New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-07-15
ENGINEER CHURCH EXONERAT TED.
NO PROOF OF MR.. CRAvEN's CHARGES.
REPORT OF GENERALS NEWTON, GREENE AND GILL
MORE.

REPORT OF GENERALS NEW ron, GREENE AND GILL
MORE.
The committee of examining engineers. consist
ing of Generals Newton, Greene and Gllimore, APP
pointed bv the Aqueduct Commission 10 examine
the charges made by Henry ). Craven, ex-ehglneei
of construction, against Chef Engineer ben,
jamin s. Church and the work OF tue
1eport to the commission. 1t completely
exonerate, Mr.. Church. The committee say they
have made thorough examination OF an ,ne
charges presented of the work under construction
and of the engineering management All OF the
tunnels the north side OF the iarlem iIlver were
visited except those at shaft NO 20 wnere DIastlne
was going on at the time of the visit. Inc various
kinds of ventilation are criticised as not oeng sur
fcient. The use of torches ana lamps III
stead of electric lights and candles is objected 10 as
The charge that the rubble stone masonry at the
Saw Mill River crossing of the new aqueducc Is not
good was not substantlated Inc report says
The attempt to the bad insufficient character OF
the masonry OF this wall entirely failed that the ex
aiming engineers find no dithcnlty 10 dsmssing .ne
Implication In the charge that CheI Engipeor onuVn
neglected his duty by accepting the wall The wall Ia
shown from tho testimony 10 have been Dullt OF strong
tar and also to be in to the specifications OF
the contract in materials and Workmanship
Nj Cravens action III conceanng from Mt
Church the reports of his assistants that the wall
was not being built In conformity WIN inc specIh
cat ions, is severely condemned - -,
The charge that Contractors OBrien and clark
have not withdrawn tmbcring from the roof OF
the tunnel or filed in the space with stones. put
have filed in the space with loes ana tlmpei
thereby eadangerng the masonry Oh .he Youded
They saw that to have removed the tim
bering would have been dangerous 10 those
employed, and would have brought down loose
rock on the fresh masonry to ITS probable injury
They add that it is not probable that the timber
Will decay, owing to its exposure 10 Constant Wet
ting but should decay take place, the masonry
before that time will have acquired sufficient
strength to support any weight which Will come
on 1t. The timber on the sides OF the
tunnels below the water SUI face IN the Aqme-
duct will always be wet and VIII not decay. Inc
committee therefore acquit the chief engineer OF
any fault alleged IN this particular
Another charge was that timber once palu LOT as
excavation was again measured and paid 10r as
rubbe-stone masonry. The timberlng referred
TO is on sections and o. ihls Is de-
clared by the committee to be mere
audible The contract provides that under certain
circumstances the timber work shall be lett III ana
all cavities about II shall be hlled WIN masonry OF
with such other material as the chef engineer
NAV order The space occupied by the timber was
included in the estimate for masonry. and the
spaces thus included and counted as masonry DO
NOT the contractor for the increased ex-
nense of working around these tmbeTs when
nnder the conditions fulfil the duty of masonry.
The committee thiuk that the decision os the chlet
engineer was just, contormabe to custom ana en-
In connection with the charge that attempts were
made to p yS work MT he 1s eau
Ind no fault to attach to the conduct
of Mr.. Church The continuing OF Mt raven
10 clerlcai WOrk inc COllIllt'O We
within the province of the Chief Engineer ana JUS
tifabIe under the circumstances.
The charge that slopes have been est!lnateu anu h
maid for i'm direct violation of the specifications the
Committee find to be untrue neither was there
any evidence to support the charge that WORK
had been sub let The ordering OF additional
shafts the committee think was IN the province OF
The Chief Engineer. and he onl y fulfilled his duty
in ordering them to facilitate the w1rk. ne cnge
that men were compelled to take their pay IN store
orders had no evidence to substantlate IT..
The Aqueduct Commissioners received the report,
shown IN the investigation, and individually con-
graduated Mr.. Church