Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-09
THE DEFECruvE TUNNEL WORK.
Charges thas the Rssstoass So WePoars
% Rtdicul Ously small


10 RtaicalSasly small.
NJ James 7. Hunter the attorney for the Ken
daa Brothers, In connection with the aQueduct
tunnel matter. In talking with stan reporter 10
day about the estimate Of the cost OF repairing the
defective WORE In the tunnel said,
"what Is 70 be gained blythe position OF Lieut.
Townsend and Major Lydecker In making such an
absurd and unreasonable estimate as to say that
$1,000 win cover the cost OF remedytng the bad
work 20 Tar - has been discovered IL ID indeed
amusing to those who know the condition OF the
work performed at the points where their invssti-
eating process has been worked. For them TO
state this Is assuming that their mode of operation
has developed the bad work and brought 20 light
the condition OF Affairs existing. In comparison
they have discovered thing. further than that bad
work exists, and 70 make any estimate covering
any particular portion OF the bad work. developed
minded man would moi presume 10 assert In refer
ence 10 an utter impossioiiity. These army engl-
neers must think the people OF the District are
views Their present responsibility for the con-
struction OF these WORKS Is too plain 10 give place
20 any doubt, and IL would seem that thrir dere.
nctlon OF duty would exasperate wrongeo ana
suffering people sufficiently without further lore
ing their ignorance. incapacity, or deceit upon
tnem- These statements are misleading ana con-
vey wrong impression as TO the state OF affairs
NO doubt that is their Intention for they are not
based on substantial or correct grounds Lieut.
work. which Includes ioSse o. Sry pacSinS as veil
done.
THE AMOUNT or WORK
completed OF the miles, which was TO be the
length OF the tunnel, is about miles or Is. $40
feet His examination has been confined TO here
and there, and IL Is doubtful n he has examined
more imam 500 feet, which would be about one
twentieth OF the tunnel and this has not been
thoroughly Inspected or examined so as 20 ascer-
tain the exact condition Of the work Neither
could IL De In the manner employed by him, which
practical man. The par esaS,ned se ssNs coald
De made right for g, COO and that Is only one
twentieth OF the whole work. Even that would be
quite q snug little sum
IT WILL EQUAL THE ORIGINAL COST.
at must be borne In mind that good work may
exist In one bay or CENTER and the work each side
may be Improperly done. Ny Information would
lead me 70 believe that would be a fair proportion
OF the good and bad work. To test this work at a
greater distance Than from TO 10 feet would not
reveal the faulty parts or 70 expose the sighted
Imperfect workmanship. We claim that the most
part OF this work has not been examined, nor one
hundredth OF the fraud or deception been exposed:
also that the OLD work is fully as bad II not worse
than the new. IL must certainly occur 10 Lieut.
townsend, II he Is competent and practical en-
gineer, such one as should be In charge OF those
works that 10 correct the error existing so as to
place IL In the condition required by the contract
and specifications the cost will be equal at least
IL IL Will not exceed the original cost II all the de-
fective parts are placed In proper, durable, sub
stantial workmanlike condition. This is espe-
cially true at the points where the spaces OF
excavation are LEFT unpacked- The excavation
for the line or tunnel supplied sufficient stone 10
properly do the packing required. The excaya-
ton has now been mace. All stones not used In
packing have been removed from the tunnel IL
appears that no stones are In the tunnel at the
points where these hundreds OF cavities or caverns
VIII lie found on the Investigation, some places
large enough TO place a street car In; Others Is
feet OF space from the key OF the arch 10 the roof
OF excavation, Will be found. The lieutenant
must know that the only way these places can be
properly packed Is 10 purchase stone have them
drawn to the several shafts and carried into the
tunnel His practical knowledge OF engineering
may enable him 70 compute the number OF loads,
the perches or the cutie YARDS OF stone that will
called for by the contract. Having ascertained
this he VIII be better able TO make a statement as
TO The cost OF repairs The item OF labor and
cement, not a small one, should be added 10 this.
Two-rHiRDs or THE WORK DEFECTIVE
"From what have heard the workmen say who
have been employed as day mechanics on the
tunnel 1t would seem that they had better idea
OF all the matters concerning these works than
the engineer In charge. They realize the condl-
ton from their personal knowledge, daily expert
ence, and contact with the bad management that
was continually going on. These statements are
not confined TO those who have made these charges
but TO Others every bit responsible and reliable
They state that nearly, II not quite, two-Ihirds OF
the work Is defective. some bal, other worse, and
great deal worthless. The people OF the District
should fully realize the worst IL cannot be exay-
Grated; they have been deceived, missed and plum
dered enough The Truth should be told and
falsenood sinothered. This shell which has been
constructed IN the place oil the tunnel which they
supposed was being built and which their wants
were so much IN need OF, should be thoroughly
| ventilated from beginning 10 end. The develop-
ments will be surprising 70 every one, excepting TO
those who know how this work has been done. IL
is unnecessary TO prolong this agony by such
statements as has been made by the officials
In charge II seems out u place Tor them 10 fur
| ther parade their incompetency before the people
whose business they have at least neglected ana
whose trust they have betrayed"