New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-18
THE AQUEDUCT TO BE LINED
VOTING AWAY A MILLION AND A HALF.
PROTESTS FROM THE MAYOR AND CONTROLLER
THr DIFFICULTIES AT 0OULD's SWAMP.

THE DIFFICULTIES AT 0OULDs SWAMP.
Tho Aquoduct Commissioners yesterday author
lied the lung of the aqueduot with brick It's entire
length. This dooe against the earnest protest
OF the Mayor aud Controller, and their declaration
fiat Il would involve useless expenditure OF
81 5O0,O0 When the contracts and specifications
for the aQueduct were drawn authority was
given to Chief Engineer Church TO order brick I'M
Kyer en-" there rs ow ground and the
rock II uncertain, running lc0u h'Iu Sueis ! n.y.
softer formations. IL has ALREADY De9n deteiihiheu
IN this ,rt of the tunnel mnst be Drck-nntu Oh
ocro,ut az loose rock aud the danger of surface
water draining in. Above the Pocantlc0 cut Engl-
nrers Church and Davis agreed that there was no
real necessity for lining the tunnel Nearly all the
distance 1T will run through hard gneiss rock' anu
whilc the interior would be somewhat rou2h thls
would be serious drawback. They agreed that
a brick lining would cost about 81 5000 a mile,
and as there estimated to be ten miles OF good
rock cutting between Pocantico cut and the Crot0n
River this brick ug would cost 81 10000 The
discussion was opened by the Mayor, who said:
Itlink it is premature to agree to line the aqueduct
necessary or not II IL serious business to undertake
10 spend 900 without any adequate reason Tor so
antha,ty TO have the work done where lac thinks 1t
N s in % taking
the other am in favor OF lining tnS SG u No r1
water aud will keep the loose rock from falling; -o.
was yosed in the en- et Enenscr to say Whistler
the tunnel should he lined vas because he presumed
TSo COtr,ler-f asked Engineer Davis relative 80 ire
matter when IL discussed by mo Boar,' aha no
,rrd empatically for one third OF the distance
it would be necessary to Inc the tunnel Ln %oT
receive due consideration. move that the matter ne
sull left discretionary with tho CeL , lilo tpnne,
Mr.. Spencer move as an amendment '"' 'ho ''"'
be lined It's entiro length
vote was taken on Mr.. Spencer's amendment
with the following result:
Yeas-Commlssioners Baldwin, DOwd, Spencer and
Nays Mayor Grace, Controller Loew.
Mayot Grace-I am glad to i've record as opposed to
Mr. spencsr-Tt will be a better job. The engineers
Mayor &c" Graee-It will simply give the contractors
better job and greater profit. -, 3d.. ,,,oo
Mr.. DOwd-I wonld Ike to hear from Engineer
Birdsa. - .
Mr. Birdsall said that there had been fall of
rock in the old aqueduct at lonkerS lhlI.een
carloads of rock were taken out and eight IN
another place / o line the tunnel the entire eugth
would prevent the fall OF rock ana abundance Oh
surface water The tunnel S com4 PC b mSre
smooth surface rather than Jagged rocks.
Chief Engineer Church reported that he mad
careful examination made OF the condition OF the
work In progress on the new aQueduct and that at
ahaits Nos and tho sets are not Thoroughly
supported and some logging IS requntd u prevent
needed in No. 3. Shafts Nos. D and are IN eartn
for sixty or seventy feet from the TOP. The central
nartitlon needs 10 be made close ana the sets must
be supported 10y posts Shaft No. ~ neels a cioSe
central PARTITION. The curblng OF the sues Oh
Shaft No 20 is incomplete and some logging IS re-
on,red In shaft No. % some Insecure rock must oe
made safe All this work has been ordered. Gnafd
rails or safety automatic gTatlngs should be placed
around all shafts. At Shaft No. 2 the h2ls.ng is
temuorarlly done with a bucket which shOnld have
n safe cIOss-head and guides TO prevent spihhing;
system of bell Signals is repaired TO ihdcate when
men are being hoisted and TO signal the arrival OF
the cage near the top of the shalt to prevent over
winding The should be better secured 10 tue
cages, The number of men allowed 10 90 up OF
down in n cage shOuld be limited, and drllls ana
other long material should lie securely lashed 10
prevent catching. The contractors nave been III;
formed that all these precautions are also required
for the better protection oil NE $500, r.. ,oo.o
Inspectors have been appointed TO look ior tOOse
rocks requiring support and 10 report on thtl, ana
also on lighting and ventilation, VIII CHI are BAD III
headings Great care shOuld be exercised to see
TINT ali the men are ont Of the tunnel before rng
and that all the holes charged have been exploded
The most serious danger to life, to the aqueduct
and to property IN tie ncghDorhOOd arises from
the storage of dynMr tie neal the work ana IN tne
neIghborhoOd of private residences. iarln,,houses'
etc. The only Temedy IS the removal OF the mag
azlnes TO isolated aud distant points. ms resp2h
sibillty belongs not TO the COMMISSION Out Vo Tue
contractors and city authorities. ,.,
Tho Committee on Construction recommended
that Sections II. 13, and / should Ge designated
as Engineers Division No. Z, and that Edward
Wegmann. jr., be appointed division engineer.
