National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-04-17
THE AQUEDUCT TUNNEL.
CAPTAIN HoxIE ON MAI. LYDECzERs
POLICY.
Review OF Captain Boxie's Criticisms
by "rhe Republicans" "Engineer''--
Reports of the Smithsonian GooIogist
and other Experts.

new water works, pointing out errors occa-
sionally and suggesting notifications, some
OF which have been adopted by the United
States engineers In charge. II Is well
known that the,House appropriations COM
mittee has, for some time, had under con-
sideration report from Mai. Lydecker rec
ommendlng additional appropriations of
nearly 100000 for the proper completionof
the tunnel and about 100000 for the new
reservoir. This recommendation is, of
course, so much in excess OF the original
estimates, and the sums being so large, pub
lie attention was naturally drawn TO the
matter with some intensity.
1t is proper to say thatthe committee has
proceeded with great deliberatlon In con-
sidering this matter, In pursuance Of pol
icy which was very clearly outlined by Gen.
Ben LeFevre in an interview printed In the
REPUBLICAN moro than month ago. First
the subcommittee on District appropria-
lions, OF which the Hon. VIM. Wilson, OF
West Virginia, Is chairman, spent about
elk weeks In thorough and exhaustive i'm
vestigation Of the case In all its bearings.
This inquiry elected from the engineers IN
charge the most minute detailed informa-
tion as to the character OF the rock encoun-
tered in the tunnel and the method OF treat
ment, including elaborate proflles and sec
tional drawings of the work under every
method adopted or proposed. After an In
vestlgation OF this character the subcom-
mittee unanimously reported to the full
committee in favor OF granting the appro-
priation asked for by Mai. Lydecker, to be
expended under the direction OF the Secre-
tary OF War.
At this moment Capt. II. L. Hoxie, United
States engineers, appeared upon the scene
In communication to the chairman OF the
committee, Mr.. Randall, which was yester
day laid before the Secretary Of War, with
request TO have Capt. Hoxie ordered here
for consultation with other officers OF the
engineer corps. Capt. Hoxle, In his COM
munication, criticises the policy adopted
by Maj. Lydecker as unnecessarily expen-
sive, aud points out how, In his judgment,
the sum or S293, 200 might have been saved
to the government In the cost OF the work
had he Capt. Hoxie) been permitted to re-
main here In charge Of the enterprise.
AS Capt. Hoxle was the originator Of the
tunnel plan, ard was responsibility in charge
Of all the preliminary surveys or recon-
naissances on which the original estimates
were based, his opinion naturally had
weight.
The theory upon which Capt. Hoxie
based all his original calculations was that
the rock at the depth planned would be
ound Of a quality suitable TO form good
natural retaining walls for water conduit
without lining. The substance OF Capt.
Hoxie's report on this subject is found on
page 2,0S5 of appendix q Q of the report
Of the chief Of engineers for 1888. He says:
at will be seen that the evidence Of the ex-
istence OF compact, tough gneiss rock, re-
quired rs condition precedent to the def
mite approval OF the project, is conclusive.
The data which can now be furnished to
bidders for the tunnel work, should have a
mi az arfal affant nnnn tba li1inu "
The "datan which Capt. Hoxie accepted
as conclusive evidence" Of the existence
Of compact tough gnelss rockh at the
depth planned, is stated by himself In his
report as follows /. Surface outcroppings
at various points on or near the proposed
line. 2. Rock encountered at various depths
In sinkingwells In the vicinity. 8. Develop
ment Of rock in an experimental shaft sunk
under Capt. Hoxie's personal direction on
the site of the present eastern terminal
shaft Of the tunnel. 4. What the captain,
in rather vague way, terms "the known
geology Of the region"
Basing conclusions upon these "data, y
Capt. HoXie made estimates, established
grades and depths, advertised for bids, and
let the work. At the outset IL may be
stated that Capt. Hoxie reported workable
rock In his own shaft at 116 feet below the
surface But an attempt by the contractors
to cut collar at that point resulted in
rock, and the shaft had to be sunk to a
depth Of 100 feet, or A feet below Capt.
HoXie's level, before heading could be
started. In the working shafts sunk at
Champlain avenue, Rock Creek, and
Foundry Branch, as well as In the west
to be sunk varying from 20 to 40 feet below
Capt. Hoxie's estimates. Work having
been commenced under these circumstances,
II was found as the drifting progressed that
Capt. Hoxie's compact, tough gnelss
rock" did not exist on any part Of the line
except for q short distance in the
west heading OF the Foundry Branch na1
feet In other portions Of the
tunnel variety Of rock was fonnd-horn-
blende IN various stages of capitalization,
igneous trap In two isolated columns or
''chimneys," interspersed with mica schist
and schistose-c known as soap
sione-and the whole formation tfaversed
at irregular intervals by true assure veins
nations were found strongly impregnated
with iron in various forms Of ferruginous
decomposition, and their lesser assures
and cleavages were inflltrated with lime In
the sllicious state, usually encountered un-
der such conditions. In short, the actual
experience OF the drift was as nearly in
diametrical contradiction Of Capt. Hoxie's
original theory as could well have been de-
vised, had nature made special effort to
thwart him. Appended will be found an
extract from the report Of Prof. George p.
Merrill, Curator Of Lithology Of the Smith
sonian, specially detailed by Prof. Baird to
examine the formations encountered. Prof.
Merrill says;
With few exceptions these rocks fall natu.
rally into two general series:
/. The mica rocks, in which a black brown
ish, or sometimes greenish mica Is apromiscuoui
constituent and together with quartz at times
ieldspar makes up the chief mass of the rock
2, The hornblende rocks In which the min
eral hornblende wholly or in part replaces the
mica, and at times prevails to the entire eX-
clusion of other Ingredient.
The mica may be subdivlded into two groups
the distinction being based upon the presence
or absence OF an appreciable amount of field
spar
and black mica are the prevailing constit
2 Gneissoid mica. schlst in which the same
minerals prevail with the addition of an up
preciable amount offeldspar The frst-named
nre usually distinctly schistose, while the las
are often quite massive in the small specimens
The amount OF teldspar present is never suit
ciCnt, In my estimation, TO constitute q true
The hornblende rock have also divided
into two groups The first of these Is entirely
massive without trace of schistosity and con
Bists almost entirely of the mineral hornblende
1t is, therefore, an omphibolite: The second
variety consists also largely of hornblende
but with the addition of quartz little plagio-
mite, and numerous nther minerals In smaller
proportion. This rock has also In most cases
distinctly schistose structure. | have, there
fore, called them hornblende schistose.
The schistose structure Is at times very dis
tinct, being quite massive In the hand speci'
men, and the rock approaches the amphibo'
litis, or in some cases quartz diorite both in
structure and mineral Composition Below IL
given the list of specimens as have deter
mined them, together with extended notes on
the mineral composition OF such US have been
submitted 70 microscopic study.
Foundrylbraneh west heading No. 800 feet
nmphibolite. THIS rock has been considered
in time past eIuptive, aud u diorlto do no
at present incline TO this view. No. 81 90
fent. minn Hchlst. CnmnnnL nnnrtz nrn- Min