The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-25
A BOLD swINDLE.
How a WaterIess Wen Was Fur
nished TO the Government.

How n WaterIess Well Was Fur
nished 10 the Government
From the Baltimore American.
Washington. July 19.-The water supply
Of Fort Myer is puzzling the department
because a very smooth sub-contractor
demonstrated his ability to hoodwink the
officials 10 such an extent that they were
led TO believe that water had been found
In wells that. for all practical purposes.
were as dry as a powder horn and of not
nearly as much use to the department
one other very surprising point about
the affair Is the same well-digging indi-
vdual got paid for the work after sam
pies of water had been analysed. and
the capacity of the well ascertained.
The facts about the case came out yes
terday and ex-Representative Maish the
original contractor. who sub-let the work
to Pennsylvanian, IN speaking about II
said
4 am very sorry that the story is to
be made public just now. for l hoped
that It would not be generally known
about until the authorities had succeed
ed in finding the man who had done US
so nicely. When the time of settlement
came we gave the sub-contractor some-
thing more than the amount agreed
upon, for We felt sorry for him for the
delays and draw backs he had met with.
1t was a most remarkable game, and
am surprised that any sane man would
have the audaCity to play 1t, knowing
that sooner or later II would all be found
out. The most remarkable feature IA
that II was not found out sooner.
we intend to do exactly what is right
in this matter. We have asked for per-
mission TO carry out the original contract.
and, although the time has really expired,
II would seem to me no more than fair that
We should be given the opportunity. II
not, we shall refund every cent that we
took IN for the work, and will be heavy
losers by the whole operation.
"A humorous side to the affair? Yes
/ suppose there is 1t IS funny to think
Of we'll running on for ever. like per-
petual-mOtion machine, and yet In reality
not furnishing drop of water that might
not have been taken up In a bucket from
the stream nearby. Yet, 1 think you are
in better position than l am TO see the
humorous side of the situation"
Some years ago. when the need Of a bet
ter water supply for Fort Myer became
very evident, congress appropriated $780,
600 for the purpose, the plan being to tap
the aqueduct at the Chain bridge and con-
duct the water thence across the river.
The scheme met with some opposition and
there were those who thought that all the
water needed ought to be obtained on the
premises, and that the nature of the
difficulty in finding an abundant supply
under ground.
Several propositions were made. all
looking to the same end Among these
one was adopted as the most feasible.
1t was an offer from reputable parties
to dig a well which would furnish at least
10000 gallons of pure water every twenty
four hours. The contract price was
5000, which meant a saving of S92 600 TO
the government, and IT was accepted
with the understanding that If the flow
was less than the stipulated amount
or If the quality was not satisfactorily
not a cent was to be paid.
The site for the first well was selected
by Quartermaster General Batchelder 1t
was near a little stream and convenient
to the post The sub-contract was let
TO man from New York county. Penn
sylvania, by Mr.. Maish, who had taken
the contract to furnish the water supply
A wen was sunk until solid granite
was found. 1t was abandoned of course
since no water was found. The second
site was selected by the sub-Contractor
and in avery short time he had an abund-
ant supply of water. The first test was
all right, but later ones We're not. A
third site was chosen, and again water
was found. but whilst it came up to the
Requirements as to purity, it was 1000
gallons a day short on supply. A little
thing like that did not worry the we'll
digger. In a short time not only was the
1000 gallons made up, but an excess of
10000 gallons a day was obtained.
Gen. BatChelder was not satisfied with
the matter, and an investigation follow
ed. The wOrkmen employed came upon
a four-inch terra Gotta pipe at the second
wellg which led to the stream.
About a hundred feet from the mouth
of the well, down stream and around a
bend hidden away in clump of bushes
a small dam, insufficient, however
to turn half or two-thirds of the water
into the pipes. and so, with a slight
downward drop on into the well itself
The water that was pumped from the
well was not diverted from any purpose
and the result was that whenever the
pump was set to work $1,000 gallons a
day ran back into the little stream down
to the dam, back to the well, down a
wooden trough which had been construct
ed so that not drop of the precious fluid
should be lost into the stream
The third well was found to be sup
piled in the same manner.
In point of fact, while the matter has
been kept as quiet as possible, it is said
that there was actually no water in any
| of tbe three wells.
70 say that the war department off,
Gals are nettled about the affair is to pu,
| IL mildly. Gen. Doe is said to be out of
town Gen. Batchelder is understood to
| have a good deal OF the "I-told-vou-so',
air about him 1t was the very audacitv
of the scheme that resulted in its success
and up TO the present time no one has been
able even TO guess when the pipes cotfl1
! have been laid without the work heinp
seen by some one 1t was a most inaeni-
Gus method, and yet it depended largely,
upon luck TO so through for the mornent
the water was pumped away for actIal
use the whole thing would have been dis
covered.
MAS NON