation and execution. 10 the ludg-
ment and discretion OF the engineer in charge
OF the work. Mr. Franklin protests against the
manner in which the persons appointed TO ex-
anime the work went out OF their way to oil
their report with personal imputations. and
| ton as they made any judgment expressed by
them must be imperfect and unjust 10
all parties concerned He suggests that they
hurried their report that IL might be
made public before the radical change should
take place in the administration OF city affairs
that was to occur on Jan. l. He sets forth shat
| out OF the pa paragraphs OF tho specifications.
| the examiners referred in their report TO TWEEN
| ty-seven only leaving nearly 200 that they had
not time to notice at ALL
Mr.. Franklin answers each one OF the Oblec-
| tions and criticisms in detail and somewhat nj
length, and concludes his report with letters
| from j.. u. Bacon. Esd. civil engineer. and
OF whom certify that. in the present uncOm-
pleted situation OF the avenue. an examination
Of the work could not possibly be made ex-
haustiVe or thorough. but. as far rs they wcro
able Judge. II was in accordance with the speci-
hcauons and with the spirit OF the contract.