Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-06-17

Two Other Expert Engineers to be EN-
/ ployed to Consult with Him and Agree
| as to Plan of Proceeding With the I'm
aiority Aldermen Guard
/ ing Public Interests.
| Engineer d. w. Mead last night
gave the city council his opinion con-
corning the condition of the reser-
yoir. He has made an examination
of the plant, but preferring not to
make recommendations as to what is
needed to be done to complete the
work in a sound and substantial man
ner until other experts have passed
upon it, authority was given the
waterworks committee to employ two
additional engineers, who will consult
with Mr.. Mead, and if possible agree
as to the best plan to proceed with
the water improvement. The ma
| ioritv members of the council cheer
| fully responded to the call for meet
ing, as it was held for the purpose of
discussing an important public meas
| ure.
1t is not to be denied that the en-
cheering of the reservoir plant is
faulty, but, as in all such undertake
ings, where discovery has been made
of frailty in construction, judgment
should not be hastily passed, but on
the contrary. all should hope for less
serious conditions than are antici-
pated in Mr.. Mead's report, which as
a whole, does not reflect very highly
to the credit of j. A. Harmon, under
whose supervision the reservoir was
built.
The paving of Twenty-seconds street
is to be begun as soon as bids. ordered
advertised for, can be received. From
Third to Tenth avenues the work is to
be done under the old law, the ordi-
nance having been passed two years
ago, while from Tenth to Eighteenth
avenues the improvement is to be
done on petition of the property hold
ers, the ma jority of whom have asked
for the paving of the street
Engineers Report.
The engineers report above men,
toned is as follows:
Rock Island. ILL.,, June Is, 1899.
To the Honorable Mayor. Waterworks
Committee and Members of The
City Councils:
Gentlemen-By request Of the
Mayor and Waterworks Committee I
visited your city on Jpne to ex-
anime the improvement in the water
works system now under construc-
ton. On that date L received the
following instructions:
"Mr. Daniel w. Mead. Dear Sir-You
are requested to examine the plans.
specifications and work on the city
reservoir and filter system, to make
a thorough investigation of the char
acter of work done, and report to the
Mayer. Waterworks Committee and
City Council concerning the condi-
tion of the same and what changes in
construction YOU think necessary IN
order to complete the present work
in Il safe and durable manner and its
cost.
(Signed) Alderman f. G. Gall, AL
lerman NJ. V. Concannon. Alderman
]. w. Lawhead, Waterworks Commit
tee"
Complying with the above instruc-
tions, l examined these improvements
on June 5 and 6 and after certain
work had been uncovered by my re-
quest, / made n further examination
on June II and Is. have also en-
quircd of various parties who have
of the work as to the methods of
construction and have also eX-
amincd various plans, specifications
and photographs relating thereto.
I find the soil on the site of the
Improvement. at the depth att which
the bottom of the reservoir and filter
basins have been placed, is composed
Of fine sand mixed with a small
amount of clay and filled with
ground water. This affords
n very poor and unsat-
isfactory material for the foun-
dation of the bottom of the reservoir
and basins. Above this is a better
quality of material, a surface clay. on
which the cmbanllments rest. The
commandments of the reservoir and
basins are built of a mixture of these
materials.
The commandments of the settling
basins were begun in the fall Of
1897. 4 portion of the work was
performed during December of that
year and the material deposited was
undoubtedly more or less frozen and
in poor condition for embankmcnt
purposes.
1t is doubtful. from the photo
rrapher's views and from information
derived from various sources, that
the earth of the embanlment was at
any time properly spread, watered or
rolled. Through and under these
embankments were placed various in
let outlet and drain pipes.
Soma of these pipes were
laid in and on flied ground; others
in trenches excavated in the Original
soil While some attempt was made |
to lamp back the filling around these
pipes. i am satisfied that the work |
was not thoroughly done.
The Y1lacinr of n nine under or !