The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-09-05
Engineer Ferris Reports
That Dam Excavations
Rapidly Progress.
ITO FEET OF PIPE LAlB
Excellent Quality of Steel
Used By Contractors
Corrected Reservoir
Map.

The Street and Water Board Commits
sioners, at their meeting yesterday, re-
ceiyed report from Consulting Engineer
Garwood Ferris as to the work done on
the new waterworks at Boonton. That
part of the report having reference to the
construction of the dam appeared in
condensed account in THE News" recent
ly. Mr.. Ferris says
Jersey City, Sept. /, 1900
Hon. Board of Street and Water Commits
sioners:-
Gentlemen-The removal of earth, shale
and other unsuitable material from the
dam site is largely completed and the bed
rock on which the contractor expects to
start his masonry is exposed for nearly
the whole length of the dam excepting
that portion now occupied by the flow OF
the Roekaway. That the necessary exca-
walton may be performed in that location
the contractor has about. completed
canal into which, when required, he pro-
poses to divert the Rockaway, passing
the flow below the dam by means OF the
draw off pipes. In this connection l would
state that the contractor has called on MI
Alfred P. Boiler, C. f. Ia recognized au-
thority on foundations), in order to obtain
his opinion as to the sufficiency, so far as
exposed, of the foundation for the dam
and also as to whether it was advisable
to go any deeper with the excavation of
the trench for the core wall cut off.
His report, dated August 13, 1900, a copy
of which has been given me, is very de-
cided as to the admirable qualify of the
bed rock now exposedsas a foundation for
the dam He also advises against going
any deeper with the cut off excavation.
AS already stated to your: honorable
body. your engineer is of the opinion that
it would be judicious for the contractor
to Increase his force on the dam construc-
ton and of this opinion the contractor has
been formally notified. The contractor in
reply while not denying the apparent
business of the criticism. claims his ar
rangements are all so planned as to per-
NIT of his completing the structure by the
time specified in the contract and as yet
has made no increase in his force on that
portion of the work.
On the first of August the contractor
filed in his Office the following blue
prints showing
FTrst-Gsneral plan Showing dam and
horizontal section with various cross sec
tions and also the spill-way.
Second-Section and elevation of the in
take, wells and gate chambers.
Third-Botton drainage pipes or sluice-
way
Fourth-standard dam section at high
est point.
In addition there was also received
maps showing profile of line from dam,
east to station 3s1. The foregoing have
all been examined by your engineer and
passed as being in accord with the speci-
hcations.
A corrected tracing of the reservoir
basin was furnished by the contractor
on the third of August. On examination
it has been found TO be free from the
defects found in prior map and (assum-
ing the correctness of the contractors
survey to be capable of inpounding the
requisite quantity of water called for by
the specifications
The manufacture and forwarding of
the special steel plates for the pipe is
proceeding satisfactorily. Up to the pre-
sent reports of inspection and tests and
statements of shipments from the mill
have been received aggregating 1850 tons
in weight. The inspection reports are
especially gratifying as they Demon
strate that an exceptionally high grade
of steel is being furnished that not only
is up to but exceeds the specifications re-
ouirements.
The processes of manufacturing into
pipe and coating the same are going
forward at Paterson under the supervision
of your inspector. Before receiving it's
coating, each pipe is tested and made
eight under water pressure about so
per cent. in excess of the head under
which it will be operated in the future.
The laying of the pipe beneath the,
river bed at the crossing of the Passaic
above Horseback Bridge has been sue
cessfully accomplished and the river has
been turned back into its original chan
mel. Pipe has also been laid west of the
crossing to a point beyond the reach
of high water and also to quite a dis
tance east of the crossing.
Altogether ITO feet of pipe have been
laid. up to the first of this month, under
the present supervision of your Inspector
Mr.. w. w. Ruggles. The special work
required by the river crossing necessarily
impeded rapid progress in pipe laying
during the two weeks in August that this
work has been under way, with no spe-
cial obstacles ahead, a more rapid pro-
gress may be relied upon from now on.
The heading at the easterly end of Hook
Mountain tunnel is now in about IS feet
on the westerly end, s feet.
The westerly approach requires a cut
of about % feet in rock before work
could be commenced on the tunnel proper.
The contractor has also commenced work
on the westerly approach TO the tunnel
at Watching Mountain. No excavation
of tunnel proper. however, has as yet
been performed.
Respectfully submitted.
(Signed) GARwOOD FERRIS.
Engr. in Charge.
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