Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-02
THE DEFECTuvE TUNNEL.
Lisas. TewnssnA's Explseasiens Te-
DAY.

A8R1OBo81O0D
day.
N xna3 I'm oosr o. nErEpYna I'm pxyDcn
WuL NOT n % eR1Ar a. y4Askp.
Lieut. Townsend and the reporters this morning
climbed down through the rocky and muddy
passes that lead to the Rock Greek shaft OF the
aQucduct tunnel He began his researches to-day
In the tunnel just west Of this shaft, ct point
where he drove drin through the brick the other
oay ana suspected that there was what Ii called
dry PACKING. or packing OF stone without CO
ment This work was done under sub-inspector
AcNamara The lieutenant had o gang of six men
at work this morning. and with sledge hammers
and drills, they cut out holes In the arch az
three places near the shaft, 30 that the stone
packing inside was exposed, and drilled through
points The sections Of the arch cut out revealed
Snat tnere was dry packing above the Key. The
key OF The arch Is about 20 inches wide The most
serious defects found are right over thai Key.
rms part OF the packing IL done last 30 far as
Lieut.. Townsend's inspections have gone, the
10 Tue space that was left when The work was
done for the key, seems to be solid.
Major Lydecker did moi 60 to the tunnel this
morning, as he was in consultation with the Chief
OF Engineers. but he was expected at the Rock
Greek shaft this afternoon.
TIE EXTENT OF THE BAD WORK.
Lieut. Townsend's spirits have visibly improved
from day to day. He admits that the defective
work found would have brought about most seri-
Gus results II It had not been discovered, but he
thinks the extent and probable cost OF rectifying
the pad work has been exaggerated Lieut. Town
SEND has not yet completely explored tue tunnel,
extent Of fraudulent work. he, however, says he
ees satisfied that the fears excited by the charges
inan Inc Whole or greater part Of the tunnel
Lieut. Townsend has not yet been with his
driliers In any OF the tunnel west OF Foundry
Branch or In the Howard University section.
This afternoon Lieut.. Townsend continued tear
Ing ont the walls Immediately west OF the Rock
Creek shalt. The bricks were cut out In some
places all the way from the key down 70 the stone
SIDE wall The defect OF the packing ut this point,
as stated, Is that above the key The stones were
put In without cem-nt
oBRIRN's AND LUCAS WORK.
Yesterday afternoon one OF the nrst places where
the arch was cut was at the beginning OF the work
Inspected by O'Bren. This was 800 feet from the
shaft and said to be the nrst nights work done
unoer Obriens inspection. hole was drilled
mere IN IN Inc wall Saturday, and showed that there
cut this Afternoon 1t showed another great cavern.
Near the aperture In the arch was O bridge wall
snce Of soSity TO 1Se Waif syag me o
shirts WORK. The unpacked space extended some
distance above the key OF the arch, making a long
O'BIien's work yesterday Indicated that that work
was an solio except the part above the crown OF
yns ana ~ a01Sql whether
packed above the key. The cavern discovered In
Lucas work, from appearances, seemed TO be the
result ,n OF an accident The Conformation Of the
mignt easily have been deceived about the packing.
NO FURTHER ACTION By THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Acting Secretary OF War Macfeeley said to-
day that In view OF the proposed in
vesttgation by Congress Of the tunnel frauds
the War Department Will not probably
take any further action In the matter
until the result OF the congressional
Investigation Is known. The reference OF the
charges to MAJOR Lydecker with instructions for
an inves igatiOn and report Is all that Is consid.
cred necessary at present.