Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-20

The Original Estimates and why They
nave Been Observation-Disclosures Of
the Engineer Officers.

4
The Original Estimates and why They
Have Been Exeeeded-Statcment Of
the Engineer Officers.
The papers submitted by the Secretary of
W ar To the House of Representatives urging
the necessity of an immediate appropriation
Tor carving on the work in connection with
increasing the water supply of Washington,
d. T., have been printed. They consist of let
ters from General Parke and from Major
Lydecker urging the need of the additional
appropriation and extracts from Major Ly-
oeckers and Captain Symons' report
ior the last fiscal year, giving an
account of the condition of the work on the
Aqueduct tunnel, and explaining why the cost
Major Lydecker's letter. dated December I5th
last. the purport of which has been published
IN The TAR, states that If provision for carry
Ing on the work is not immediately made opera
lions must be suspended very soon,
h tne Ultima, ultimate cost OF the work will
shs a presen the s sanas
water supply be unnecessarily prolonged. The
9 9 on hand available for the work at this
uate IS only S21.696.34, while the average
monthly expenditure since the beginning Of
tne year mas been $50, .02. notwithstanding
elons nave been conducted on the most limited
scale consistent with the nature of the work
IN IN order TO prevent the present appropriation
rom being exhausted before Congress could
pave an opportunity to supplement it. The
balance now hand cannot be made To
nold OUT beyond February 1 at the latest, and
IL more money is not appropriated by that
time all work will have to be stopped the tun-
mel VIII then fill with water, the result of which
VIII De 10 entail much unnecessary expense
In pumping 1t out and making other provisions
ior resuning operations whenever the means
are n naiiy provided; and besides, it is impos-
slpie 10 Ioreteil the extent of damage that NAV
result in such parts of the tunnel as are not in
hard solid rock. would therefore urge with
all permissible force that the amount peces-
dam aUa
above Indicated, and for vigorous prosecution
ana speedy completion of the work ESTIMATED
al S3So,UOO, as shown by detailed estimate
nereWlthJ be appropriated in the manner here
inbefOre suggested.
Tine total length of tunnel when completed
VIII be 2o,I15.S feet; the length excavated to
November 30 was 17,126.5, leaving 1859 =
ieet remaining to be excavated. all Of which,
except 34O.5 feet. lies between the Champiaiu
avenue working shaft and the terminal shaft
near Howard University. 1t Is between these
points that we have thus far met the conditions
most uniavorableto progress, and there appears
10 DE no reason to anticipate any change in that
respect"
DIFFICULTIES MET WITH IN THE WORK.
The original appropriation for the extension
OF the aqueduct was 5000, 534.55. The total
cost OF the work, at the prices bid by the con-
tractors to whom its execution was awarded
was So4S,1OO, leaving a balance of So ,434. 55
available for lining whenever required, engi-
heeflng, contingencies &c, and with the in
formation then available it appeared to be sui.
lclent. As the work advanced, however. Major
Lyuecker says, IL was found that the shafts had
10 DC sunk 10 greater depths in order 20 reach
good rock, and that the varying character of the
rock developed In eXcavating the tunnel would
require Its being lined to much greater
extent than had been anticipated: great in
crease IN the amount of excavation has thereby
Resulted, OF which no account was taken in the
original estimates, as well as in the amount of
masonry To- be placed lining. Besides. the
original estimates did not allow tor the works
iiec -y Ior connecting the inlet shaft at the
westerly end of the tunnel with the receiving
reservoir, nor contemplate the completion of all
the working shafts in such manner as to add
mt Oh their future use in flushing the tunnel or
In draining and repairing il if necessary,
course which, from the nature of the rock ex-
cavated, has become a precau tionary measure
oil the Create est Importance.
Capt Symons' report sets forth in detail the
"oIh required To be done, and urges its import
sood style This work. he says, lis inn
poftant link in the water-supply system of the
capital, and should be built in the best aud
most enduring manner possible, due regard
being nad I'D economy. 1t should be borne in
MIND that, when once com pleted and filled with
water, the tunnel is inaccessible for repairs
except at a great cost OF time and money
and terrible Inconvenience To the thousands OF
people who will be dependent upon it. Any re-
pairs Ia the tunnel after ii lis once brought into
use Will require all or a Etrge part of its con-
tanned water to be pumped out. and as il will
mold nearly 10000, GOO gallons, and will require
three pumping stations, this in itself must be IA
Work OF magnitude and cost. To me it would
seem the part of wisdom To take no chances or
the lewest possible, of any accidents happening
W Interrupt the water supply through it,"
THE RE-ESTIMATED COST.
Capt. Symons summarizes the re-estimated
cost OF the tunnel as follows: Tunnel excava-
ton, S606.4O4.OO tunuel lining, S274,421 2;
air-shafts, S6,S15.O0 east shaft Sd $50. 90:
west shaft. SIS,42S.90; Champlain avenue
shaft, S11 ,OI1 .oO; K Ick creek shaft 81 1856 90:
Foundry branch shaft, So, S42. 90; west connec-
uon. S9,2I2.6O engineering and miscellaneous
O.2O6- 81. Total estimated cost OF tunnel
s993,422.O6. Amount appropriated, $685.
o;64.oo. Ba!an' e, 1898, $50
In conclusion he says: Il am aware that this
Is very great discrepancy between the amount
appropriated for the completion of the aaue-
duct extension and the amount which il will
actually cost. 1 have endeavored to explain
how this comes about. The amount appropri-
ated would have completed the tunnel under
Inc most favorable possible conditions. ANY
deviatlons from these most favor able condi-
lions would cause deficiency, and these
deviations have been very great. As have
said before, this estimate is for the completion
OF the aqueduct extension in the most com plete
and thorough manner, the way that it Is con-
sldered that a work oi this nature and magni-
tude should be completed. Its cost can be very
much reduced by neslecting to put masonry
inning In certain stretches oil the tunnel where
the rock is OF a doubtful nature, If it be deemed
Tor the highest interests SO to do"