Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-07-18
A GARD

City Engineers Office" in your clifton
OF the Is inst, seems to me 10 de-
mand a rep'y, IS 1t refers personally 10
myself Al it tends TO create n false im
preston in the minds Of my fellow cili-
zens as 10 the character of the various
public works completed previous to the
election OF Mr.. Dunn as Guy Engineer.
am not candidate for any office un
der the ely government and have no
axe 10 gliud, but | wish the people to
have clearer idea of the office under
consideration and 10 correct many mis-
statements that have been made both
before and since its creation.
The City Surveyors income Except
$50 per year salary was altogether
from survey fees, and SS per day from
the city when actually engaged on
work ordered by Council or its commit
tees. To exc out his income and earn
his living, he was forced to do outside
work, which, necessarily, would not al
low him 10 devote his entire time 10
the work of the city. The City EDgi-
neer received stated salary for the
purpose of securing his entire time to
the city work. This will explain
the question have heard asked, Why
does not the City Surveyor make rec
cancellations, or why attend to the work
with which he had hing to do? From
personal observation ard inquiry | am
led 10 believe that Mr.. Dunn did much
good work, justifyiDg the decision of
the city fathers in creating the office OF
City Engineer; but toe attention of Mr..
Y, vino regards him so favorably, is
called to the fact that he, according to
the article, was not certain that he
would be re elected, and accepted an
other position onths account. This being
the case with Mr.. Dunn, is it not so, Mr..
Y, with those who have preceded him
as CITY surveyors? No one filling the
Office can expect to please everyone,
and are you not unduly prejudiced
against others because OF your psrtlcu-
lar point of view? The city engineers
otIic. is one OF great difficulty, and
everyone interested in the welfare of
| the city should aid him by good will
aud kindly suggestion when possible
Nv ples is for the City Surveyor al d
CITY Engineer as against the unfriendly
criticism that eventually destroys his
| usefulness.
The sewers built by Mr.. Dunn were
under entirely different conditions
from those previously constructed. l
am informed by the contractor for the
orickwork that the sewer on Pit street
bad a good bottom in which to lay il
aud solid bank on each side to hold
it securely. Moreover the street is well
| above the sewer, allowing the water TO
| be carried 10 it from above. UDd- r
such conditions an egg shaped storm
water sewer is good form, as it con-
tracts the dry weather flow OF sewage
| into the small bottom, facilitating lis
rapid discharge.
On the other hand the sewers built
by myself and predecessor from Henry
street to franklin street, and by myself
| from Princess street to Pendleton street
we're laid, by the conditions of the ter
ritory, either in mashy hAt, over
flowed at lines of rain, or in the bed OF
the ravine formerly occupied by the
stream. The greater part of its length
had to be protected by embInk.
ments; the bottom was bad and
the grades wero fixed absolutely by
the existing structures and could not
have been improved any way because
of the slight fall. Under the existing
conditions, it was necessary to carry
the water as low as POSSIBLE in the
sewer to prevent undue flooding of ad.
laceut property, and the sewer must
necessarily be the strongest possible
and have the best bearing on the bot
tom. These conditions are all better
fulfilled by the barrel than the egg
shaped sewer.
The cracks in these sewers are nec-
essary consequence of the character OF
the bottom and the poor protection al
forded by au embankment. They are
not serious except where extensive set
| clement has taken place, and where
more may be expected by extensive
filing over q previously marshy soil.
The First ward sewers are well built.
the mortar is as hard as stone. The Only
distortion is just west OF Royal street
or Gibbon, which occurred during its
construction by very heavy rain, and
which was made good at the time; every brick
is lad as tluo as line and template on
could make it. and inspection by any dis
interested person is only necessary to estab
lish lis excellence. II is now seven years
since its completion. a sufficient length OF
time to develop any weakness if it existed.
The Second ward sewer was built under
worse conditions than in those for the First
wsrd The brick work was done as carefully
but owing to he character of the bottom the
settlement has been extensive in pisces, sud
as the blocks are filled in up to the level OF
the streets, some parts of 1t will probably fail.
Only necessaryirepairs should be made until
the filling up of the blocks has progressed to-
ward completion, and then such parts as it is
necessary to replace can be done with com.
psratively little expense by using the old
sewer As q foundation. In any case, however
it will never be found necessary to expend
thousands of dollars TO rebuild the most o.
them" 1t is moro than six year;
since the completion of this sewer. a snthcien
time to show it's weak points.
The pavements on Lee street, between
Queen and Princess, and in the alley bounded
hv King Cameron, Pitt and st. Assph streets
ale subject to very heavy and trying traffic