The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-25
HIS ANSWER.
Continued from page 1.

.
Is very rare In the office. In fact do
not remember another one, but ] have
not learned that human AFFAIRS, outside OF
the office are yet entirely perfect In this
respect.
For the Washington Row bridge the
estimates were made In close accordance
with previous experience OF the city In
similar work, but the contractors who
bid were evidently very desirous TO get
the contractors on the substructure and
those on the superstructure lost consider
able money on their work.
The repairing of Fruit Hill Reservoir
was done under the direction and with
tho approval Of the leading hydraulic
engineer OF the country, Mr.. James b.
Francis OF Lowell, and another eminent
Church OF New York. The cost and the
result obtained were such as could be
secured under their direction through
the care and approval OF the city engin-
eer. Ihe original construction was In an
un fortunate location with which the
present city engineer had nothing TO do.
The assertion that large sums OF money
were wasted on '.filter bed and Cornish
engine"sis about twenty-five years. old,
and Is not and never was true.
The comparison of cost In engineering
between the city of Boston and the city
OF Providence Is not correct.
COMPARISON OF ADMINIsIR ATOMS.
Perhaps SONS light may be thrown on
the present good management OF the en-
gineering Office. The present engineer
was In full control for the five years from
1891 to 1895 inclusive. and his predecessor
was in full control for the five years 1880
to 1889 inclusive. The increase OF public
work In a few of the departments for the
second period over the first was as fol-
lows: Water Works-Laid in five years,
1885 to 1889 inclusive, "a. SO miles; 1891 To
1895 inclusive, 7LE miles. Increase, lOS
per cent.
sihco 1891, yearly, there has been more
water pipe laid than in any previous year
since the water works we're mainly COM
pleted in 1875
Sewers-Laid in five years, 1885 TO 1889
inclusive, 1888 miles, 1891 10 1895 In
elusive, 1928 miles. Increase, 492 per
cent.
Streets Received-In FIVE years, 1885 to
1889 inclusive, 20. 123 miles; 1891 TO 1895
inclusive, 30.601 miles. Increase, 81 per
cent.
Streets BIilt-In five years. 1885 to 1889
inclusive, 1885 miles; 1891 to 1895 IN
elusive, 3s.732 miles. Increase, 1l6 per
cent.
One-fourth OF the sum of these four per-
centages Is 1872.
first period, So per cent.
The amount of money spent for public
works under the direction of the engi
neering department. for the years 1885, TO
1859 inclusve, was 80, 1868 and the
amount spent for engineering was
Zoo, 1892. or a cost of nearly six and
one halt per cent. for engineering. The
amount spent for public works for the
years 1891 TO 1895 inclusive, was ~, 54s,-
l05 and the amount spent for engineering
was 1905, ,S95.57, or cost OF less than
three and one-quarter per cent. Tor en-
gineerlng.
One thousand dollars worth OF public
works cost s32 04 in engineering for five
years, 1891 to 1895 inclusive.
One thousand dollars worth OF public
works cost S64.4i in engineering for five
years, 1856 TO 1883 inclusive.
BETTER FIRE PROTECTION.
In regard to the new plan for in.
creased fire protection among the high
buildings of the middle Of the city Will
say that the pressure OF water desired by
the fire comm issioners for this service Is
quite Inconsistent with the requirements
OF the general distribution. Ihe distri-
button in this city Is excellent. IL IS re-
gBrded as a model among engineers In
this country and has reputation IN
Europe. 1t is economical and highly SER
viceable. But the needs for fire supply
and for the usual service are not always
consistent and an ordinary pressure in
the main pipes of one hundred and fifty
pounds per square inch, with its result
ing water hammer at times would be
ruinous upon, the ordinary service. 1t is,
therefore, proper that an extra fire SER
vice be supplied where the conditions are
extreme as they have recently become in
this city.
The sewerage system has been in opera
lon ha n m
tion as to require no defence from the
uninformed insinuation OF Mr.. Clark.
Mr.. wEsToN's CASE.
In regard to Mr.. Weston, he states that
he was consulting engineer for the Wilkes
barre Company and not for the Filter
Company. His work for Tie company
was done without my knowledge, but
do not see why 1 should be Informed
Of II as his work for the city of Provi-
dence WAS always promptly and thor
ougniy done. He was at his post at all
needed times except in his vacation. The
army of engineers are not using the city's
time for their private business. For all
those whose services are dependent upon
the time they spend upon them full time
~ given to the work OF the city.
1t Is not true that / have used the po-
sition of har Dor commissioner in the d.
rection of causing the city a waste
full expenditure OF money. II has been
OF great value to the city that a harbor
comm issioner has been so intimately ac-
quainted with the needs OF the city in
the public tide waters. All action in Mr..
Ciark's case has been the action of full
board and not OF any member. An hon
est man in the Office would have been as
dangerous as the city engineer to Mr..
Clark VIII en- 1t came Il. his effort to break
the laws Of the State.
HENRY C. cLARK's WHARF.
Far from mis- statement are the follow
ing facts, which are true. / have acted
for the city, but under direction of the
barbor committee. only sinca May, 1890
The harbor commissioners found MIR.
Clark's wharf In 1876 to enoroach greatly
beyond the barbor line, which had been
esta blisbed in 1915. The wharf showed
signs OF failure at that time. The com.
mission made an effort to have the har-
Dor line moved easterlv to cover as much
OF this and neigb boring wharvos as
seemed consistent with the public inter-
est The General Assem- bly,, upon recon-
mendstion OF the commission, moved the
line easterly in 1873. and again in 1879
moved 1t further easterly, but the bulg-
ing front of the Dorrapce street wharf
could not pe covered by these lines with
,f,e, l,a, t,I a. s,,t