New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-12-01
THE NEW CROT0N DAM.

There has been much talk of late about the
condition of the new Croton Dam and the posSi'
BILE need of changes in its construction. huhioiH
have got abroad that defects have oeeh ulsco,
cred in it; that it is unsafe. and that much ol II
will have to be rebuilt. If true, these "ouiu AZ
ford cause for serious alarm, for there are re"
public works the absolute integrity OF which Is
of more vital Importance TO this city IMAM Ilal-
But there seems TO be no reason Tor reSaiuiils
these rumors as true. Such defects as there are
in the work appear to be iii the original design
and not in the construction. and they can be
remedied without any tearing down or rebuild
ing of the existing masonry. There Is propaply
not the slightest cause for alarm or dlsquleL
This str1pendous dam. one of the largest, II
not the largest. in the world. crosses the great
gorge of the Croton River mile or TWO belo"
the present dam at the head of the aqueduc's'
The dam proper is 1000 feet long. 800 feet hlsh
from foundation to coping and 200 feet thick at
the ground level, and there is in addition
masonry spillway 1000 feet long. Nothing
could appear more massive and secure than TINS
colossal wall of granite, and there is every rea-
son to believe it as strong as it looks There IS
no question concerning the main part of the
dam But at the southern end instead of con-
tinuing the granite dam clear into bedrock in
fed and is made TO provide merely a core
DAM of masonry f1anked on both sides with
embellishments of earth. The present Judgment
of experts is that this form of construction may
not proye satisfactory; there would be danger
of leakage through the embellishments and I'M
pairment of the core dam; and so it is best TO
carry the solid frontage of masonry all the way
across, uniform with the central portion of the
dam. The public may well accept the judgment
of the engineers concerning this matter. and rest
confident that when thus completed the Dam
will be all that could be desired
1t is true that some engineers Of high repute
insist that changes of plan are needless, and
that the core dam as originally designed would
be perfectly satisfactory. And Of course. II
would be desirable. If possible, TO save the 5000
900 and the months Of time which the change
will cost. But the supreme consideration, after
all is not expense or time, but security. Inc
dam is of so vast Importance TO millions OF peo-
pie that it should be made not merely secure
enough" but as absolutely secure as human
power and skill can make it. To leave even the
narrowest margin Of doubt which might be
eliminated would be both foolish and criminal.
That dam is intended 10 impound thirty-four
billion gallons Of water, or nearly four months
supply. The breaking Of 1t would be calamity
Of unspeakabe proportions. 1t is, moreover,
work not for year or for generation, but for
all time It should be made worthy of its pur-
pose and as lasting as the Aqua Marcia, whose
stately arches still bear their watercourse IN
broken after the lapse of more than twenty
centuries. Not one cent should be unnecessarily
souandered upon it, nor should a million be
withheld from it if needed TO insure perfection.