The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-06-29
THE FRUIT HILL REPORT
City Engineer Shedd's Statement In
Regard to the Reservoir.
THE FULL MATTER CONSIDERED.
A Report ON the Condition of the Rsssr-
voIr and the Work Done and to be
Done. etc. Submitted TO the City
Council.

seven MONTHS oV.ovp,OUO gallons, ueptn OF
rainfall, as measured at Hope reservoir, on
the surface of Fruit Hill reservoir. $685.
766 gallons; assumed evaporation, 1876
9ls gallons; soakage and leakage for
seven months, S6, III, 900 gallons, or 49,
-0o6 gallons day against 10, ,355 at Hope
reservoir; average depth in June 1875
feet; average daily consumption Of water
in the city Jan. l. to June 20, inclusive,
7,B07. .o5e gallons; cost of repairs about
ca 80 per cubic yard.
Item H-So far as relates to existing
facts, the settlements that are known or
supposed to have taken place in the slope
walls are as follows: A portion of the
paving about four feet square has set
tied on the north interior slope. The To-
cation is about nine feet above the bot
tom and about 20 feet westerly from the
northeast corner. The stones when last
examined had sunk from four to twelve
inches. A portion Of the paving about
five feet long and four feet wide has set
tied on the east interior slope. The To-
and about SO feet southerly from the
northeast corner. The depth of water
over the spot was about four feet whom
the settlement was discovered, and a
careful examination could not be made Of
the same under the circumstances. The
stones appear 10 have settled, however, at
least to their full depths. A portion of
the paving about 3 feet long aud more
than feet wide has settled on the interior
slope OF the northwest corner. 1t is
about III feet above the bottom.
The depth of water. over the spot was
about five feet when the settlement was
discovered; therefore, as in the case just
previously mentioned, a careful examin-
alton could not be made. The stones ap-
pear to have settled to at least their full
depths. The settling OF the stone paving
on the interior slopes Is owing to the dis
placement Of the material upon which
they rest. and Is due TO the action of the
uofer It will be necessary to repair all
OF she places where the paving hasl set
tied.
repair and the most feasible plan or
method for repairing same, and the prob
able cost OF putting said reservoir In
proper economical condition for use," no
reliable statement can be made until the
water Is drawn off aud a thorough ex-
animation of the work has been COM
"Other information" and observations
and recommendation" are requested.
Under this head it may be proper to re-
view briefly the legacy which came to
you under the name of the Fruit Hill
Reservoir.
A basin was formed by digging out the
earth and placing it around the edges for
an embaukmBnt. This would, Hppurenr-
ly, have been safe process but Tor the
combination OF two unfortunate things:
Underlying the entire basin at slight but
varying depths below the bottom was q
ledge OF rock full OF extensive Sc lms and
cavities. For some purpose, not clear to
me. q trench about ten feet deep below
the bottom of the reservoir was dug all
around the foot OF the side slope, and cut
ting into and opening up the seams OF the
IA depth on nearly the whole circumfer-
once. IL was this unfortunate trench
which has caused, i think, nearly
all the difficulty in making the res
ervoir tight. The trench was originally
filled by placing on the interior side s., Of II
the top portion being widened TO overhang
the lower portion about two feet. and
making bar of concrete about three feet
wide and four feet deep at the foot Of the
slope The rest of the trench was filed
with earth compacted and joined to the
to make tight work under the overhang-
ing portion of this concrete. When the
reservoir was first filed after the original
nonstructiou, at least one considerable
cavity was formed In the earth filling,
than about two or three feet depth of
water had been put In. This was patched
with concrete, and the pavement cemented
in, but that did not prevent the forming
there of one Of the worst cavities at a
later stage of the filing Of the reservoir.
when the reservoir had been filed it
was found to LEAK at rate too great to
be endured. The water In this reservoir
has TO be pumped twice, aud the relative
expenditure for coal Is consequently
heavy, and there is greater need for tight
work. The Importance of the case caused
your predecessor to seek the best engi-
neering advice available in the country,
and he invited James B. Francis OF Low
ell and Benjamin S. Church of New York
to make. with the city engineer, u careful
study of the subject. l suppose the
ssnginsering profession will agree that in
missioner found as safe counsel as it was
possible to secure. They advised
that the reservoir be recon
Structed. and tnAt effort-As-
made to close the assures In the rock
which had been exposed and opened by
the trench and new lining be so placed
as to cover the rock and the less perfect
part of the embankment. This was done
In accordance with their recommends
tiops, and as thoroughly as the circum-
stances admitted. The exposed cavities
were filed with concrete rammed to
place. The fissures were made to take
sand and cement rs long as flowing water
would carry anything into them. One
fissure took freely at first the full flow
of an ordinary fire stream, but it was
closed so that none appeared to es-
cape. In every case persistent effort
was made to get tight surface on the
rock before any earth puddle was placed.
Where numerous small seams appeared
the surface was plastered with cement.
Ihen the earth was applied In the best
known manner. Great difficulty was
met in filling under the overhanging
portion of the concrete which had been
placed on the inner side of the trench,
but the shoulder was broken away SO MS
TO give better access, aud 1t was hoped
the work was tight, though fears were
entertained In regard TO it, IL may tie
that grouting with cement will yet be
necessary in few places here. but not
much trouble nor expense is expected in
regard TO IL. IL was not expected that
the work was done when the season closed
last fall, and the bridge was left in place
70 facilitate completion this year. IL
was thought best, however, to fill aud try
the reservoir to develop any weak places,
% that the whole might probably be fin
isted together. This has been done since
the work came under your charge While
the chief trouble was believed TO exist i'm
the trench. fears were entertained that
the bOffout woulI mot nrova an 70 .,t NJ.