Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-07-24
THE FACING OF THE DAM,

Contractor Gamney Says He Is Unable
 to secure Granite Fast Enough.
 At meeting of the committee on addi- tional water supply last night bids for clearing 20.o01 cubic yards of the basin of the reservoir were received as follows: Edward McManus, $5. 500; W J. Neville. $7, 100; Severy & Pinney, 5,650; Abbott Brothers, $12.90O. The contract was awarded to Edward McManus, he being the lowest bidder.
 In reference to the proposed change on the highway in front of the Bethlehem road, the city engineer stated that some action should be taken toward coming to an understanding with all parties con- cerned Tn the matter. The Bethlehem road will have to be filled in at this point and the bridge raised five or six feet, It was the sense of the meeting that the en- gineer prepare a profile of the roadway and present it to the selectmen of that town.
 John W. Gafney appeared before the meeting and stated that he was hampered on the work at the dam on account of the difficulty in getting enough granite for fac ing MT Gay, who furnished the stone from the Plymouth qusrries, has not been able to supply the demand. MT GaffneY said he had tried to get granite from other parties, but found that it would cost fifty cents per cubic foot, which is more than it now costs, including the laying. He wanted to know If he could use Roxbury stone for coping. In this way he thought he could get enough for the facing from Plymouth and by pushing the work along finish the job by October 1. Mir Cairns said that if the dam could be finish 1 ed to the coping this year the committee could afford to wait until it could be con- | tinued to it's completion with the Plymouth stone. Mir Kelley said that Gay had in- formed him that he was furnishing granite as fast as MT Gaffney could handle it It l was decided to have the contractor con- tinue the work according to the contract and that City Engineer Cairns call upon Gay and explain the situation and urge him to see and supply all the material nec- essary to continue the work on the dam.
 The matter of awarding the town of Wa tertown $l0O for damages done by Con tractor Lipps to the valley turnpike was referred to the city attorney. The com mittee believes that tue bill should be paid by the contractor instead of the city and the Idea is to find out if it can be deducted from what the city owes him
 The city engineer submitted a statement l in reference to the work on the dam. The work has continued regularly though the progress has been slow during the month of June. About 100 feet of the dam is up very near it's elevation. AIS feet, some of it being ready for the coping. The gate chamber work is about elevation 405. The lowest point of the dam is in the foundation work at the south end, which is about elevation 397. Excavations have been extended at the north end sufficiently to show that a splllwsy of overflow at ele- | vatiou 40 can be secured in solid edge. a fact which enables the committee to save masonry construction at that point. The use of the pipe line for teaming has caused considerable damage in some places and the engineer has notified the contractors that the committee will deduct $500 from his nexI estimatr for repairs unless everything is put in proper shape by the parties using it A. Morse refuse to consider any proposition as a substitute for the con- struction of a bridge across the Wes branch on land bought of him by the city and arrangements have been made for the erection of a bridge at the point named Progress at the earth dam has been slow still the work is about completed to eleva tion 408 and the workmanship is of th' best possible character.
 In reference to the condition of the wate the report says:
 In view of the recent complaints abou the water used by the city it may interes the committee to know that none of it agents are in any way responsible in tn, premises. From the beginning of the ust of the branch water at the middle of Janu ary up to the beginning of the removal O the old Lounsbury mill dam on May 2l the water from this source was excellent il quality and abundant in quantity. ca th latter date I caused the reservoir to b. emptied and its use since by the city ha not been by my advice. I have done al in my power to preserve the reservoir il good condition. and what was objectionabl there has been incident to the necessar, process of construction. I have felt tha injustice was done to the new supply b, using 1t under the circumstances, and hay personally and by letter objected to suct us,."