New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-18
GIVES UP ITS CONTRACT.
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY EMBARRASSED.
THE SEWER SYSTEM OF ORANGE n. j.. bElN"
BUILT THROUGH A ouIcKsAND-sUS-
PENSION OF THE WORE

BUILT THROUGH QVlCh~hND-oN'
PENSION OF THE WORK
A serious crisis in Orange sewer ne,.,o,,on
occurred Yesterday, when the Empire oois.
Company of New-York, which has the eoh'r"'. io'
what IL known as the "Parrow Brook section OF the
sv,a,n ,.cticolIv throw I'D It's contract. Word was
sent ont from the New-York ONCE OF the company on
Monday to A. NJ Newton, the local manager "ho
Is also a member OF the company 70 s'op "''n VI
all the sections OF the work at noon yes.eruA'' i
action was not wholly unexpected by Ie se"e.aee
committee Of the Council. II was well KNOWN tna.
the company had been steadily losing mone, ~" ,l
contract and tho sewerage committee was 'o'u I'M.
,ha omn.nv had ou reached the limit Of Its financial
ability. a., u
The cause Of the trouble is not hard to nhd' Inc
contract for the sewerage system OF orange "se "o
fold There were the usual small Vitrineu ppo
sewers, and In addition to these system Oh DITCH
storm water sewers, designed to drain cellars ana
nr.vent flooding Of the low places lh
tbs CITY. 1t was generally known that
tbe city of Orange underlaid by bed Of
oulcksaud but how extensive this was no one Knew
The price bid by the Empire Company WIS ~" one'
so much 50 that, in the opinion OF competent Juuses
the company would not De able to DO '"e "orA ~
profit These storm water sewers OF conuui,s wei"
six TO seven feet in diameter apd from eighteen 10
twenty nye feet below the surface. FROM 'he hr''
great diculty has been experienced In the WORK. as
ths bottom was found to be shifting ana uhs'"oio'
Involving large amount OF excaVauhg' anu sio"1 .e
in the construction OF the sheet ping ana shcAtmhe.
With all this care there have been sections ol 'ie
work where the entire sheathlng has SUNK from e'Sh'
10 ten feet in a single night
In addition to this, the company hhs pee" '""'p'
by the failure OF the city to provide the neoo"s1i'
right of way various parts OF the worh. Inc
COMPANY has repeatedly claimed that the plans lor 'he
work were Inadequate, and that they should DO reu
bursed for the extra cost OF inc eA'"' a'o"
bv The ouicksand and also for the pumping require"
IN keen their lines clear Of water Ihese P"'' a'o
been contested by the sewerage coIniml'ee' ""'iI
has brought the case focus Is probably the iaet
that ex-Judge f. W. stevens. OF NEWARK ""o II 'io
sssociate counsel OF the city In the matter Oh sewer
oy. recently rendered an opinion that the extra cost
of the ouicksand excavations was fully covered ny
the contract and TINT no extra cOhipehsauo" S'ouu
h. paid by the city, The estimates OF Inc "oih ooe
in July we're audited by the committee ana III nccou
ncs with the terms OF the contract were paid on Tie
an.entb OF the month. Monday last as soon as inc
ec Of the city had been received. the orders were
sent out stop the work.
An Investigation ut the time OF letting The 'ohtf"c,
showed That III. Empire Company wa organizer
,r tho eNpcss purpO.p OF bidding for the worn zap
Tain BENJAMIN X. Green, an tNpel1cIiceu 'on.''.I
and wealthy man was the president ana the Only O''rr
. , ,,hn hos hern known In connection with the Work
is A. VI. Newton. son OF me ih'e "en'''" '''"''"'
the cllknJwn Government engineer. -, =, 1T, =.
meeting Of the sewerage committee VIII w nv Az a,
which II viii lie decided what steps shan DC taken !"
IN.