Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-28
THE AOUEDUCT TUNNEL.
More Extracts from the Report Of the
Congressional Committee.

The select committee on the Washington
aqueduct, in its report submitted to the Senate
Tuesday. an abstract of which has already
been given in The STAR, says IN reference to
the award of the contract for the work (after
referring to the three bids of J. III. Devices
Co, the lowest; Eugene Robinson the next
lowest and Beckwith Quackenbush the next
lowest, who received the award:
I'm view of all the circumstances developed
in the testimony, the committee is not at all
prepared to say that the bid of Devices d Co.
was a good one and should have been accepted.
but ii thinks there was not sufficient inquiry
concerning its sufhciency to warrant its rejec-
ton without further inquiry at the time it was
done. But in respect of awarding the contract
to Beckwith Quackenbush as against the bid
of Mr.. Robinson it will be seen, from the re-
port of Maj. Lydecker on the subject (Appen-
dix. page 43). that he adopted variable
standard for determining which the low
est bid. standard that would enable
him. as well as the chief of engineers and the
Secretary of War. who were to pass on the rec
of the bidders preferred. The committee
thinks that such method of making awards is
not defensibe, as it gives the engineer in charge
and his superiors n discretion which enables
them. by adopting one method of computation
or another. or one assumption another. to
show favoritism, and to select the contractor
who may bring to bear the greatest influence
upon them, and it really destroys the value and
security of competitive bids.
LIABILITY OF TIE CONTRACTORS.
After the extracts given in yesterdays alb
stract the report refers to the liability of the
contractors for the imperfect work as follows:
During the time down to August 81, 1888. the
contractors were regularly paid for the work
il progressed to the full extent they would have
70 hod he rtx
done, less the ten per cent reservation provided
for in the contract. The state of accounts with
the contractors, as appears in the office of the
chief of engineers at present, Ii % follows:
Due Beckwith 4 Quackenbush for work in
September and October, 1888, $50 1889; re-
tanned percentage on last extension, S1O,605.65;
retained percentage on contract prior to May
Is, 1883, SIS, s14.03; estimated sum now due for
excavation actually completed, SSs. 800; total,
SIO2O5357.
From this il appears that. in respect Of the
last contract of May 1888, everything has been
paid as if the work had been properly per-
formed. excepting for the months of Septem-
Der and October, and excepting the retained
ten per cent on the same, making a total of
something less than $50, 600; but on the former
contract there is left the retained percentage
of something less than $4,000. As to the
item in regard to excavation estimated, the
committee thinks. from the evidence taken.
that large part of it may be attributed to ex-
cessive and unnecessary excavation, for which
the contractors would not in any case be justly
entitled to payment.
When the so-called supplemental contract of
MAY 8. 1885, was made no new bond was taken
from the contractors, the engineer in charge
supposing, he says, that the original bond
given under the contract of 1888 would be
valid security for the performance of this last
one. Whether this Is so or not is certainly open
to very grave consideration.
THE DANGERS FROM THE PRESENT PLAN
were stated to be
/. The danger of percolation of water
through the lining outward, causing greater
or less loss of supply at the distributing reser-
voir.
2. The consequent danger of injury to prop
erty from the constant carrying of water out
ward Iuto the surrounding rocks full of ifs
sures. seams, and of soft and decOmposing
material and emerging somewhere in the city.
3. CAS- thought by some members of the COM
mittee) the danger. when there may be pressure
from accidents or the emptying of the reser-
voirs, or at points where the ordinary pressure
Is less, of the water i'll the ground and surround
ing rocks mixing with the water from the reser-
yoir and thus polluting it;
4. The extreme difficulty of repair in case of
accident: and
5. The extreme difficulty of cleaning the tun-
mel and removing any sediment which in the
long run is likely to accumulate in it,
To make provision for most of these contin-
gencles would require constant outlay in
building and keeping up a powerful pumping
apparatus always ready for action, and the
great length of time required to make repairs.
during which time, Of course, the tunnel would
be useless for carrying water. or else taking
the risk of all accidents and casualties and
making no provision for them at all, and thus
very greatly increasing the length of time when
the supply would be stopped, during which the
means should be prepared and put in operation
for clearing the tunnel and the surrounding
rocks OF water for such repairs.
The committee has been unable to learn.
either from the testimony or otherwise, that
any such means of carrying water under a city
elsewhere. at such great depth and under
such enormous pressure,
HAVE EVER BEEN REsoRTED TO IN PRACTICE.
The future of the tunnel. therefore. when an
other very large sum shall have been expended
upon it, will be a problem that nothing but
time and experience can demonstrate either for
good or i'll. IL Is plain to the committee that
such a work for such a purpose would never
have been resorted to had the matter been
brought under the consideration of board of
engineers at the time the work was or under
taken. and would not now be resorted to by
any intelligent and responsible body of per-
cons, in comparison with the well-known and
iong-trled method OF conducting water by
substantially flowing and gravity conduit at or
near the surface of the ground. and under the
very slightest pressure both internally and ex-
ternally. always accessible for immediate re-
pairs. and capable OF construction at a cost far
less for given distance.
THE AMENDMENTS
proposed by the committee to the deficiency
bill are as follows:
TO enable the Secretary of War to cause to be
constructed and put in operation 4s-inch cast
iron main from the present distributing reser-
voir above Georgetown, easterly, to Rock creek
at N street, and thence along NJ street to New
Hampshire avenue; thence northeastern along
New Hampshire avenue to II street north:
thence along street. to connect with the
present 4S-inch main from the new reservoir
at and ith streets. and to make the necessary
connections and to provide the necessary an
Paratus for thereby specially supplying the
present deficiencies Of water at the higher
levels of the city, and in general to increase
the water supply, s575,0oo. The said work
shall be done under the direction of
the chief OF engineers in the shortest practi-
cable time. II it shall appear to the Secretary
OF War, on the report of the chief of engineers
that for any cause the work can not be carried
on. or material therefor can not be obtained
as rapidly as is necessary for the best and most
vigorous prosecution of it, he is authorized to
provide material by purchase, in open market
or by special contract, for the fabrication
thereof, and to carry on the work by DAYS
works or otherwise, as il may seem to him ex-
pedient- This appropriation shall be charged
against the revenues applicable to the expenses
OF carrying on the government Of the District
of Columbia, that one-half will be paid from
the Treasury OF the United States and the