The daily gazette., 1880-04-07
FIRST EDITION.
The Broken Easln.


CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS THE SUB.
JECr OF REPAIRS AND LEAVES IT
TO THE JUDGMENT OF THE wATEH
COMMITTEE.
City Council met al Coal Spring Reser-
voir, at three o'clock yesterday afler-
noon, In special session called by
Mayor Almond, for the purpose of ex.
amining the serious brake In the basin
wall, and deciding what plan of pro
cedure would be adobted in making the
necessary repairs. City Surveyor Con-
well was present, and also Mr.. Isaac s.
Carson, civil engineer of Philadel-
phia. .r...t
For an hour or more the Council
looked around the broken bank, while
workmen dug holes here and there, so
that the condition OF the pudding could
be ascertained. In all places II was
found to be In good condition, and II
did not appear that the bank was injured
to any serious extent. The general i'm
preston seemed TO be that 1t would be
unnecessary TO go TO the expense of
tearing out the wall, and that the
Strengthening of the foundations aud
patching Of the broken places in the
walls would be ssfacient.
Finally, the meeting ajIurned until
1880 O'Clock in the evning, with lnstiuc-
tions to the Water Committee to then
present report upon the subject.
The Water Committee retired to the
pump house and held a consult alton
with Mr.. Carson and Surveyor Con-
well, the result OF which was, the pre-
sentation, at the evening meeting, Of
the opinion Of these Two engineers as
the Committees report, as follows:
To THE GENTLEMEN OF COUNCIL -
new basin, Isaac Casson, engineer, says:
"The cause Is very simple, being an in
| sufficient surface to carry the weight of
the brick wall. l would advise q wall
Of brick or stone, laid In cement. three
feet square, be placed at the foot of wall, =,
and the clay excavated to the depth of
| at least ihree feet below wall, the whole
TO be well puddled under and around.
The pudding appears to be first C lass
nateria' and well put on. would re-
| Commend that examinations be made at
| several points to a. ascertain IL the pud-
ding under the brick work is in good
| eopdttion, and not cracked; also, exam
Inc the bottom under the line of pud-
ding. The condition of the pudding
can only be ascertained by cutting ont
the brick work In several places; would
not recommend the whole wall to be
| taken down unless absolute necessary" "
City Surveyor Conwell does not think
a wall abs Olutely necessary. He recon-.
| mends In lieu of wall az foot of brick
work, hne of curb set ~ right angles
| 10 wall; another line OF curb set perpen-
dlcular TO the bottom, about SIX feet
back, and stayed about g., cry eight or
teu feet with a nine-inch brick wall or y
stone wall about one foot deep and
about five feet wide. If found neces-
,ary to take out the whole wall, he
would not recommend more than one
course of brick be again laid. In other
respects he agrees with Mr.. Casson.
MIR. Adams moved tLat the subject be
referred TO the Water Committee, with
power to use their best Judgment.
Mr.. McMenamin moved 70 amend by
including the City Surveyor with the
Water Committee, which amendment
was accepted by Mr.. Adams.
Mr. Chandler thought this was the
proper motion. If IL turned out that
the expense would be large the commit.
tee could report 10 Council.
Mr.. X. ii. Taylor said that finances
were TO be considered. This was evil
deutly an extraordinary occasion, one
for which the charter gives the Council
power to make a temporary loan. The
water works appropriation cannot stand
this extra expense, and even If IL could
the city's bank account is too small u
stand such a drain.
MI. Paynter said the Water Commit
tee was not disposed to spend any more
money than was absolutely necessary
for the proper performance of the work
He also thought that one of the after
noon paper was discourteous to the
Water Committee IN charging that the
water department now Is not as eco
nomicalIy conducted as it was twenty
years ago. He SAID the department thei
was very different from the department
of the present day. Then the revenue
OF the department was only $4,000 pei
year; now 1t is nearly $4,000. TheI
the supply pipes were only two inches
in size; now they are much larger ant
all the small pipes had to be taken up
He did not think 1t kind In any paper u
refer to the water Committed
in this manner.
Mr.. Merris Taylor opposed the motion
on the ground that the better plan woult
he to make examinations and ascertain
the probable cost of the work.
Mr.. Adams said this was his idea il
making bis motion.
MIR. Paynter said this was one of thos,
kind Of jobs the cost of which canno
be ascertained until the work is com
pleted. The expense can only be learn
ed as the work proceeds. In som,
places, the cost may be light, in other
considerable, and the whole wall nigh
have to come out.
Mr.. Merris Taylor insisted that th
, best plan would be to ascertain wha
work was necessary and then advertls
for proposals for doing the job an,
award the contract to the lowest bid
der.
This idea did not seem to be approve
!. by the other members and after som
! further discussion the motion made b.
Mr.. Adams was adopted, Mr.. Merri
Taylor alone voting in the negative.
On motion of Mr.. r. III. Taylor, tn
= Finance COMMITTEE was instructed l.
!, prepare an Ordinance making an extra