New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-10
THEY GOT JOB FOR HILL.
Darid B. Hill, Edsoard Murphy, Jr.,
and CoIer Engineers Backers.
JEROME PARK RESERVOIR HEARING

y
The potency n political influence in the Aouo-
duct Commission. Of the charges tho NJ
chants Association has been pressing v-ss ~, AZ
clear IN the hearing before the Aqueduct Commits
sion yesterday when William r. I'm. ex-chef en-
Eineer or the commission. admitted after n sbarn
protest that David p. Am. Edward Aiur7hy ir
and Bird s Coler had been his hackers Mr. nm
said that ne had loft position OF chief engineer
OF the Syracuse watcrworks 10 take that on the
AqueduCt Commission after making application 10
these political powers. Equally interesting was
Mr. HIS declaration that ne had advanced the
price OF broken stone from % 10 to satisfy
John p. Mcdonald. the contractor. who complained
frequently that he WAS losing money on the con
tract at the jerome Park Reservoir. Mr.. Hin ex-
planned that ne wished 10 satisfy Mr. Mcdonald
and that he made an allowance not a price and
made the change soon as he had Investigated
the conditions
MI fiu maze these statements IN his cross
examination by J. Hampden Dougherty counsel
Tor the Merchants Association Mr. Dougherty
also inquired about Mr.. FiilIs recommendation that
the price of the contract he increased by Sill 976
meet the requirements Of the labor law, and the
witness explained that the figure the result Of
calculations made by Division Engineer Ulrich,
The discussion OF the various items which the
estimates were based was explained by Mr.
Dougherty as an effort 10 snow that the oontrac-
tors by extra prices had received all the money
they had earned
Elmer I. CortheiI. n civil engineer of many years
experience and consulting expert during the con-
strUction OF the Shore Railroad testified that
he regarded the work done al the jerome Park Res
ervor entirely satisfactory both IL construction
and material He said that the mortar used had
stood all the tests of the United States Board of
Army Engineers demanded for government works.
M-. Dou-herty brought out the point that men
ton Of reports Of Mr.. Hill had been found in the
minutes OF the Aqueduct Commission meetings At
this point Commissioner Curtis, who presided, in
IerrupteG and asked M Hill If he had anything
10 do with writing the reports Mr.. Hill replied in
the negative.
+ do rot mean for 4 moment 10 intimate that
the commission could possibly have any motive in
suppressirg the reports said Mr.. Dougherty with
q smile.
Professor W Il. Burr. Of Columbia University.
who was chairman Of the commission Mayor Low
appointed investigate the Jerome Park Reservoir
construction was the next witness. Mr.. Burr was
asked why he addressed his report to the commits
sion. Professor Burr declared that he could
remember that the Mayor had directed him TO
make his report TO him privately. When Professor
Burr was asked IL no did not regard il striking
that M Alden reported a leakage of 1850 gallons
daily iu one hundred feet Of wall, Professor Burr
replied that after investigating the report Moth
ing iu it struck him as remarkable.
He showed some Indignation when asked why he
suppressed the fact in the report that trench
had been dug by the Investigating committee, and
that it would hold water. He insisted that
nothing had been suppressed but that this
not one OF the points assigned Professor Burr
sticking the letter Of the report. but
said that the commission believed certain part
Of the wall had been Improperly finished. In re-
spouse 10 their recommendation certain changes
were made. He explained that the fact that The
trench would not hold water indicated that some
where IL seventy 1--WE feet the pudding had not
done properly. Two other trenches held
water. Professor Burr further testified that when
he had completed the work for the Mayor he made
q three months investigating tour for the Aque-
duct Commission. and received a fee Of $500. The
hearing adjourned until next Wednesday morn
ing and John r. Freeman. Of Providence. who
served the board with Professor Burr will again
be asked testify.