New-York tribune., 1886-11-13
SAFETY IN TIE AQUEDUCT.
TRYING TO coERCE THE CONTRACTORS
HOW THE CONTRACTS HAVE NOT BEEN KEPT m
REGARD TO LIGHT AND VENTILATION

REGARD TO LIGHT AND VENTILATION.
At meeting OF the Aqueduct Commission
yesterday commissioner Fish offered o resolution pro-
vidng that hereafter all meetings OF should
% hem IN public. He explained that in . majority
OF tho Board should consider that too radical change
ne had another resolution providing that executive
meeting should be held except written request Of
three members specifying tho OF the business 70
Do brought up for consideration and that other
ness should be considered at such session. Both reso-
lutions were laid over.
Mr. Fish called attention to tho fact thss
tho bylaws cow provide that any business
transacted in secret session must be recorded
in open session before taking effect and thss
this had not been done with regard to tho tran
ssctons OF the session held last week. After con-
sutation tho minutes OF that session read. rns
only matter OF importance related the proposal Of the
Committee on Construction to take decisive action
to compel the contractors properly to light ventsts
the tunnels. The frequent accidents arc said 70 10
largely due to this neglect OF tho contractors Those q
fault are Brown, Howard Co. and John
Brunton Co. Tho engineers and inspectors
have made frequent complaints but these contractors
have refused obey the orders Chief Engineer
Proper inspection under the present system OF lighting
is said to be impossible. whe the health Of the eu-
gincers and inspectors has been affected that fro
quent leaves OF absence have to be obtained.
Tns matter was brought to the attention OF Lsrs.
lature last April ana the Senate directed tie STATE
Board or Health 10 make an investigation and report 10
tho Legislature. This done by Dr. Lewis Bach aud
Consulting Engineer James T. Gardiner They reported
that large number OF accidents to employees had oc-
Cured which might have been prevented and that the
lack OF sufficient ventilation and light "most
rious evil" Following this report by direction OF the
Aqueduct Commission. Chief Engineer Church sent the
following letter Brown. Howard & Co. and Joha
Brunton & Co.. the offending contractors
GENTLEMEN; ] am instructed by the Aquednct commis
ventilation and light in all tunnels by yenr
contracts As the OF the prick lining wiI reare
of the tunnels to the quality OF the work
by the Committee on Construction to require yoa 70 have I
appSSs a an oySr to sseR ao ye s1
July next And az Chief Engineer. decide that electric
them necessary the progress and the
q@ay C1 wSIh injured by ySs eSp Ha Chief
on August l3 this order having received a,!suoa
at the hands OF the contractors, Commissioners Bsrass
offered a resolution which was adopted. asking tue
the Board and also authorizing the Chief Engncer
take the necessary steps to enforce his orler. Tie
Gel the contracts or take charge Of the work ITSELF Tas
he was doubtful OF the Of the Board to do
differed with the Corporation Counsel IN ths
nns,,s matter The contracts provide ths, "@ca
drilling and ventilatng as approved by the Comm,.
slon." and that III any time during progress Of
inefficient inappropriate he may order the
to increase or improve them and the contractor must
tions also contain numerous other clauses bearn,
the matter. with clause providing that everything
qulred for safety TO life and property shall he
vided.
Nothing having been done up October g. on that day
the Board adopted the following:
Resolrd chief engineer be and he hereby auth
directed advertise three newspapers published
the city OF New proposals the
paratus provide electric lights and ventilation for all tho
not been provided by contractors
be published days aud the proposals which may
ceived shall be reported the ensuing stated meeting Of
the COMMISSIONERS provided that the chief engineer sh
that the have completed
lighting venatng shafts and he Nj
which he has this day reported not being properly
lighted and ventilated; and report his the next
stated meeting OF the Commissioners.
The contractors finally came to the conclusion thss
they would do something and they provided electric
lights In live OF the thirteen shafts which had has
beyond that they refused TO The question be-
fore the Board is what shall be done compel compl-
with the contracts. This debated last week ia
secret session and will come again at future meeting