New-York tribune., 1886-04-01
THE AQUEDUCT INQUIRY.
MASONRY AT THE sAwMILL RIVER.
WAS TIMBER CHARGED FOR TwICEi-A CASE OF
MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY.
The commission chosen to investigate the charges
made by II. s. Craven against Chief Engineer
Church, OF the new aqnednct, continued taking
testimony yesterday. All the members of the com,
mission were present. Assistant Engineer Royal
Chapin was the first witness called. He did not
think that the simple remark ne made .; about Ine
glneer Wolbrecht to caution hun about saying
anything concerning matters in his division Oh
along the line
Chairman Greene-Do you think Engineer Church mad
ANYTHING to do with this
Mr.. Cbapin-NOt TO my knowledge.
A. A. Horn, assistant engineer at the head
quarters at Tarrvtown. testified that he was told
by Chief Engneer Church to he careful that the
wall at Saw nil River might have to be taken down
and he would be called as q witness.
Mr. Craven said that he would like the privilege
Of examining witnesses. General Greeue said tDat
he could write out questions and they wo9id ;9 9e
submitted to the commission. VINO would ueciue
Division Engineer G. B. Burbank was called and
his report the masonry at the Sawmli iVer cross
ing was read. 1t set forth that hls examlnatlon OF
the work had necessarily been superficial: So far
as he could see, the work was rough ana INFERIOR.
The report of John Kelly, inspector oi masonry,
set forth that the work under consideration was
rough and the pointing not well Done;
Engiueer Wolbrecht was recalled and asked
He replied that in the early part Of Of
the work he may have expressed the belief that
they had not the experience TO warrant them III
undertaking great work. He did not at any
time donbt their competency TO lay proper
masonry.
General Greene-were you not arrested charge
Engineer wolbrecht-T was not 1t wa, case Of mis-
taken identity. was arrested on charge o peng e
could make this clear was STRANGER in Washing, HI ~
ton honoraDy dseharged inc r,eord eco r TO os o
this story as we'll do told 1t in his presence and
SS ns as .hSwns sny nG" in S
to give the facts OF this incident
~ ol-a1r ratar In
tnat the timber supporting the roof OF the tunnei
had not been taken out in that part OF tne me
under contract by OBen Cnark ne Saiu ateria .ra
shall be used When the timber rots away; AS ~
will IN time, the masonry 1t supports VIII De IN
danger of dropping down, materially ih]urIhg tho
Assistant Engineer A. A. Horn was recalled and
testified that he had seen timber left In the tunnel
Royal Chaplin testified that he saw TIM
ber left, IN the work Assistant Engi; ngi
neer Bowley testified that he mad
been in charge of Section g. Third Division. since
NAV last Wood had been used to hll III the Small
interstlces In and around the logging
Chef Engineer Church testified that ne had
visited the work in question five or SIX times ne
had not visited since Consulting Engineer teiey
Mr.. Craven said that his first inspection of this
work was made on September 10. He examined
il again few days later. EnGineer Wolnrecht
was not visible at that time. lie was not Ill 'he
Charge w.. that timber used in the tunnel, and
once paid for such. again charged 1or ana Paid
as rubblc masonry, was taken up. report OF ms
was read IN which he pointed out that timber had
been allowed for IN Shaft II and the portal or or
from So to S4 per running foot. He called the at
tention of Chief Engineer Church to this violation
of the specifications and had also brought II 10
the attention of the Construction Committee, Com
missloncrs Dowd, Spencer and Baldwin, asserting
that 1t would cost the city MANY thousand dollars
Division Engineer +. Sherman G0uid tes'ln u
that the timber in the portal OF Shalt Is was
twelve by twelve inches in thickness and In places
only one foot apart. He was directed by Chlet
Engineer Church TO allow this timber as masonry;
Engineer Craven read the specifications ana
argued that measuring this timber as rubbe
masonry after it had once been pad for as timber
was q violation of the specifications.
The further hearing was then adjourned until TO-
morrow at ii a. III.