The Commission then went into executive session
and so continued for nearly an hour. Afterward an
open session was held and resolution was adopted
authorizing the Committee on Construction 10
appont a special assistant engineer TO give
;n}orm9ti0n 10 tie Corporation Counsel and the
Board OF Appraisers with reference to the property
TO he acquired along the route Oh the Alueauf f IL
is understood thai ii. :. Craven; Engineer OF Con
struction will resign such and 90 appointed to
the position, one tor which ne Is wen ntteu py
reason OF his know ledge of the property along inc
line of the aquedGct already taken and TO be
acquired. He has heretofore given the Corporation
Counsel great deal ol Information on this subject
One of the most important matters before the
Auueduct Commission is the determination OF me
means by which the aqueddet shall De carried
under GOuld's swamp, back of 1arrytown. III mas
been recognized from the outset by The engineers 10
be one of the most diicut pieces OF woik along the
entire line. Chief Engineer Church as lar uack as
September 8, 1850, made the following report
beg leave to report as follows in regard to the con
struction or tie Croton Aqucduct across GoUlds
To beSin eork on that rt OF section ). In accordance
with tie order the contractor eXcaVatcd about IooO
euc wards on the surface OF the swamp and sank test
well 10 rernnnOtre the nature OF TIE material to be
excavated below the ~ IAe aap5rarn est glpears
tauing clay aud certain proportion OF me s;1lu' ana
the contractors In letter d@ied Angn,t a. iSS2 CON
slider IL impractcabie 70 tua lhc @ueuuee ,
the way specified In the contract AFTER careful
examination OF the grounds II WAS found that the
material is softer than had boon ssu rom one y, nI
cation OF The sOuudugs and hat the construction OF inc
than was anticipated owing TO the increased difficulty
and depth Of the excavation. The contractors IN the
letter MI eady mentioned asked me for luItheI orders
As the 10 be followed in this case involves out
side of engineering question some serious conslder
necessary that should put the case tfOe the commits
aic" az" Wheuever have occasion in the following
remarks mention the abilities OF the present con
tract 10 cover or not ce tain parts OF the work. do
my understanding Of the opinion OF the Corporation
Counsel. whom have consulted.
the work already performed al Shafts IL aud IL b. the
present line across GOuids swamp must be maintained II
possible. -, J., - ...
H. The construction OF the aqneduct IN an open
french intended he done, IL in my opinion
possible, although there is some probability that the
methods which be covered by the contract may fail
II would be expensive than originally
contemplated, and 1t l. doubtful whether 1t can be con-
structed within the scope OF nc present contract II
this part OF the aqueddCt were built under the present
contract and the prices stipulated therein It's approx
innate cost would Oe $4,000. II built otherwise it
might much larger.
IIT A drp.ssse1 tunnel RAISING under the swamp can
he suhs tcl for the aqueduCt built In open trench
without violating the conditions OF the contract Ths
nodc OF construction would break the continuity OF the
praie adopted between Croton Dam and the city line,
and ia this connection il not be opt otplace To ask
the Commission who hoI public Fearing should not De
necessary TO sanction the change o. grade
This depression is not desir able although u is adns-
sbe It would tue length OF the portion OF the