New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-21
NEWYORK. FRIDAY JANUARY 2. 1898. TWELVE PAGES
EXPLORED A BIG SEWER.
CHICAGO COUNCILMEN HAVE A NOVEL.
EXPERIENCE IN READING.

Reading Jan 2o-The Chicago City Fathers had a
suberranean experience here to-day which they are
not likely TO forget In their inspection OF the
gigantic concrete sewer. Rain had fallen all night
and 10 O'Clock this morning. when the start was
made In onlnbuses for the mouth OF the sewer
there no abatement in the torrent from the
clouds The constructors of the sewer provided
tall rubber boots for the party, but all hands were
informed that a flow of only few inches of water
would be found in the journey of two and hair
miles through the great cavern.
The builders however. had not been through the
aoueduct during the conditions which prevailed
to-day The waters rushed down the sides OF the
Blue Ridge Mountains into the sewer. and at the
shallowest point the water was a foot deep, while
for the greater portion of the distance the party
waded through rushing water fully two feet In
depth. a drenched party it was that emerged
from the fourteen-foot mouth OF the sewer about
an hour after they had entered at the other end.
The members OF the Chicago party were William
Lee the cys expert sewer examiner, and Messrs
John Powers William Lyman. Charles Martin.
Frank Mccarthy Charles Probst and w. j. Muir
ply comprising a Committee of City Councils ap-
pointed by the Mayor to make an official inspection
OF Readings great sewer. which was constructed
by George W. Jackson e Co., and which is the
largest and longest concrete sewer In the United
States.
in addition to the Chicago visitors the party In
cuded w. W. Read. city engineer OF Niagara
Falls. " Y. VINO constructed the concrete aque-
duct for the Niagara Falls Power Company; w =
Eumbort, former engineer Of the Niagara faIIs
Power Company; John Bogert. ox-State Engineer
of New York: Frederick H. Lewis concrete ex-
pert of New-York and London; r. w. Lesley. Vice
president of the American Concrete Company ana
a. w. Peck. Of the Fidelity Deposit Company OF
Baltimore. The party was poied by City Engineer
S II. HoT. of Reading; Elmer Beard. assistant
city engineer, and Messrs Douglass. Else ana fot-
finger OF the local Board Of Public Works.
The sewer is nearly fifteen thousand feet IN
length and ranges in diameter from six feet SIX
inches at the starting point to fourteen ieet al
the mouth and "A small section Of sixty feet mas
diameter Of twentv-eight feet. The asphalt ranges
from eight TO eighteen inches in thickness Inc Inc
work OF construction was begun IN August, leyo,
and completed in fourteen months, anu 'ne ne
sewer has been in use about TWO HiOltnso t ii
building the sewer was necessany 10 oanity n,T' Of
asphalt used in the construction was OF American
The visitors expressci their admiration OF the
aaueduct and all seemed favorably impressed
civ Engineer Read. Of Niagara Falls, declared It
to be one of the most magnificent pieces OF "OIh
from a Structural point Of view he had ever seen
The Chicago men, however declined 10 give an
opinion regarding the use of concrete III tie CA 1
miraton for the soldy and symmetry OF tIe WIN WQan
in the big sewer lhey said that the CONSTRUCTOR ION
of large interceptng sewers was IN
in their city, and their possible oihcal conle Ioi @
with questions pertaining thereto prevented IIem
from stating their impressions at present, IheS icy
will make an official report to Mayor harrison Oh
The visitors left the city for Philadelphia this
evening They Will visit Baltimore and Wasnlihs
ton and leave the latter city for chicago Sdtnud:
evening The sessions Of the American SoStN b, ty %
Civil Engineers at New-York detained In ,hat GfItS
the Chcagoans here to-day Owing 10 laCh OI uiiie
the Chicago Councilmen were forced to decline me
MATHEMATICIAN Water Works OF Boston TO see the
eight miles of concrete aqueduct In that CITY,