Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-04
rHE ROTTEN TUNNEleWOWK SELF
INVESTIGATION.
zen. 0eyntoa Makes . Pew Specific
seass0sass Of Puhlic aaseresa

WIN SOME ADDITIONAL REMARxs rros PAINTING.
To the Editor Of TEE Evxxrrs srAa:
In view Of the evident attempt Of the tunnel
onicials. who have benevolentiy selected them
selves a committee to investigate their own
negiecta TO deceive the citizens Of Washington and
congress In regard to the extent OF the rotten
Work on the aQueduct, . few specific statements
seem called for By the pubic interesta
The grotesQueness OF this Investigation would be
continuing feast or farce II the case did not 30
seriously Involve vital interests OF the community
IL seems time to call halt when, on the same
day, one of1cer engaged In the alleged investiga-
ton reports that he fnds the work good because
dry packing which has been ofncially ana severely
condemned. was discovered over the arches In.
stead OF air oh lmbers and therefore proceeds
the inspector who allowed this gruss departure
from the specifications. and when the latter Of
ISe %a as naa g the packing which
gtneers that few detects have been discovered
that s, 900 win remedy.
theory that II only few caverns are discovered
the WORK as whole may be regarded as suostan.
tai thus ignoring that axiom OF engineering that
no structure Is stronger than its weakest part
have received definite statements from skilled
workmen engaged In the tunnel in which place
s s renanSe as 70 be willing 70 indorse
that there may be no rurther excuse for conduct-
ing such Investigations a. have been reported for
Unless the specific Information, which comes
to me Is inaccurate, there is over the small sec
ton OF three ring work directly east Of Rock-Creek
ing on the top Of the arch will not be able to reach
There Is one space there which workmen who saw
IL when It was icing hidden by q bulkhead wall
described as large enough TO hold street car. The
statement, which fully believe, l. also made that
there Is place west OF Champlain avenue shaft,
known to all the workmen on that section 40 the
Crows Nest, where there are vacant spaces over
the arches from u to 20 feet high; and further
that all the work FOR some distance west OF Crows
Nest Is bad. This place receives Its designation
because Of the great height o. the roof Of the org
TINS reason the statement Is the more important.
Again the unqualified assertion Is made that the
ca cav over the new WORK next west q the HON.
10 feet Ia height and that no pretense OF packing
them was made. The sections next adjoining the
old work at this point are declared TO be hollow,
not only on top. but entirely down 70 the stone
wall on the sides
There are also workmen who assert that In
places the side walls have been part laid up dry,
II Will he seen that these unqualified declara-
tons OF men who should know what the exact
facJs are, assail both the old and the new work,
and not the brick ARGUES only. but side walls as
1t is asserted that there are spaces where by
knocking out the bulkheads, men could walk 80
and 40 Teet at time over these arches. Why do
not these misunderstanding engineers explore some
OF these sections which are as wen known among
the workmenf The pubic Is entitled TO know
whether there are chambers OF the kind described
amply sumcient TO bold the tunnel mules, the en-
gineers, the superintendent, the Government In
spectors, and the contractors and subcontractors,
With room to spare
are ready TO 60 at any tune with any competent
authority and point out all these grave defects In
the work. Until they are gwen this opportunity
selves white may properly suspend their artistic
pursuits II. v. BOYNToN.