New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-08-18
INSPECTING THE NEW AQUEDUCT.
COMMISSIONERS DOWN IN THE TUNNEL.

ABOUT ONE-HALF WORK COMPLETED-DANGER
FROM GASOLINE.
Aoueduct Commissioners Barnes, RIdgway
and Fish, three members the Construction
Committee yesterday began an Inspection OF the YORK
thus far accomplished upon the great undertaking
Chief Engineer :. Church. acting guide, and three
Newspaper men complete the party which started at
the Street station OF the New
York City and Northern Railroad The Commissioners
followed erimy miners hundreds OF feet into the earth
and aversed miles OF dark and damp tunnels filled with
Initiated air. From Croton Lake station they were
mouth OF the Aaueduct. about mile dis
amt, Division Engineer Gowar Was in readiness
describe the operations his division, comprising
the first seven sections.
Tho first section known Shaft Zero. and
Brown. Howard & Co. the contractors for
tho work, they are for all OF the eleven
sections visited during the day. In tho first
s-ction, which begins . few feet above the present
Croton dam aud extends southwark mile, are many OF
The most important features or the Aqueduct.
Here the large and complicated Rate-bouse, through
which water may be drawn from three different straa
lake. be erected, and excavation l25 feet
deep feet wide has been made in solid bed OF
gneis rock for It. Here. too, wall rising
1875 feet above present level OF the Lake IL being con-
-trucled confne the limits OF the larger body OF
water which will be gathered when the new dam Ia con-
structed. From the bank OF the lake SOUTHWARK
tunnel Of feet In diameter has been cut 25o4 feet
through the solid and only 500 feet remain 10 he
token out to the terminus OF the section When
this has walled M with brick and cement, Wild
which the Aqueduct Will be lined throughout. this part
Of he ova = aped waterway Will be ready to do its
-nare toward supplying New-iork with water. The
contract for the first been subet by Brown
Howard & Co smith 4 Brown, but the commissioners
that they regard the latter as mere for-men Tor the
former ami Recognize ONLY brown Howard ~ 90 as tue
nrm responsible Tor he wo X
Shaft No. Is about mile and half from the lake and
At fliisr Mt The ION
the -urface 81 earth About 100 men IRE tInpl0Yeh
here ami by night AMI day progress ~ from
10 ten lay T. III ie ia each or the hrsiinss
extending holh north and oIth Thus lar tue drills
aud blasts ave forced l5i feet IN hery
direction and % feet south In TIE l'ttsf beaing
1880 70 tmnst ice comprised befoIe the working Ia
Sat No can .hak. ,nd- nnlersfO md WITH those IN
n =. After dODung her coats. hats AMI boots anu
proyns themselves with c.Ddlrs inspecting party
TO1rns from sides or the shhtt, were lowered pO
let To III. bottom The air W close and oppressive
aud the smoke from the gasoline Lamps with when at
tempts made III Dinae the tinne was so dense
tnat anr- of candies gave lisht ~ uncertain
torches near he OF the shau added To the
discontinue and bur for tie plentiful sup
prisoners FOR several bour-. Mr.. Church that he
la, made persistent efforts to induce Brown Howard
a Co. to sun-litnte ghs for the gasoline torches
a. has cen lone by tue DINER con rae oI sIog tnr le
The burners, -l not only -niaBg-r the lives pi the
the full Of moke ilst the lgnf could not pen
citrate II aud virtn"ny conPrled the men 70 perform
their work in the dark II has applied 10 The Corpo-
ration opinion 10 the power OF the com
L-ission force tue contractors to provide electric
lights.
shaft No. IL wa. found that 935 feet ha beeu cut
IN the north aud lob N the south Four thou-
san five hund' Ell and TX two ieet InetVrhe or'wcn
and shaft No 3 Better progress had breu MADE
the oth~r shafts visited ani 1t WIS estimated thd
nearly one.hali OF the tnlry-one-lnile tunnel hal
been eur. At PocanticO RIVER about seven mi s
from the lake, III Aqueiuct makes its hrst
appearance on the surface OF me ground 'an1
beginning AT Shaft NJ. II.