New-York tribune., 1896-05-24

surely working out, and II Is now IN successful
operation and is on view every day for other
children than the two small puzzled lads who
lost their way on the Aqueduct.
The effect Of 1t is astonishing because OF the un-
obtrusive manner OF It's working. Standing too
FAR away to hear the sound and the observer might
think that every man Jack of the workmen was
indulgng In loafng bee, for there is no escaping
steam TO Indicate that drill Is In operation any,
where AS one gets closer. however, there Is q
change In the aspect. From the scape vent OF
the drill there Issues rapidly repeated snappy
report, as sharp and incieive as a succession Of
pistol shots In clear air One Of the appreciated
advantages Is that the workman has to do with
cold machine. This adds to his comfort on a
hot day. The economic advantage has already
been explained.
Another feature Of the work is the almost en-
tire absence OF wagons and horses. The horse
and the wagon have been displaced by the steam
railroad. and the great gangs Of laborers by the
steam shovel The steam shovels load the cars
of the trains. and "dinkey" engines draw tho
loaded trains TO the dumping grounds. At present
there are two roads In operation. running over
nearly four miles Of railroad track One track
extends from the quarry just south OF the old
Boston Road line, near Sedgwick-ave northward
behind the core wall. which has been completed
at that point to the rise Of the hill beyond.
The contractor has secured possession of tract
OF field and woods at that point, looking over
toward Van Cortlandt Park. The timber Of the
forest Is being eaten up In the sawmill. The
other dumping ground Is down Jerome-ave
STEAM DIsPLACEs MEN
30 tne railroad engines race up ana down tno
wide avenue past the summer home Of George
w. Devoe. right through the most lovely part
OF Fordham Heights. The railroad breaks into
Jerome Park the southern end Of the old
straightaway track and ends just at q
point nearly In front of the old grandstand Of
the famous There a steam shovel OF
powerful dimensions is playing havoc with grassy
levels that were once delight to the general eye.
About four hundred men are at work. The steam
shovels are doing the work of more than four
hundred more and the steam cars are saving
the eXertions of more than four hundred horses.
half that number of wagons and an equal number
Of drivers The third division OF the railroad
system has not yet been called into play. 1t is
the branch that leads out to the main line OF the
New-York. New-Haven and Hartford Railroad.
On no public work Of the present time is so much
care shown for the welfare of the workmen The
old clubhouse the big hill has been fitted up 2S
a hospital with surgeon in constant attendance.
The long row Of what were once stables. backing
up against the Aqueduct. has been remodelled ant
virtually rebuilt into a succession OF cleaniy
whitewa shed cottages for the use OF the men Whoso
homes in other cities. Many of them have
been with Mr. Mcdonald for many years follow
ing him from contract TO another with q
fidelity and readiness that speak volumes for no
manner Of treating workmen Each gang OF men,
under its own superintendent. has Its building.
commssary department and cook, who in ADDITION
TO cooking the meals. takes general care or tho
place being housemaid extraordinary and every
other thing needed 10 perfect domestic arrange
ments.
An ever growing object Of interest TO the chance
visitor will be the great core wall which is to ex.
tend clear around the reservoir. a distance OF
more than three miles. The first section OF II,
begun at Boston Road and extending northeast
ward in a curving line TO where it is cut through
the Aqueduct has been finished and on the top
most stone when the last was grouted into the
cement the masons triumphantly set up email
evergreen tree. The foundation for the wall IS
bedrock. fifty TO sixty feet below The wall is ten
feet wide at the base and tapers gradually IN
until II is four feet in width at the top Every
stone is set in cement and every joint is broken
across the wall The top OF the whole structure
will stand thirty feet above the ground. The top.
when all has been completed will be covered with
three feet OF earth. which will slope over TO join
the embankment on either band. On the top OK
the wall there will be wide driveway ana prom-
enade II will not be open TO use by public con-
veyances The question has been asked how tho
line Of the old Aqueduct is 10 be crossed by the
core wall. That is an easy one. As has been mar
rated the line OF the old watertube is to be car"
ried intact through the entire length or the reser.
vor Well that new aqueduct will be built nrst:
The water will be turned into II and the oio
tunnel torn out. That is all there is TO that proo-
lem But then new questions and new points
Of interest are turning up at Jerome FarK every
day. so that It is an interesting place TO see.