New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-02
H0LDSTHEM TO CONTRACT
ON THE NEW RESERVOIR.
Mayor Writes Sharp Letter to Nc
Donald and Onderd0nk.

Mayor Low. before leaving the City Hall yes
ferday. gave out copies Of a letter that he sent
20 Mcdonald & Onderdonk, contractors for the
Jerome Park Reservoir, in which he males clear
his intention to hold the firm strictly to the
contract from this time forward, so far as it
lies within his power. He tells the contractors
that. reasoning from their own figures their
constructing plant and working force at the
reservoir will have to be increased Importantly
unless the firm is. to quote the Mayor. ito fa1
6iscreditably in living up 70 the terms of the
contract into which you deliberately entered last
fall" The Mayors letter is follows:
New-York. July 81. 1903.
the Jerome Park Reservoir.
Gentlemen: Referring to the conversation with
Commission. on Tuesday last. in reference to the
Increase OF your 42ciities for removing material
say that have spoken TO Commissioner Eustis and
increase your acfies y DOUBLING the Right right Of
|ay through tie Bronx Park for your ten %
port 70 ne 90, on September the number Of trains
each train on each day of the month of August.
TINS win show 10 what extent il will be necessary
10 enable you TO complete your contract within
take advantage Of this opportunity to say that
Is very essential for you TO work out in detail,
which viii show what increase OF equipment you
LII pIosloe sna what progress may Teasohanigg pc
Willing 70 favor the payment TO YOU with the con-
held By the city. under the terms Of the Contract in
response TO an agreement your part. in enforce
necessary TO provide yourselves with an adequate
working plant and to operate this plant on salts
you must take II for granted that such payment
In order that the fairness Of this position may be
clear, both to you and to the community, desire
on June there remained TO be made: of rock and
earth excavation combined, at the Jerome Park
Reservoir In both sections substantially 1900 600
cubic yards. There is Of coEIrse, much other work
Of the Bottom and The likeGbft much of this can
be carried on concurreutly with the excavation.
Last ociober you signed contract agreeing 70
1y-four months from August 4 Giving to this
tract the beneht Of your own interpret ation thar
Fl meant twenty-four months from the day on
which you received orders 10 go ahead on the new
basis. you under contract to finish all or TINS
xcayatien and al incidental work in tventyf9iuT
days you have lost by reason of the coal strike;
but, as compared With the amount Of work re-
manning TO be done, any such delay is immaterial
the rate Of 5000 cubic yards a month, and you
claim that the total capacity of the railway by
month. Under these circumstances it is evident
that the excavation alone remaining. TO be done
on June represented forty months. OF uninteT-
rlpteo progress al your present maximum SPseed
winter and summer alike II Is therefore eViaenlt
be Importantly increased unless Won are to fail dis
creo!ta0ly N living up TO the terms OF the con-
tt a into which you deliberately entered only last
large allowance, in order TO put the work upon the
basis q an eight-hour day. and thus relieve you
planned resulting from the effort to carry on this
work the basis OF ten hours day while ali
judgment, every rght-both moral and legal-to ex-
me nigh reputation your MI McDonald mas won
IS an efficient contractor in connection with the
donk IS now winning on the Brooklyn tunnel. Yours
very truly. SETH LOW. Mayor