Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-11-07
DALLAS.
Engineer Cooks Report on the Waterw0rks
Rsservoir-Strset Car Driver
Fired at.

| Special to the Gazette.
| DALLAS. Ten, Nov. Cat last the
report of Consulting Engineer Cook on
the waterworks reservoir job is before
with much interest, as it settles the
| questions of difference between Contrac-
| tors Laign & Smoot and the committee of
| investigation appointed by the council.
| These differences were gived to the read
| ers OF The GAZETTE at the time, also the
! damage suit brought by Messrs. Luing &
| Smooth against the Times Herald of this
citv. The work will undoubtedly be re-
| ceived Following Is the report of Mr..
| Cook:
To- EDO, ONO. Oct. 29.-To the Honorable City
Council, Dallas. Tex:
GENTLEMEN-As requested by Hon.
Mayor Counor, visited Dallas on the
22d inst. for the purpose OF examining
the easterly Turtle creek reservoir, Civ
ing 1t the necessary personal inspection
to reach a satisfactory conclusion as to
the perfection of its construction with
reference to material aud workmanship.
take pleasure In reporting that the
slope paving Is, In my deliberate judg-
both as to uniformity Of surface, aud as
to the perfection of material used.
By removing the pavement in several
points on the east and west slopes 1t. was
found that at one point on the eastern
slope the thickness OF underlying cement
mortar was found to be slightly less than
the specifications called for; but 1t was
also found TO be reliable and thoroughly
set. At this point too the brick was not
in absolute contact with the mortar,
owing doubtless to q little shrinking of
the latter, due to too rapid evaporation
of the moisture during hot weather, but
In sounding or striking the pavement
at this and other points, it was found to
be solid. giving no perceptible sound
that would Indicate cavities underneath.
l., therefore, see no cause nor solicitude
on this point. Nor do tni reason to
believe that the work has been appre-
Gladly or dangerously sighted By the
omission OF mortar between the brick
and earthen slopes; and believing this
part of the work to be practically first
class, 1 have no hesitancy in recon-
mending its acceptance. Owing proba-
bly, to various causes the bottom
lining was found to be less perfect and
In several Instances not in strict accord
ance with what should consider perma-
nentiy reliable and safe construction.
The drainage valleys, with very few ex-
ceptious, seemed to be in fairly good
condition, but the tops Of many of the
intervening ridges are not uniformly COW
cred with cement as required by the
specifications, little or no cement being
found AZ several points. The wooden
blocks aud crossties used for supporting
the track over which the dumpcars were
moved in placing tho concrete. probably
had more or less to do With these upper
fections. 1t u also undoubtedly true
that sufiicient number OF inspectors
was not employed on the work. which
was so extensive in area that 1t would be
scarcely possible for the contractors,
however we'll disposed to do perfect
work, to keep anything like constant
personal supervision over 30 MANY points
when the work was under simultaneous
progress. Another cause conducting to
these Irregularities may be fonnd in the