New-York tribune., 1903-07-13
NOT TO BE READY ON TINE
REPORT ON CROTON DAM.
Aqueduct Commission Unable to
Tell Date of Com pletion.


able to tell TIE Mayor how long it will take to
complete the work Of the commission. The Mavor
June last wrote to the commission asking
how soon ii would be able close up its work A
detailed report from the commission and the ex-
chief engineer is now in the hands of the Mayor
M Hin SAYS it is impossible to state how long il
viii take TO replace the Croton Dams old
core wall with one of solid masonry. The commits
sioners through President Ten Eyck of the board
say III part 10 the Mayor:
Ala the questions which have arisen as "a the
construction OF the different contracts and other
.egal ] Questions SI have been submitted to the Cor
commission has acted under his advice; in all
ters respecting ensineering work the advice of the
chief engineer has been taken. and where he ex-
aiIe alSitioTsl 49,, or We lholsht II aQEls
t+o5 'Npeti engineering advice has been
oola!hel All the engineer1ng questions present
nal plans. have been submitted under the resoIi-
- loH % 0aae /. lSo to the committee Of expert en-
John r. Freeman and Rudolph Herring who are
supply. No report has Yet been made by them
Te WIN Fsnenber that at your suggestion last
mace certain charges against the Aqueducr Com
plans ef tie jerome FaTk Reservoir We're submitted
early IN FeorGary 10 Messrs. Nelson p Lewis. chief
nthL and n 5. 5iil; il. chief engineer Of the
FOR their opinion thereon Professor Burr having
3een selected TO examine the unexpected disclosure
or the insecure character of the foundation of the
core wall At the south end of the new Croton Dam,
ployed as an expert TO advise the commissioners
Le5aTalng us proper treatment. and as to any other
These references to experts necessarily nave re-
taroed III preparation OF some fna plans by our
ca IS oIiginally contemplated hut they have in
ress Of the work under the contracts The delays
have been me resIIt of IInf65rtIaen physicaJ con
diuons. labor troubles and the difficulty in obtain
cite coa! regions These difficulties have been
common To each Of the contracts now being per-
formed under the direction of The commissioners
ana our records viii disclose the facts connected
The labor difficulties have been particularly acute
not limited TO any particular contract The enact
ment OF chapter 55 Of the Laws OF 1872 on the 18th
which We're subsequently, taken modify the con-
tracts for the construction of the New CrOton Dam
ana the Jerome Park Reservoir, ia regard to
Under the verbal understanding, at the meeting
on May .. 1903. when you were present the New
IS procetdng with its work lis mai proposai for
settlement of its claims has since been agreed TO,
and Apportionment which has been furnished with
The imPoandiH5g Of Mater behind the new Crcton
s vi" m pf nefssSr!iE s aeayfd M Peaomd & Iecenoer %
TRACT and II is impossible 10 fix any date therefor
Ton now being made The time for the fnal com
~ ceia\eG, Tor the same reason beyond October
The westerns section OF the Jerome Park .Reser-
voir can be used BY connecting the distributing
EzSteTa ot ne city with g9teh9uses Nos : and 3.
Ulent of Water Supply. Gas and Electricity. The
i6 thar ths seeto9 Of tie reservoir Would be
completed by The end q this year.
Ex-Chiaf Engineer HIS report with reference to
the work on the new Croton Dam ,ays;
The masonry Of the main stone dam and the spill
The time Of The enj5re COMPLETION Of Inc striictre It-
ie a. rr-zarr- ---,-r .Is -o[,,-t - -.
or the southerly extension. where masonry struct
ur- is being substituted for core wall and en-
bankment ordered removed on account OF its in
The work Of removing the core wall at the south
eTa is IN progress Early in March part of the
parity 5ngract5 eatehouss a %o 4 and near it was yas
disclosed that the natural material underlying IFS
@ a Ted ZINES stone In
order 10 secure stable and imperyious foundation
greater deptl than the base Of the core wall
5ilet AIa n ms work OF excavation has been in
reached Il has been found, however. by digging
Al depth Of about nifty feet below the base Of the
cor" wall. but the depth TO proper foundation IS
crease the quantities OF excavation and masonry,
as wei as delay The completion Of the work. but it
The base q the dam w:ders about foot in each
1o eEcavaJ7 10 d greater width than was at first
anticipated. By reason Of this condition there is
c3neer % underHhning portion Of the adjacent
olG Nroton AGueduct-
10 ex-avate along the fo1ndaon Of the aggsdact
#t1 h1l.g supporting retaining wall 10 prevent it
the adjoining eatehouse IS considerably broken up
# might te suffcient1y stahe for firm fonida
Jon stn il is not impervioLs TO water. Therefore.
reservoir under the Latehousa II may he necessary
he aeT a2ten & d h@ val wa 7l@aS oaS dnv 5 uB be
determined ny further excavation.
5Ir Hin says Of the work in charge Of Coleman
Ereuchaud 4. Coleman. at the Jerome Park reser-
Toir and alo1s the Old Croton Aqueduct:
The valus Of f. The he york done by them to June
1913 is s. 1926 g. The estimated cost Of the
&1oe71. and viii he increased by the expense of
excavation and masonry due 10 conditions found
under core wall.
OF the work on the Muscoot Dam. under
tract TO Williams Gerste, the report says:
It is doubtful whether this work will be finished
b. November = leC3, the time fixed for its com
p-eton. The value Of the work done 10 date is
naming 10 be- done IS z645o 49,
1Ir. Hin says OF the condition Of the work
the Jerome Park reservoir:
70 be removed from the westerly section and about
sygDp3 cubic yards from the easterly section. Of
cubic yards TO be removed from the westerly
tlon and about 10000 cubic yards from the easter
On the easterly section there is 400 ineal feet Of
boundary wall completed leaving 400 feet yet TO be
finished on this side The question of the security
6 riT 5 nv ne Ind he natter has been en- ib f
mitted 10 the committee Of engineers
concrete oar Of the reservoir has been also raised
II regard the westerly section, the matter was
referred 10 Nelson 7. Lewis. chief engineer Of the
Board Of Estimate ard Apportionment and Eugene
who have made report approving certain rnod-
Gcations suggested by me Of the original plans
Or The delay on the Jerome Park reservoir Mr..
Htl says:
Under Instructions OF the Aqueduct Commission
ers 1 have made every effort to compel the
tractors TO complete this portion Of the work on
of the work that it VIII be impossible TO do The
value Of the work done by them to June l. 1909, is
naming 10 he done in accordance with the plans,
including the cost Of the superstructure Of the
gatehoUses. IS s2.0e2200