The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-15
TRAP FOR AQUEDUCT BOARD,
PLEASE CERTIFY THAT RESER-
VOTR WALL rs ALL RIGHT.

"IaWpe They DO. and They'll All Go 20 the
PenitentIary." says Merchants Assoc
citation Man-Pending Payment 20 Com
tractor Mcdonald Left over Week
Hurry Call for burr Report.
Representatives Of the Merchants Asso-
citation who went before the Aqueduct
Commission yesterday to protest against
che payment OF 100000 to Contractor John
d. Mcdonald for building the westerly wall
Of the Jerome Park reservoir, because. in
their opinion, It has not been built accord
ing TO contract, were told to come again
some other day, when they have proof
instead Of assumption as Comptroller
CIRCUIT put IL. Both the Mayor and the
Comptroller were present.
George L. Duval, spokesman for the
Merchants Association, said that their
documentary evidence was sin the hands
of tbs district Attorney, and Justice
Mayor has instructed us not to divulge it,"
Justice Mayer has no right to give any
such Instructions" said the Comptroller.
He knows 1t, and the District Attorney
knows IL. This Aqueduct Board is the
proper tribunal to hear this matter. III
you can prove anything, prove II here
Otherwise we would like to pay the con-
tractor this money to facilitate the COM
pletion of the work
Duval countered with challenge
III the Aqueduct Commission he said,
will certify that it is perfectly satisfied
With the way In which the work has been
done the Merchants Association will with
draw its protest against the payment OF
tho money
Nobody took him up" Contractor
Mcdonald was present, but didn't make
speech. He scrubbed the following memo
randum instead, which was read by the
secretary Of the Commission:
Il ask and expect 70 receive this money
as a simple matter Of justice and fair play;
but, Mr.. President, if the Aqueduct Com
mission has any lack Of confidence in the
contractor or the character of his work
on the reservoir, for which he is responsible,
he will withdraw his request.
After that the question OF payment was
left over for a week In the meantime the
Merchants Association will try TO get
permission from Justice Mayer to tell the
Aqueduct Commission what the evidence
Is. 1t has published most OF the evidence
In the newspapers.
President Ten Eyok OF the Commission,
Commissioner Curtis and the Mayor were
appointed a committee to select chief
has resigned. A eulogistlc biography Of
Mr.. Hill, composed by the Comptroller,
was given out at the request OF the Mayor.
II says:
Shortly after the beginning OF Mr.. Hill s
term he recommended certain changes IN
necessitated the taking down Of large
portion of the core wall and embankment at
the south end Of that PortsinGInn oi OF the dam
similar masonry structure. His grounds
for this recommendation were the alleged
pqe5 S Of and fs smds
Re he had observed in this core wall, The work
and a Commission of expert engineers APP
pointed bv the Aqueduct Commissioners
approved this rec rmmendation after several
also concurred in bv Prof. W. II Burr and Mr.:
Nelson p Lewis chief engineer OF the Board
of Estimate and Apportionment, who had
examine the question and report thereon.
The removal Of this core wall was partially
completed IN March OF this year. and re-
vealed tho fact that it was erected upon an
insecure foundation thus confirming the
necessity Of such removal. 1t was fortunate
that Mr. Hill discovered this condition, other
wise a great catastrophe might have been
procipltated upon the G nm unity hereafter:
The records of the Aqueduct Commits
of notifications which have been pade
by Mr. Hill in these plans, as prepared by
MIR. Fteley. for the construction oil the new
rotor dam and the Jerome Park reservoir
II required both courage and engineering
skill to make such recommendations, In view
OF Mr.. Fteley's great and well-deservcd
reputation. These plans might naturally
have been assumed to be taultless and their
literal execution by Mr., Hill would have been
expected and readily aCgulesccd in. Sew
who had been employed in their preparation,
did not hesitate to crit - him and stand
for the integrity Of the original plans.
Assistant District Attorney Train looked
after the Criminal Court end Of the matter
Yesterday, with Mr.. De Berard of the Mer-
chants Association 60 help him. Mr.. De
duct Commission had been challenged,
Evidently there was a programme.
did Duval say he asked exctedly.
"that If the commission would certify
to the work we would withdraw our protest
against the payment"
When informed that Duval had so said,
Mr.. De Berard exclaimed:
Il hope they certify; | hope they will.
Then they will all go to the pententiary."
mayor and Comptroller and al?" was
asked.
aHa, ha. hal" replied Mr.. De Bcrard
He wanted to know why the Hill biography
didn't say something about the chief en-
nineer being up in Middletown get tin q
$4,000 for building reservoirs there at the
same time he was away on sick leave from
the work that he was being paid S. 900 a
year for by this city.
Mavor Low wrote n letter yesterday
to William Fl. Burr, chairman of the speca
commission appointed 10 investigate the
Jerome Park reservoir, telling MIN that hi.
man who is to be appointed to succeed
Chief Engineer Hill may know what h'
has to do.