Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-13

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| WORK HURRIED TOO MUCH.
| The examination Of witnesses by the military
court Of inquiry investigating the work on the
| aqueduct tunnel was continued to-day in room
| SO Of the War department. The first person to
testify was Sub-inspector Edmund E. Fisher
The amount Of work inspected by the witness
could not be ascertained from the statements
| Of the witness himself. He guessed at the
quantity done, but was not at all sure. His Ia
bors were confined to portions of the tunnel
near Rock creek and Foundry branch shafts,
and the only work inspected by him was the
laying of the stone sidewalks.
In reply to a question from Lieut. Townsend,
witness said he frequently saw the lieutenant
in the tunnel inspecting the work, and he
thought the inspection was very thorough.
A CARRIAGE MAKER AS A sUB-INsPEcToR.
John b. Rouzee, who stated that he was a
carriage maker by trade, but is now a sub-in-
spector in the tunnel, was the next witness.
He said he commenced in the tunnel on June
Is, of the present year. His instructions were
to see that the masonry and brickwOrk was
addition to giving witness the instructions
showed him a copy Of the specifications. The
packing over the arch, in the sections inspected
by him, was solid right up to the natural rock.
Ahcic Couu pOsSlDly nave been vacant spaces
above the key, but they would be few, because
witness was on the scaffold all the time. He
never experienced any difficulty in seeing how
the packers worked. II the atmosphere was a
little smokey there was some trouble, and then
ne would climb up to where the packer was
and look at 1t closely. Sometimes there was
bad work done. Witness discovered it. He
reported to Mr.. Briggs and the
MEN WHO sLIaHTKD THEIR WORK
were discharged. The faulty work was torn
up and properly reconstructed. The packers
would shirk their work whenever they were in
wet places; they were in a hurry to get out
witness had caught the packers endeavOring to
put in dry packing, and those doing SO were
discharged. All defective work was remedied
az once. The mortar was inspected on top
The masons never made any complaint about
the quality OF the mortar. Mr.. Brennan, one
OF the sub-contractors, was around nearly all
the time, and he was continually hurrying the
workmen. Witness never received compensa-
ton from anyone other than the government
paymaster. Witness considered that his salary
OF $40 per month paid for all his time. He re-
NAMED after regular hours when it was neces-
sary, so that the packers might catch up with
the bricklayers. No work was ever done after
hours unless witness was present. The extra
work was not compulsory on witness, for there
was no extra pay for it.
DID NOT KNOW MAJOR LYpRCKER.
Witness said that Col Kerlin came through
four or five times a week.. Lieut. Townsend
inspected about twice a week. Witness did not
know Major Lydecker and could not say posi-
lively whether or not he had seen that gentle
man In the tunnel. Both Col. Kerlin and Lieut..
Townsend looked closely at the work. MIR.
Quackenbush, one Of the principal contractors,
was in the west end Of the tunnel twice while
witness was on duty. Witness thought that
Sub-contractor Brennan was
HURRYINa THE WORK TOO MUCH.
but he (witness) never allowed the work to be
sighted.
number of other witnesses had been sub
penaed but were not present when Mr. Row.
ices testimony concluded so the reading of
the record was proceeded with
The court will hear additional testimony to-
morrow.