Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-30
GEN. DUANE A WITNESS.
He Thinks the Tunnel Can be Repaired
for $4,000.


| for $4,000.
THE TESTIMONY BEFORE THE LYDEcKER COURT
MARTIAL ALL IS-oEN. DUANE ON THE BAT
WORK IN THE NEW YORK TuSNEL-THK COURT
WILL MEET AGAIN MONDAY.
The sixth day Of the Lydecker court -martial
was devoted to the testimony for the defense.
The record Of yesterdays proceedings was
comparatively brief and the reading occupied
but three-quarters Of an hour, and then Brig
Zen. James @. Duane, retired, was produced
a. witness for the defense.
To Mr.. Swift he said that in 1887 he was chief
OF engineers Of the army, and Major Lydecker
was on duty in Washington. He remembered,
about December, 1887, of q payment of some
thing like go 900 to Beckwith Quackenbush.
The appropriation had been exhausted, and the
question came up whether it we're not better
TO pay the contractors in full. They were al
| lowed to leave their plant in the tunnel, as
| they hoped to obtain new contract in case
OF another appropriation. The supplemental
contract to this effect was signed by the Secre-
tary Of War, but the matter had been discussed
before him and had received his approval. The
| papers were signed by Major Raymond, who
| was acting chief OF engineers.
| The DEFECTIVE LINING OF THE CRoToN AQUE-
DICT.
The witness stated that he ia president
OF the commission on the Croton aque-
duct. Of New York, and gave the details OF
the lining in that tunnel At it was put
| In, the lining of the tunnel was defective
| from one end TO the other. AS general thing
the brlck-work is good. but the rubble masonry
behind the walls Is almost all dry. Over the
arch are large cavities some of them large
enough to walk in. This tunnel was con-
structed by contract, Beckwith being interested
\ he no data frat
covered by one of the engineers, who had been
| suspicious OF something wrong; he noticed that
much less cement was being used than should
have been. After his suspicious were aroused
he refused to sign the monthly estimates, which
at once raised trouble with the contrac tors.
This led to the investigation which developed
the bad work.
! THINKS THE WASHINGTON TUNNEL CAN BE BE-
PAIRED FOR $4,000.
Tho defective work in the Washington tun-
mel is exactly the same as that in New York.
In the opinion Of the witness the tunnel here
could be repaired for S75,O00
During the witnesses duty here there we're a
great many controversies between Major Ly-
decker and the contractors on account of
claims based on different construction from
| that insisted on by Major Lydecker. These
claims would be sent to the War department
and then referred to Major Lydecker for re-
port, process occupying considerable time
/
particularly interested in the aqueduct extern
sion, and Major Lydecker was frequently called
| upon to give them information.
| HYPOTHETICAL CASE.
MIR. Swift put the case of hypothetical ques-
ton, as did Gov. Boutwell, yesterday to Gen.
Newton, and asked whether Major Lydecker,
with the duties Of his office, could have per-
| formed any essential service in preventing
| fraud
Major Lydecker could not. He cited the case
| OF the New York tunnel, where, he said, the
| engineers had been unable TO come upon bad
work. The organization adopted here, he said,
was about the only effective one that could be
employed. The principal trouble in inspecting
was the lack OF space.
soUNDER SPARROW.
Gen. Duane stated that Mr.. Sparrow was O
supervising inspector in the New York tunnel.
Early last fall Major Lydecker consulted with
the witness about the best means to detect bad
work In the tunnel, and he afterward asked him.
by letter, to send him a competent man as a
sounder. After consulting with the engineers
Gen. Duane sent on MIR. Sparrow. The witness
| said that he was familiar with the process of
sounding, but did not think that it was entirely
infallible.
SUCH WORK SHOULD NEVER BE DONE By con-
TRACT.
"Wlll you state the propriety Of a work of
this kind being done by contract?"
The lining Of atunnel should never be done
by contract: 1t is almost impossible to insure
good work."
Major Davis asked if the contract work in the
Washington tunnel was not done in accordance
with a statute.
The general replied in the affirmative.
Ought the staff OF supervision be more rigid
in such case?'
Yes"
Ought the staff be more frequently super
Yes"
''The officer in charge is generally responsible
for such work, is he not?"
Yes, sir"
Ought he to take great care in the selection
OF his assistants and subordinatesY'
''ies, sir.
What steps ought he to take to insure the
proper working of his supervising machin-
That is a very difficult question to answer"
us he not responsible for the efficiency and
discipline of his subordinates?"
Yes, to large extent"
is it possible TO constitute any checks
against fraud. by testing the amount of mate
riais going into certain space?"
That was the great difficulty we had in New
York. 1t was almost impossible, and had it
been possible We should have had but little
trouble in detecting the bad work. The trouble
lies IN the fact that the work is constantly shift
Ing from one point TO another.
PACKING SHOULD BE DONE BY MAsoNs.
He said that the packing il not difficult
work, but that 1t should be done by masons.
and not by mere laborers
Does it require as high a class Of masons to
to do the work in the roof as on the side waIls?"
asked Col. Whittmore.
| Il think not"
To Col. Dodge the witness said that in his
opinion the sub-inspectors and the contractors
| III the New York tunnel were in collision, and
added that in his opinion when this
! state OF things existed it was almost
| impossible to detect bad work. The bulk
head walls were feature of the lining in the
New York tunnel, he explained. The method
| OF detection by sounding was an entirely
| new thing, he said. until about q year ago.
do You think that bad work was done in
New York prior to March IA, 1887" asked Col
Comstock.
"Yes."
This is the date alleged in the specifications
to have been the
BEGINNING OF MAJoB LyDECKER's NEGLIGENCE
To Col. Flagler, General Duane said that the
first suspicious in New York were aroused about
year ago last January.
The counsel for the defense withdrew for
conference at li:30 and the judge-advocate
read the letters which he referred to yester-
day. One was a request from Major Lydecker
for the detail OF assistant engineer
and recommending Lieutenant Symons. dated
December 5, 1888. The next was from Major