The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-08-07
City Engineer Shedd Who Made Plans
Gives His Opinion.
THINKS THERE WAS A SAND VEIN
Near Overflow Pipe Which Was Not Dis
covered in Preliminary Examinations
or During Progress OF the work--Four
Firms to BID ON New Pumping Engine.

Although City En1ineer Shedd was
very busy this morning he talk ed for "A
short time with News reporter about
the disaster at Portland yesterday morn
ing when the Portland Water
company's reservoir on Munjoy hill
broke away, crushing two houses and
kllllug Tour persons. Mr.. Shield said tae
only Information he had regarding the
maJter was obtained from tie re-
ports printed IL the newspapers
this morning. The reservoir had
been built in accordance with
his plans AID had bsen IN service about
tour years Its capacity was y, ,0O0, 600
gallons. about the same as that OF the
Fruit Hill reservoir which is Low under-
going repairs.
The Pori land reservoir" Mr.. Shedd
continued, was made II an earth bank
In the customary for u aud was puddle
throughout. The tact that IL had stood
che test Tor four years aud that during
tnat time here had Deen no aka &c in-
dlcated that u was strong aid that the
bre.k vest. rday was caused by some po-
rous material in the nautural ground
on whicl the reserv, ir was built a d
Which was not discovered during the
tim. OF construction. From the dispatchs $
IL appears that the trouble was near the
overflow pipe. This was made of cast
iron and was well protected by cut off
walls OF concrete. Judaing from that l
am inclined 10 the opinion that there
Was some where near IL IA sand vein which
was not found while we were Nv work on
Ihe reservoir.
Found Other Veins.
IA number OF sand veins were found,
but none we're near this poIut.
Those discovered were dug out
and the holes flied with imper-
vious material. The pudding use was
IN ade OF clay and hard pan moistened
and rolled with grooyed roller. In places
where the rollers could not
down by hand. This was done near the
o, erfiow pipe. As saia before the Only
explanai ion can now give for the break
Is hat there VI AS "a sand vein there which
WAS not found in the preliminary exami.
nations or during the time
the work was in progress.
II Was in general supervision OF the
work, and the local engineers having i'm
mediate cnarge of iJ were Mr.. Jordan OF
Portland, -Mathswsoa- oa-ofthis- city
AMI Mr. Warden OF Boston. Mr.. j. j.
Newman OF this city was the contrac-
tor"
viii the break cause water famine
in Portlandi"
II do not think so. There is another
reservoir on Bramhsll hill which will be
sufficient for all ordinary needs,
and the work of repairing the
other one will no doubt be begun
at once. i am goiug 10 Portland this
evening and will make an examination
tomorrow whica will show whether or
cause Of the break. The reservoir
you understand is not owned by the city
but BY a corporation. The city has, how
ever. considerable control over
the company and this Mun-
JOY hill reservoir was built
in compliance with a peremptory orGer
from the municipality. The purpose was
TO give a higher prds,ure Tor ire purp oses
in certain parts of The CITY,"
Will Make Proposals.
Mr. Shedd was asked whether any de-
sigus and bids for the new pumping en-
gine at Pc taconsett had been rece we'd.
lie replied that so far noue hts come In,
hut Il. T.. Allis ,& Co. oil Milwaukee.
the Worthington company OF New York,
The Groshen High Duty Pumping Engine
Company Of New York and the Holley
Manufacturing Company of LockporG
send in plans and proposals
The city engineer has in his possession
plan submitted some time ago
by the Worthington company
which comes within requirements,
and it is possible the company win puG
in practically the same plan in respons Sc
to Commissioner Smiths request for
bids.
The engineer said further that he hoped
to be able to get the new engine in work.
ing condition before the opening
of the next summer season. JUS Z
now the greatest care is bsing
taken at the pumping station to avoid
accident to the big Corlss engine on
which the city must rely almost entirely
for its supply OF water.
Should this engine become disabled
he said there would be shortage of
water as the other two engines-the Cor
nish and Worthington, even il run to-
gether, would not pump the guam
tity now being used daily--aoout
100000 gallons. The attention
OF the city council had been called TO the
matter more than three years ago, but it
was only recently that final action had
been taken looking TO the erection of
another engine.