Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-04
The Class of Work Done on
the Central Interceptor.
One Inch Of Cement Where
There Should be Six.
The Sewer Committees Tour and Its
Startling Discoveries. e,.as
Walls That Bulge and Bricks that are
Rotten-The City's Buried
Treasure" IL.

Gil took trip over the central intercept
tor sewer, from the intersection of Sixth
street and the river to Washington
street and Grand avenue, yesterday af-
ternoon, to inspect the quality of the
work done on that portion of the sys-
tenn, most of which has already been ac-
cepted by the city. The party consisted
of Councilmen Nickel, Rhodes, Afford,
Tufts and Innes, City Engineer Dock
weller, Deputy City Engineer Flynn and
a HERALD reporter.
Mr.. Dockweiler had already inspected
thisIpart OF the central interceptor, and
discovered such serious errors in it's con-
struction that he wished the matter laid
before the council. The party was
armed with torches, chisels and ham
mers, and first drove to the corner of
Sixth and Tulip streets.
Here the committee entered cham
ber of the sewer through manhole and
Mr.. Dockweiler proceeded to chisel hole
through the cement floor "wings." to
demonstrate the quality and thickness of
the concrete. A few blows of the ham,
mer drove the chisel through thin
crust of cement and then the tool struck
a bed OF sand and was driven nearly out
of sight at single blow.
This was somewhat of a revelation to
the members of the sewer committee.
1t was explained by the city engineer
that the specifications called for bed of
concrete to be at no point less than 61a
inches thick, but at the very first place
inspected, the material was found to be
not over an inch thick. Several other
holes were made in the cement flooring
of this chamber with little exertion, and
at no point was the concrete found to be
over two inches thick. Not only was
this 80, but what concrete had been laid
was found to be but little stronger than
mortar and could be easily broken be-
tween the fingers.
The specifications as to the mixing of
the concrete call for two parts of sand to
one OF Portland cement, for the surface
covering, and three parts of sand to one
of cement underneath. This would
make material as hard as rock, and
about as difficult to break. 1t was made
evident to those in the chamber that no
such proportions of cement had Been
used.
The brickwork in this same chamber
was found to have been laid in most
5lovenly manner. The walls were all
out of plumb, one layer of bricks in
some places bulging out fully half an
inch further than the layer beneath.
Great holes, in some places the size of
half brick, were found in the walls,
and the whole had the appearance OF
work done by an amateur bricklayer.
Several other chambers were visited
by the committee in the immediate vi
cinity. At'the intersection of Lemon
street and the south line of the Sherer
tract the concrete was thinner and of
poorer quality than any yet visited.
The brick work in this chamber was
constructed with a little more care,
though the bricks themselves were soft
and rotten.
At the corner OF Alameda and Eighth
streets, City Engineer Dockweiler,
Deputy Flynn and the HERALD reporter
crawled from one manhole several hun
dred feet to the next opening. There
was some water running through the
sewer, probably covering the bottom to
the depth OF half an inch, but before the
second manhole was reached pool of
fully six inches deep and twenty feet
long was encountered, plainly showing
that the sewer at this place had been
laid below the grade. In this trip
spot was also discovered where whole
brick had dropped from the top of the
arch. The masonry throughout this
stretch of the sewer was found to be
very inferior.
The members of the committee en-
tered the sewer at some half-dozen
places, and at all the points visited the
work was found to be done in the same
slovenly and dishonest manner. While
driving from place to place, one of the
councilmen of the party told of a con-
versation he had with one of the inspec-
tors who were supposed to be watching
this work. The conversation took place
Just after the last city election. Said
the inspector, with shrug OF his shout
ders, sob, know what kind of work is
being done, but know enough to keep
my mouth shut"
There were nine inspectors employed
/. by the city to see that this portion of
the central interceptor sewer was bnilt
according to the contract entered into
between the city and w. A. Doyle. The
contract was let in sections, and Doyle
obtained three or four pieces of the Job.
AS each section of the sewer was finished
it was promptly accepted by the city en-
gineer, at that time Fred Eaton, and
paid for on his approval. Whether the
engineer made a personal inspection of
the job, or accepted it on the reports of
his inspectors, is not apparent, but it is
very plain that a most outrageous swim
die has been perpetrated on the city.
Since Mr.. Dockweiler has held office
he has watched the work personally, and
with great deal Of care. The sewer
committee visited several points of the
sewer on Washington street built since
January 1st, and found that the work
has been done honestly and according to
contract. In the very next 500 feet of
the sewer, how ever, which was built
under the old administration, the en-
gineer and a HERALD reporter on a
former visit found water pouring through
the brick arch in several places.
It is the intention of the engineers
Office to compel the contractors to tear
out the chambers which were found de-
fective yesterday, and build new ones
according to their specifications. AS this
portion OF the sewer has already been
accepted, it is q question whether this
can be done, and whether the city has
not paid big price for very poor job.
AS one of the members of the commit
tee said yesterday, IF that part of the
sewer easy to get at has been thrown
together in such style, what kind Of
work was done on the part that is COW
cred up and cannot be seen? ?v