The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-09
BUILDING An AQuEDUCT
Progress Of Work to Supply More
Water TO the Capital.
A Visitors Experience in the Depths
of a Wonderful Excavation - En-
Rinecring skill in the Construction
Of a Tunncl-Its Early Completion
ESpcctcd-'Thc Rock Greek Section.

aQue0lct tunnel VIII he ready Tor the
mighty flow of water that will supply
many thousands of homes with a greatly
increased supply. Three hundred and fifty
men are working in eight-hour shifts
night and day and the outlook is that the
work will be accomplished at the cost of
$500, eco, the amount appropriated.
There is. in the minds of Washington
ians a certain halo of mystery, If not ro-
nance. concerning the tunnel. which in
vests it with peculiar interest. The sub
terranean excavation extends from the
reservoir west of Georgetown to the How
ard University reservoir, just south of the
Soldiers Home a distance of four miles
When first commenced the engineering
magnitude of the task at once awakened
admiration and expectation in the minds
of all, and the householder whose water
supply was beautifully small, and who
had often watched with Impotence the
tiny stream trickling from his faucets,
looked eagerly forward to the completion
Of the gigantic task. But alas. sad blow
to these awakened hopes was given when
II was discovered that there had been a
blunder somewhere. The workmen en-
ployed upon the tunnel had intimated, at
divers times that there were strange
Koings on in the mysterious depths. Dark
hints were thrown out concerning "shimp
Jobs and ..shysters.' and these even
tualiy reached the ears of influential par
ties The result was that committee of
investigation was appointed by Congress
on October S, 1883. some six years after
the work had commenced, and the find
ings of this committee, as set forth in its
report, we're sensational in the highest
degree. a court-martial was instituted
for the trial of Major Lydecker, the engi-
ueer in charge, who was eHonerated from
all connection with the affair. Work upon
the tunnel, however, was suspended. and
thus il remained. in the same condition in
which it was discovered by the committee,
for ten years.
Three years ago Congress directed an
examination of the tunnel by board oil
exports for the purpose OF determining
whether the original design might be ex-
ecuted. and some return obtained for the
enormous expenditures already made.
The board appointed to this end consist
ed of William L. Marshall, Capt. James L.
Lusk and Capt. ID. ID. Gaillard. OF the
Corps of Engineers, U. S. A. and A. fet-
ley and Desmond Fitz-Gerald. civil engi-
neers The water was pumped from the
tunnel. the enormous quantities of cord
wood forming backing to the lining in
stead of masonry, cleared away, and a
thorough examination instituted. The
conclusion was reached that the tunnel
could be utilized by an expenditure Oh
about $500, 900. The project was at once
recommended by the authorization OF
Congress. under the direction Of the Chief
OF Engineers Of the Army. Col. a. NJ
Miller of the Engineer Corps, was given
charge of the work. which he has pursued
with vigor and despatch. He makes visits
to the tunnel several times during
week, and receives daily reports from his
assistants of the progress of the opera
lions Mr.. r. C. Smead the civilian engi-
neer In active charge of the work, has had |
wide experience in TUNE! and mine con-
structicn, and is eminently fitted for his
present duty. William Gain and Harry
Bolac were made day and night superin-
tendents, and John Green and Taylor
Cronin, two young engineers of this city,
were put in charge Of the instrument and
surveying work The laborers are hired
by the day and are directly under the SD
pervision of the Washington Aqueduct Of
fice. which has charge Of the entire pro-
feet, and of which Colonel Miller is the
head. BY the present system. no con-
tractors are allowed to have any share in
IA.
healthy and powerful coiored men, who
seem thoroughly able to stand the very
trying work conducted under the disad-
vantages of bad ventilation, and the in
haling of noxious vapors. These men
work at an average depth of $50 feet be-
low ground.
THE first thing to be done" said Mr..
smead, in describing his task WAS to
pump out the tunnel. which had become
la1 xriS psyta cir bQ mi
nation by the board. We pumped out
q, coo 600 gallons of water in three weeks |
It, 0O0, 600 gallons coming from the section
under Rock Creek. The creek had broken
through the partition of earth and fis-
sures in the rock and had been steadily
pouring into the tunnel. Most of this
flow had been stopped, but for a long
while VIC were still pumping 100000 GAL
Ions q day from the tunnel.
THE next thing" continued Mr.. Smead,
was to repair the shafts. five in number,
and put in hoisting apparatus. The re-
pairing was very difficult and dangerous
work. The shaft timber had bulged in
wardly nearly foot. and when the men
were at work they never knew what min
ute the whole mass would fall in. The
task was accomplished in safety. however,
and the engineers set to work 10 clean
out the tunnel. We certainly found an
awful mess. Some 900 tons of muck
and stone. and seventy-two cords of tim
ber which had been used by the con-
tractors as backing to the brick lining
instead of stone, were removed. There
were cavities back Of the brick lining
thirty feet high and fifty feet long and
into these cord wood and pine timbers
had been thrown. All these spaces have
now been filled with rubble masonry, we'll
grouted by means of a pump which forces
the cement in the smallest crcyices be-
tween the stones. After thoroughly clean
ing the tunnel we laid railroad track
its entire length. and upon this were run
the cars which carry the brick, mortar,
and stone. Two acetylene gas plants lave
been installed, and a three-inch gas main
runs through the tunnel, supplying light
at points where the workmen are engaged.
Artificial ventilation is not needed That
portion Of the work done by the original
contractors which was tunneled through
the solid rock. merely archnd ever
with brick the floor being formed by the
natural rock. II became necessary to
build an invert vault in such places and
this added considerably to the labor of
reconstruction. Indeed much Of the vault
ing throughout the entire tunnel had to
be done over again.
THE hardest work. however, was, OF
course, encountered in putting in the
stone backing. Holes we're cut In the roof
Of the vault at every few feet, leading
into the spaces back OF the extrados.
Bubble masonry was hoisted through these 1
holes. and laid in cement until a solid
mass extended from the brick lining to
the rock
1t is chiefly some portions Of the lining
which remain still to be done. and this 1t
IL expected TO accomplish during the next
eight or nine months. The various works
Incidental to the aQueduct such as the new |