New-York tribune., 1901-12-05
OPPOSES DAM CHANGES.
ALFRED CRAVEN SAYS 1T WAS AN OUT.
RAGE TO TEAR JEROME PARK RES
ERvOIR WORK To PIECES.

ERvOIR WORK To PIECES.
Alfred Craven now division engineer on tbs
rapid transit system. who for many years
division engineer the staff of the Croton Aque-
duct Commission. believes that the proposed
changes az the new Croton Dam and the Jerome
Park Reservoir are not advisable He said:
The report of the board OF engineers en- changes
In design in the New CrOtOn Dam and Jerome Park
Reservoir orb has been published IN full in a late mum
II does support the views OF the chief en-
Visibility OF a change in construction from the
original plans OF em5ankment and core wall at the
south and east portions OF the Jerome Park EeSer-
The conclusions Of the engineers were clearly to
be expected. the conditions We're not such TO
warrant any change The change asked for by
ment on the original plans, already far adj
Tanced IN Gonstructlon- II must oe borne IN mlnd
tnat IN addition 10 the core wall the water slope
OF the embankment is TO De covered with a sub
stantial masonry pavement, laid N Portland ce-
sr,-i Io i an u 49, f tl -- 9 -
with a lining of concrete from three to ten inches
in thickness. This construction viii undoubtedly
be less pervous to the filtration OF water than the
proposed masonry dam retaining wall as recon-
rnended by the chief engineer of the AqueducC
Commissioners. even though the dam were carried
at all points down 70 rock Such a dam, under the
existing circumstances, would be a useless and
The report Of the chief engineer Of the Aquelucr
Commissioners made much OF the cracks in the
core wall and ''quicksand foundations as a rea-
son for the proposed change.
first settlement Of the wall; second, 70 violent
These cracks may De looked for. and viii GER
tainly be found in all such walls. in fact. long
wall may crack but not 70 such an extent as 10
be the slightest cause for anxiety. The large
are due 70 the violent changes in temperature TO
which the wall has been subjected for several
as the er1ba1kn5enr IS br9n96T m 9%5 ~ - cosT
even if made a charge against the work. viii not
exceed $3.50 500 at the most It seems that the
these cracks a serious menace 70 the work
As to the so-calIed quicksand foundations. being
fact, however. that sand makes one Of the best
unquestionably is in the present Instance Here
also the sand is very fine. fine, in fact. 10 be
almost imperviOus water. II viii. the most.
admit OF so slight perc9laJion OF water as scarce
board Of engineers evidently take this same view
morning paper quotes one OF the Aqueduct
Commissioners as seeming not satisfied with the
conclusions OF the experts as regards the Jerome
This may wen be understood from the fact that
that have already been made on the lines recon-
mended BY the chief engineer, but on another part
These changes in construction have been going on
for the last eighteen months. just such changes as
the board OF. experts now reports as unnecessary.
The work has been done along Sedswick-ave- for
tended for another long stretch II consists of a
ao2nt thar S You'd S haVe BEEN GSces had the
plans and specification OF the contract been fol
lowed without any improvement Whatever on tnese
The part that Is now being built. or excavated
for. against a high rock barrier that actually
rises from twenty 20 thirty feet above the hlgn
the southward ar this elevation This work will
the reason that no core wall was mere required
The bank was nearly completed 2ut Is now seInS
Eineers, it may assumed, was not asked 20 re-
port this portion of the work ., - -,
any quicksand bugaLoO. nor is there any valley or
low ground to De washed II IS simply mex
The wall that has already been built along sedg77
wick-ave. Will surely crack as did rhe core. wall
so complained OF. though il IS all founded on rock
aarth aInRantroent Of the original designs 10 help
resist leakage and percOlation- 3.
is We'll recognized that they should bs constructed
with great care. The material should De tns PEST
rolled in thin layers brought up from carefully
| The jerome Park Reservoir contract provides
that the banks should be 3lt free troIn s-oGes sex ex
ceeding three inches in diameter, also 1ree from
perishabe material -
point OF the whole reservoir where q very hIsn dam
is required. all the above provisions OF the con
of loose material has been thrown in ard only wet
ted down with small stream oL "aleg -+sr,
and practice. and tn large additional rXpendtIres
already made and further asked Ter are entirely
the experts have determined - =.
carried out, viii delays that are o5jectona-
Even now the work is very backward and VIII
be completed for several years after the time
Other changes have 4Is5 been made that have in
way improve ed the work though they nave been
much more costly and. II anything. less excusa-
BILE The plans Of the great central Eatehouse
have been Changed so a to double the cost. and
certainly without in any way improving IT'S ef1-
cheney
The delay IN the work up to the present time
may not be altogether ineXCusabie- The work is
one Of great magnitude. and the difficulties in get
ting rid OF 81 great a volume Of material II the
heart OF large city ara questions that NAV well
ba fmDartiaIIv considered. but further delays.
caused by inexcusable changes. should be avoided
BY all
TIE Jerome Park Reservoir and its appurte1ances
1rars Jesirnsd by an eminent engineer Any one
who will study The plans Of this great reservoir
ca1ror fail 10 So that extreme precautions were
taken 10 make this work near perfect as
could be
To change it and tear it 20 pieces. as has been
done is outrage from any point OF view, and
this outrage is aggravated when the facts snow 50
vItinI- that improvements have been made no
changes the better. hUr only changes that nave
added largely and Uselessly 70 its cost-