Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-26
RI e AQUEDUor rRAUDs.,

/ TEE AQUEDUor ERAUDs.
Mater Lyaeckssss nepsys 81 sAs Osn-
Aitien % shS Tunnel
TIE DOCUMENT READ 10 rm coulf o. uQunY
TO-DAY IN DOES NOT sINK nm pAWAoB %
GREAT ~ IxpRHsunxn
Following 10 the taxi Of Major Lydecksr's
report on the aqueduct tunnel submitted 20.
day TO the court Of inquiry: ~ have the honor
to submit the following report IN relation
to charges contained In anidavtts made By
Nessra George and william Kendan and Thomas
Lucas as to character Of work In lining OF the
| washington aQueducs tunnel, which anYIdavita
were forwarded TO tho Honorable SECRETARY
OF War on the 25th ult.
These sfildavits charge. In effect, that the rub
Die packing, which Is designed 70 Soiidiy
erics arch t asa sBsO Ss:wssn ne
through which the tunnel was excavated has not
been done az required By the specifications; that
without being laid in mortar, while in other
places no packing whatever has been done In the
space between wv sne Key OF the brick arch and the
men have been discharged and unskIlled
labor substituted; that the quality and quantity
complaints were made In relation to these matters
| but that no notice was taken OF them,
sSs 10 tie pubic
tngs should be made through the arch, in order to
ascertain where such defective work might be 10
indicate such localities; these preiiEinary 6ornss
were made under the personal directions Of Lieut.
Townsend, , from September 20 to 90 and result
work undoubtedly existed but did not Indicate its
extent, then visited the tunnel October 1.
the brick facing Of the lining to be cut out
S Se6iGd 20 a 81. to ,, see exactly Exactly what was
was IN the East CS.mnls,n .Hyen ne ,so, opened
condition Of affairs substantially as 10 indicated
on the sketch Gig. u herewith was shown up.
THROUGHOUT its Whole per,meser 0 sod az luOSis
ssss e, sas t. "a
neigh. nom ~ s ssss to .ao few Ia assss
a. ss eastern enc Of sas nSs
solid WORK rom the key down to the springins
imbedded in an ample quantity Of mortar Of good
quality. The portion Of the work where this void
had BEEN inspected BY THOMAS Lucas s whose Soss
afidavit concerning defective work Is one
OF those upon which % required 70
SO Tes to he sgsa Of
described, and showed clear OPEN
eD lime t q enc 3, es about
| sonry wall The rubble backing from the keying
courses down to sprnging lines was good rubole
/
scribed This second cavity was in work Inspected
by Thos. O'Br1en, and bortngs made on other por-
tons Of the work that had been Inspected BY him
| lead to the conclusion that q large portion
OF 1t is similar to that described above His 1nspec-
ton was as rule, confined to the WORK OF "keep-
awhile these sections were being opened up
holes were drilled through the brick-work in q
dozen or fifteen places TO test the character
line, the result was to indicate solid rock,
rule, such v,,u as was shown
progress OF which four holes over the key similar to
was of considerable extent, either to height or
length the charge tina! the stone packing was
so Ds Of the
Creek shaft, but It was not sucn as to justify a
-..n; ., The e
the extent Of such detective WORK was vas
would add, however that 50 Tar as the examine
| ton extended there is no reason TO anticipate
sss any delay sns
the aovernment The Drick-masonry was IN every cry
found to Be al that wa was su required 0 nos
outstanding the statement that the &C.
ment ,, us.d was not up 70 the standard
has been closely watched and tested, and such as
was found unsuitable has been condemned and
referring TO the, question of labor employed
whether skilled or unskilled, can only say that
was sach as could and did 90 nrstciesss work In
work. It is not at all unlikely that the Ques-
ton Of union or non-union men Is In
has been detected during its progress
Ia several instances, and the parties paltict-
pang in It have in each case been dis
discharged for having failed to detect bad
work, though In neither Of these cases was the
physically unequal TO keeping up a proper super.
| vision OF the work.
'In relation to the statements that complaint
indicates 0 Clearly to whom a'0s Such A c0%.
to Leu except in cases
he had previously detected the faulty work and
taken proper action In the matter; no
case Indicated to him by either Of the ord
Gals In no case was any representa-
sny Of ssS01 ever
| and the supervising inspectors deny that any de-
feet was ever called TO their attention that was
acter OF allegations, however, would state that
the testimony on oath, COT ID be Of any consider
me 10 ae es Il
1t would be useless for me to attempt to
| arrive at anything conclusive In that 6rec-
| ton, and also unnecessary In view of
| the fact that Congress had determined
upon an exhaustive examination by special COM
| mittee, with powers TO act In sucn q way as to
call out all facts In thecase.
1.-THE statement that inspectors have reported
| more cement than actually went into the work may
| be true, but i have been unable to determiDe
whether the reports have been in fact 80 falsined
II Is highly probable however, that where the In.
spection was fraudulent the reports were like
wise
II would state, in conclusion, that in view Of
| the investigation ordered BY Congress,
and OF the probable suspension Of
work on o the tunnel at the close Of
| the current month. / have not taken any steps
| toward repairing the defective work nor 70
continue the examination beyond that
The nature Of such defects. II, however, the APP
Is much longer deferred 1t is my
TO determining the extent as well as the nature Of
| the defective work"
The Briggs-Jones Homicide.
In the Criminal Court, Judge Montgomery, this
morning. the trial of the colored man VIM. Briggs,
for the murder Of VIM. Jones, colored on the Sd Of
May last, by shooting him In quarrel over Q hat
was resumed Mr.. j. Med. Darlington for the de-
PENDANT concluded his arg ument about IL 80
O'Clock. He argued that tho case was one Of SELF.
defense.
MI. Hpscomb made the concluding argument to
| the jury.