The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-26
TALKED OF At CITY HALL.
No Danger TO The RoWarl Building
From DOFranCe Street Sewer.
WILL HAVE NO PNEUMATIC LIFT,
A High Duty Jumping tngine VIII Tie
Tut in at rettaconsett-tiy Engineer
shedd Now Preparing specifications
OF the Requirements.

Some OF the oder Inhabitants Of the
city who have been watching with great
Interest the work on the hi Dorrance
street sewer are in a state Of mind and
all because their memory runs back TO
the time when the Howard
building, which occupies the
square louuded by Westminster and
Dorrance streets. Exchange place, and
th lane on the east was erected. NO
piles, they say, were driven Tor tue
foundation to rtst upon aud they also
Il, clare that all the ground upon which
the building rests Is made land.
Because OF this they shake their heads
anu predict trouble " hen the deep trench
for the Sc, er is opened up between West.
minister street ana Exchange place. They
seem To think that in some way the
foundation OF the Howard building will
be affected and the stability OF the struc-
ture threatened.
This fear is not shared by those In the
public works department.. Mr.. Slade
SAID this morning that COMMISSIONS
Smith aid not anticipate any trouble
whatever from the building Of the sewer
opposite the Howard building. 1t vas
true il stood ON made land, and that
there were no piles uuder IL, but this
was true Of other buildings farther down
the street by which the sewef had been
carried without difficulty.
Made land he said Is not as dangerous
a. good many people believe.
Indeed. about the worst that can be said
against IL is that III excavating
in il there is a liability to run against old
tin cans. stumps OF trees aud other such
refuse Of former days, whicn are merely
vexatious because OF the delay caused in
their removal.
Do not Expect to Find Quicksand.
The only thing that could possibly ip-
jure the foundation Of the Howard
building during the construction of the
sewer would be bed of quicksand.
There was little probability that such "A
bed would be met with as quicksand is
seldom il ever found in made land.
Should bed be struck, however,
it could not run into the excava-
tion from the sides, as the sheet
piling used is practically water tight and
would keep it out. 1t might, of course.
boil up from the bottom. but in that
case it would be plugged. There
are different methods of plugging,
and should quicksand bc struck while ex-
cavating. there is no DOUBT its flow will
be promptly controlled before any dam
age is done to surrounding property.
Thus TAR the only difficulty met with
has been soggy, wet soil which has re.
tarded work somewhat. 1t is expected
will be carried across Weyboss,t
street 50 that tnat thoroughfare
will be open to travel AS soon
as it Is The work OF excavating
across Westminster street will be begun.
On account Of horse car traffic both of
these s reefs cannot be closed at The
same time.
No Pneumatic Lift.
1t is now certain that u pneumatic lift
will not be put In at the Pettaconsett
pumping station. City Engineer Sheid
said this morning that he was preparing
specifications for high duty
pumping engine and when completed
bids would be asked. These specifca-
tions will state the position and amount
OF space the engine will have to occupy,
the economy in fuel required aud The
number OF gallons to be pumped within
"a specified time.
The bidders will prepare their own
plans for the engine In way TO meet these
requirements aud from them the best
will be selec ed.
now the main dependence OF the city for
it's water supply, should an accident hap
pen the people ould have to go on a short
a II owance ofwater. 4 his engine In run day
and night and during the - h. urs pumps
100000 gallons. In conjunction with
this either the COrnlSh OF the WOrthfng-
ton engine Is run for twelve hours a
day. The former pumps 1000. 900
and the latter 100000 q day.
The average daily consumption
of water at the present time Is about 49,
O00, 600 gallons, so it can be seen that in
case of accident to the Corliss pump the
other two run together would not come
within 100000 gallons day of supply
Ing the needs Of the city.
There rs, OF course. a supply of 127, 900, :
coo gallons in the reservoirs ST.
600, 900 in Hope and 76.0OO,00O In Socka-
nosset, but that would not last great
while in case Of accident unless the peo-
pie are put on short allowance.
Notes About the Hall.
The committee on railroads met this
afternoon for the purpose Of going over
the streets In which poles for the feed
wires for the Uuion Railroad Co. are to
b. placed.
At o'clock tom orrow afternoon the
Joint special committee to examine and
report on the revision OF tue tax laws
will hold meeting.
The assessors are hard at work max
ing up their accounts. When their la
bors are completed the city will know
lust how much money 1t will have at its
disposal for the coming financial year.