The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-31
ON ENGINEERING SUBJECTS.
VIA. RIPLEY's EXAMINATION BE-
FOBE THE COURT MARTIAL.

sust,lined Capt. Carriers Interpreta-
+fon OF the Specifications and Con-
xtruction of the HarbOr Works. |
An Advocate of the Single Curved |
IattN- for Cumberland Sound.
Mr. H. C. Ripley, civil engineer was
4ba only witness on the stand before the
Garter court martial yesterday.
Mr. Ripley made remarkably good Wit
moss in many respects. His answers were
.-leae and explicit. and his explanations
were such as to instruct even those unin-
mated in engineering subjects. The OK
smination of Mr.. Ripley by Mr.. Blair for
tbe defense was concluded about 1870
.,,clock. and he was then turned over to
Col Barr for the cross-examination.
Mr. Ripley underwent quite a lengthy
examination on engineering questions, On
lines similar to those taken in the exami-
nation of Mr.. George G. Wisner. Mr.. Blair
first questioned Mr.. Ripley on the condi-
tion of the work at the mouth of the sa-
vannah river, which he had examined and
found excellent.
The survey on the north jetty at Cum
ecrland sound made by Messrs. Wisner
and Ripley showed that at one point where
the map introduced by the prosecution IN
dicated that the mean average crest of
the lefty was below the ocean bottom, the
actual crest was really five to eight feet
above the bottom.
Mr.. Ripley considered that the effect of
stopping the work on the Tybee breakwa-
Ter and the Cumberland sound jetties
would be to necessitate more work and in
creased expenditures in carrying them on
10 completion when the work is begun
again. He explained how this would be
so, particularly at the points where the
mattresses come together there being
some slight space between the currents
through which, without sufficient stone on
the mattresses would cause a sinking of
. the ends by the washing out of sand I'M
derneath
He gave a technical explanation, show
ing why in his opinion, a single curved
jetty would have been best for Cumber-
land sound, this form of construction hav-
ing been recommended by Capt. Carter.
Mr. Ripley did not think Capt Carter had
ueNIdLG lIOlu the IGpOtl VI TIE UOdIu Ol
engineers when he mentioned mattress
hearting,' in connection with Cumberland
sound, The board having provided for a
hearting of small stone covered by heav-
Ter stone. The phrase mattress heart
ing" he considered, referred to the old
Cumberland sound work Mr.. Ripley con-
sdeTed that the construction of the Cum
berland sound jetties. according TO Capt.
Giette's plan, would be more expensive
than if the plan begun by Capt Carter
were carried out. He considered Capt.
Carters jetty a better and more effective
one.
Mr.. Ripley said he had examined the
work in the Savannah river, and he re-
garded IL as an eminent success under the
terms of the progress. The proposition of
Capt. Gillette that silt and sand were be-
ing brought down from a wider unir1-
proved portion of the river above the i'm
provements, and being deposited in the
narrower channel, was rather an astound-
ing one to him. and caused him 10 make
some inquiries. He considered that the
sand deposited in the upper part of the
channel was washed down from a point
nearby. The river can be maintained, he
said, within Capt. Carriers estimate OF
$4,000 a year.
Mr.. Ripley testified as to trip he made
10 inspect the work done by Capt A. j.
Twiggs near Augusta, shortly after Capt.
Twiggs was on the witness stand. Capt.
Twiggs had testified that he was required
to use all round stakes and that no split
stakes were allowed to go into the work.
photograph, introduced by the prosecu-
ton, showed some of the stakes in the
fascines. Mr.. Ripley said the picture was
taken with the round side of the stakes to-
ward the camera. Two of the same stakes
were produced in court by Mr.. Ripley,
showing them to be split stakes and
smaller in size than Capt. Twiggs said he
had been required to use.
The fascines and stakes in the Gaynor
work and in the Twiggs work, near Au-
gusta, were almost Identical in quality
and measurement. The good work by the
Gaynors and the work by Twiggs, which
showed defects, were not photographed by
Twiggs to be put in evidence. From his
examination he was satisfied that there
was no material difference in quality be-
tween the work of Twiggs and the work
of Gaynor. No one who did not know who
had done the work could tell the differ
ence between the two works. The photo
graphs introduced by the prosecution, he
said, gave an entirely erroneous and false
Impression of the character of the work
MIR. Ripley said, on the cross examina-
ton, that he had been in the employ OF
the defense about three months. Parties
who have executed brush mattress con-
tracts, he said are at a greater advan-
tage than strangers to such work. He
would not estimate the time necessary
Tor advertising such work. but thought
sufficient time should be given.
Mr.. Ripley said he would have construct
ed the jetties at Cumberland sound oil
stone if stone could have been secured
with sufficient rapidity to carry the jetty
out in the race with the bar. He had beer
informed, however that the stone could
not be secured there with sufficient rapid
n.y. He was not, however, personally ac'
quainted with the conditions.
Lath yarn, Mr.. Ripley said. was includ
ed under the generic term tarred rope. Ht
considered it a good material for binding
lascines. He did not take any photograph:
OF the work near Augusta, because h'
could get sizes and dimensions better by
taking measurements. The cross eXami
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